Emergency Procedures and Investigations into Legionella Incidents

It is likely that the first notification of any outbreak involving a BC property would come from an BC Council Environmental Health Officer (EHO), Health and Safety Executive (HSE.) or the Police. Such a body would instigate their own investigation, usually in collaboration with BC Head of Health & Safety.

• The Head of Health & Safety, in collaboration with the Director of Property and Assets and the Head of Property Services will co-ordinate the Council’s response to the outcomes of that investigation. Appropriate members of the Health and Safety Team will take reports to the Corporate Health Safety and Wellbeing Committee (CHSWC) and Local Workforce Matters Meetings. Although unlikely, in the event of an incident occurring, the following emergency procedures must be implemented:
• An immediate evacuation and isolation of the contaminated area. The area should be locked-off, with warning signs posted. No re-entry should be allowed for any reason until the area has been declared safe by the Director of Property and Assets and the Head of Property Services
• The Property Service Team will be alerted, and appropriate de-contamination procedures instigated.
• Where building users (employees, clients, pupils, visitors) may have been contaminated, advice will be taken from the Council’s Occupational Health provider and / or the Buckinghamshire Health Protection Agency/Public Health England, Thames Valley Health Protection Team (South East) (Tel.0344 225 3861 option 1 to 4 depending on area, then option 1);
• A copy of the incident report for those affected by the exposure will be retained by the Head of Health and Safety and the Council Insurance Manager.