Legionella Control Isn’t Just for Healthcare Anymore: Factories, Warehouse Facilities, and Low-Population Buildings Pose High Risk

Is the risk of Legionella and Legionnaires’ Disease limited to hospitals, nursing homes and busy buildings with a high density of occupants, such as hotels, apartments and full office buildings? No. While these are all at risk for Legionella and Legionnaires’ Disease, they are not alone in that regard.

Legionella Control Systems has found that factories, warehouses, and other relatively low-population buildings can often be at a higher risk for Legionella and Legionnaires’ Disease. Why is this? There are four reasons.

1. Low-population buildings almost always contain the most important factor in the growth of Legionella: water itself. While the water may not be found everywhere in a factory or warehouse, the water that does exist tends to have high human interaction. Humidification systems, sprayers for processes, rest rooms, break rooms, labs and cleaning areas are good examples. Don’t forget cooling towers – while people may not interact with them often, their mist is of particularly high risk for Legionella.
2. Buildings with low-population often have a key factor for the growth of Legionella: stagnant water. Consider emergency showers and eyewash stations that are rarely used, and tested only periodically. These can have a high risk for the growth of Legionella. Even if water is used frequently, such as in a sink or cleaning area, the long run of pipe between the water main and the faucet may result in a low turnover of water in the pipe. This can result in the growth of biofilm, another major risk factor for Legionella.
3. Low-occupancy buildings often have another key risk factor for Legionella growth: warm temperature. If the building is not heated during colder months, that can reduce the risk in the winter, but it’s likely to be quite warm during the summer months as many factories and warehouses don’t have air-conditioning. It’s no coincidence that May – October see the highest levels of reported Legionnaires cases in the United States.
4. Stagnant water also introduces the risk factor of low disinfectant residual. While the local municipality often puts chlorine into the water, it dissipates over time, especially in warm or hot water. As that water sits in the pipes the free chlorine residual often fades to such low levels that it isn’t effective against Legionella.

Given these four factors, what does Legionella Control Systems recommend that factory, warehouse, and other low-population building managers do to minimize their Legionella health risks? If there is an immediate concern that the water safety may be compromised, contact Legionella Control Systems immediately for an engineering onsite evaluation and Legionella testing.

One-time Legionella testing is not enough because Legionella is a naturally occurring bacteria that can enter your system at any time. It is important that you protect your employees’ ongoing health with an expert evaluation of your Legionella risks, followed by the implementation of a water management program (WMP). A WMP is also referred to as a defensible water management plan because it can help to reduce your company’s liability.

If your building has a low population density, even if it isn’t a healthcare or long-term care facility, it doesn’t mean that your occupants aren’t at risk for Legionella and Legionnaires’ Disease. It is still vitally important that you evaluate your facility’s risk for Legionella, proactively minimize future risks, and be prepared for immediate mitigation of Legionella if it becomes a problem. Contact Legionella Control Systems so we can walk you through that process.