Legionella training is in fact an essential component of any legionella prevention programme. The Health & Safety Executive specifically points out that lack of training and poor communication are contributory factors in outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease.
In order to manage potential legionella outbreaks, training is a vital part of controlling the disease. UK regulations require employers and building managers to take reasonable steps to guarantee that any control measures are adequately used. They require building managers to make full and proper use of those control measures. Responsible people are also required to have arrangements ready for the management of safety, to have access to health and safety advice and to provide users with sufficient information and instructions.
Lack of training, poor communication and inadequate management are all contributory factors in outbreaks of legionnaires’ disease. It is important that the people involved in applying precautions are trained, aware and fully competent on their responsibilities.
The responsible persons should be trained so that they can make assertive and sound decisions. The responsible person should be suitably informed, instructed and educated and their suitability should be assessed. They must be adequately trained to a level that guarantees tasks are carried out in a safe and technically competent manner.
Those involved in the control scheme are given suitable information, training and instructions. This includes instruction, training and other information on the significant findings of the risk evaluation and the appropriate preventions and actions they need to implement to safeguard themselves and others. Training is a vital element of an employee’s ability to carry out work in a safe manner, but this is not the only factor: experience, knowledge and other personal qualities are also important to perform a task safely.
Any person involved in the repair or servicing of water systems must have had a basic course of Legionella training. The UK law places a duty on any person who manufactures, imports, supplies or designs articles or substances for use at work, to make sure that they are safe and there are no risks to health at work and that any information regarding the article or substance is provided. They will make sure that the water system is constructed and designed in a way that it will be safe and with no risks to health when utilised at work. They will also ensure that the staff have the necessary experience, capabilities, instructions, information, resources and training to carry out their tasks safely and competently.
This will depend on the complexity of the water systems involved. A responsible person and the engineering department of hospital might need a five day training course, which is a very complete course. For those of not so complicated systems, will include modules of the above. For instance, risk evaluation and logbook courses in control of Legionella might be more applicable. A comprehensive legionella training should include training in temperature control for hot and cold water systems fit for most stakeholders involved in control and monitoring.
The training adds to your competence. Competence is the education, attitude, experience and ability as well as the training itself.
The frequency of refresher legionella training for those involved in control activities is not specified and depends on the complexity and nature of the activity in question. There are many factors that must be considered when deciding when a refresher training course is required, for instance:
Any stakeholders involved in the legionella risk assessment process should be trained to the level applicable to their actions needed in the systems they are responsible with.
