2 MIN READ
Published 09/14/2020
Legionella: What is it?
- Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria that live in water. Legionella can amplify in building water systems.
- People can contract Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria;
- People at increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease include those age 50 years or older; current or former smokers; people with a chronic lung disease.
Water management programs
A managed, well-constructed water management program is the most effective way to help reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and improve organizational safety performance for a facility or complex operation. Water systems present unique risk exposures and require a detailed analysis.
Danger zone: Legionella in your water system
Healthcare and hospitality facilities often serve the populations at highest risk for Legionnaires’ disease. These populations tend to span the entire age and health spectrum, while the facilities often have complex water systems, from eye washing stations to decorative fountains and hot tubs.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consider it essential that hospitals and nursing homes have a water management program that is effective in limiting Legionella and other waterborne pathogens in the premise plumbing from growing and spreading in their facility.
We can help
Our risk assessment tool for Legionella in water systems is designed to help assess and mitigate the risk of Legionella and other waterborne bacteria in potable water systems to prevent cases and outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease.
This important risk assessment tool can be used to audit your facilities’ water management program. Our risk control consultants use this tool to identify water system components or devices in your building where Legionella might thrive or be distributed to humans through aerosols or droplets.
Our assessment can help you
Evaluate and identify the potential for Legionella bacteria risk or sources of potential amplification in large or complex water systems in settings with at-risk populations, such as those in the healthcare and hospitality industries.
Identify the risk level and provide improvement opportunities for those high-risk areas where Legionella growth and amplification risk is greatest in the facility.
Related insights
Our risk control services are advisory only. We assume no responsibility for: managing or controlling customer safety activities, implementing any recommended corrective measures, or identifying all potential hazards. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards, or regulations. Please refer to the appropriate government authority for interpretation or clarification.
This website is general in nature, and is provided as a courtesy to you. Information is accurate to the best of Liberty Mutual’s knowledge, but companies and individuals should not rely on it to prevent and mitigate all risks as an explanation of coverage or benefits under an insurance policy. Consult your professional advisor regarding your particular facts and circumstance. By citing external authorities or linking to other websites, Liberty Mutual is not endorsing them.
