Does Your Office Need to Use a Legionella Testing Kit? Water systems that are ideal breeding spaces for Legionella bacteria can be found even in the most ordinary places in the office. Systems such as water coolers, vending machines, sinks or drinking water fountains can all be problematic.
The risk is higher if your business facilities are located within an older property. Even if your office has been impressively designed and furnished with the most modern features, years-old water pipes and tanks or unused water systems may still remain in the building and continue to be breeding grounds for bacteria.
If employees or visitors breathe in droplets or mist from water contaminated with Legionella bacteria, they can become seriously ill. It’s a type of pneumonia leading to severe organ infections. Indeed, at least 10% of the cases of Legionnaires’ disease eventually lead to death.
Workplace-related diseases can lead to liability claims and a negative reputation in your market place. Even so, some business owners may feel hesitant to do testing since they assume that the process may take too difficult or is too expensive for them. What they don’t know is that there is no need to disrupt business operations. The process doesn’t require a crew of scientists and chemists to check the water system. Plus, there’ll be nothing to strike fear and panic in your place of business.
It is so simple to test!
The first thing you need to do – and the one that will provide the most impact – is to establish preventive measures in your place of business. This is done through the easy and affordable use of the right Legionella testing kit.
Luckily there are different testing kits that are designed for specific danger areas in the office, including kits for
- Cold water storage tanks
- Showers and showerheads
- Drinking water units
- Vending machines
- Water heaters and calorifiers
It’s helpful to seek the advice of a trusted testing service before making your purchase to know which kits are best for your office.
The kits you order will be delivered direct to your door. They contain instructions and all the tools you need to collect and store water samples. AquaCert will send a courier to pick up the samples, which will be taken to the laboratory for analysis.
If the tests turn out positive for Legionella, the report will make recommendations take to improve the situation. Better still, when the tests come out clear, then the analysis certificate that you receive will also serve as a valid document. In this situation it proves your office is free from Legionella bacteria and is a safe and healthy workplace.