Are you looking for legionella risk assessments on ships? We look at how to manage legionella risks on ships and which vessels can be affected by legionella.
How to manage Legionella risks on ships
In the modern age, there is far more awareness and studies at our hands today to tell of all the risks of Legionella on board and the health effects it can have on your employees, operators and passengers.
There is somewhat of a lack of knowledge between ship crew level and those in vessel management regarding how best to manage the risks involved. Alongside the health risks, it could put your staff and passengers at; it could also provide detrimental corporate risks in association with the damage to your company's reputation.
Authorities and HSE regulation boards could question your cruise operator's integrity, and those crew members could risk losing their jobs for endangering lives.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guide from 2011 on Ship Sanitation, efficient and effective management of Legionella risk factors onboard ships and vessels is vital for your water systems, pipes, and tanks.
Marine specialists and professionals must monitor the water quality to demonstrate their systems are not contaminated with harmful bacteria, waterborne pathogens, chemicals or microbial hazards. The most efficient way to assess the cleanliness of your water system is to conduct thorough tests to check for Legionella bacteria that multiply easily.
However, we do not recommend completing any examinations using traditional testing methods is not a wise solution for numerous shipowners. The reason being is that test results for older systems tend to arrive at least 10-14 days afterwards; there are often delays due to transportation issues, and many laboratories find older methods and equipment challenging to access.
Our modern lab industries' tools are far more advanced and innovative; for example, Hydrosense allows for an efficient solution to better monitor water systems and search for Legionella at dangerous levels.
Hydrosense is known as the world's fastest Legionella test as it allows us to see results within 25 minutes. It is one of the only bacterial tests that can be entirely conducted on-site, making it straightforward to monitor when you don't have direct access to a lab between the quarterly checks it receives.
It provides its smartphone reader app that records all the result data from conducted tests and can be carried out by anyone in your field without the need for expert assistance. By doing so, employees can regularly check and inspect the water systems of your vessel for any signs of Legionella bacteria.
Identifying the problems at water distribution points is essential for prompt remedial action to protect the public and your employees, saving yourself from reputational damage.
Legionella Testing In Shipping
The marine environment is known for its outbreaks of Legionnaires reported globally, alongside other diseases like Pontiac fever.
Approximately 20% or more cases of Legionnaires' diseases are often travel-associated, according to the CDC, where they are reported to.
Moreover, recent studies have been conducted on the outbreaks of Legionnaires disease on various vessels; the water samples and results show that 58% of 350 boats, vessels and cruise ships tested positive for Legionella inside their potable water systems.
Lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria can be incredibly harmful to a person's overall health and, in worst cases, lead to death, making these water safety tests vital. Along with regular maintenance, water testing for Legionella must be done routinely to protect your staff and passengers.
Water systems on several types of ships must be monitored and controlled, much like off-shore accommodation vessels. Off-shore accommodations and cruise liners are more known to have multiple disease cases found after being laid up and re-commissioned; aboard ships, Legionella survives for various reasons, and it is our job as owners to ensure it doesn't grow.
How Often Should Legionella Testing Be Carried Out
Legionnaires' disease comes from Legionella bacteria and other microorganisms. Over time, it can develop into a severe lung infection due to a person inhaling air particles or water droplets that the bacteria have contaminated.
The disease is uncommon; however, it's severe if contracted. It is critical for professionals and shipowners with special training to upkeep maintenance onboard and complete cleaning tasks with free chlorine and frequent tests to prevent Legionella.
You cannot contract the bacterial disease through person-to-person contact or from drinking contaminated water sources; however, few people can contract the disease by breathing contaminated water droplets and vapour.
Those most susceptible to infection are those adults over 45, those with compromised immune systems due to other medical issues and smokers.
How Is Legionella Contracted?
Legionella can be contracted by various means and brief exposures, including airborne mist, water vapours, etc.
It has the ability to develop and grow whilst in water, especially in temperatures of 20-50C. Your water systems can produce both hot and cold water for the accommodation of your guests. The disease can lie dormant in relatively safe systems with warm temperatures for many years.
Water stagnation means it can protect itself from other organic matter inside your water system biofilm during this state.
Numerous unsuspecting people can catch Legionella-related illnesses from unused or abandoned showers and baths, whirlpools, hot tubs, spa pools, jacuzzis, and other recreational water features and appliances. They can also discover bacteria in water sprays from indoor or outdoor water features and decorative fountains.
Many professionals, shipyard fitters and technicians have accidentally contracted water and airborne health risks and diseases like Legionella from standby water tanks and water pumps that aren't appropriately treated or frequently used.
Staff must thoroughly clean air conditioning systems as legionella bacteria can grow and survive inside them. There are numerous documented cases of shipyards contracting dangerous bacteria leading to Legionella; many have unfortunately died after catching it during the stripping down of water pumps.
Such reasoning is why it is crucial to ensure regular maintenance and use the pumps, tanks, appliances or water features frequently to ensure they never create or grow dormant bacteria.
Which Vessels Can Be Affected By Legionella?
Diseases like Legionella pneumophilia can affect all types of boats, ships, and vessels.
For example, container ships tend to have relatively extensive potable storage tanks that aren't utilised as often; they can also harness skin tanks that allow the ship's water system to stop completely to keep the cold water temperature below 25C.
Off-shore accommodation ships have often found many Legionella cases, especially after being re-commissioned without the potable water system receiving the proper attention, suitable precautions and compliance with health and safety obligations.
Potable water safety allows us to quickly identify and navigate the issues raised, providing the best water safety specialists for the job.
What Should Ship Owners / Operators Do?
Legionella is a disease that can be managed and carefully designed out of your vessels; however, it is paramount that you ensure your ship owners and operators are hands-on when trying to prevent outbreaks.
Those smokers, adults over 45 or with compromised immune systems tend to be at the highest risk of contracting legionnaires disease through legionella water droplets, so we must do everything to protect those passengers. You must ensure prudent operators are consistently consulting Legionella specialists that can provide them with adequate prevention tactics and methods.
For example, some specialists can exclusively review piping systems, offering all the right advice and procedures that are most suitable for your current water safety management plan. Your plans and specialist areas must be effectively managed and audited by technical teams that can successfully help update all your risk assessments to cope with the scenario at hand.
More long-term remedial action is given to those people spending extended periods on larger ships, and more short-term strategies are given to those spending a shorter duration at sea on regular journeys.
Suitably accredited Marine and Hotel company individuals can help verify your prevention techniques for compliance with the regulations on board.
Before curating a report with statistics that may not be as precise, you'll want to introduce some awareness from medical, scientific, and public figures to accurately portray this information on Legionella, its symptoms, and the infection rate.
Ensure that any visitors or teams on your ship are highly aware of the symptoms and know how to prevent exposure to Legionella.
Safeguarding is crucial during these events; you want to protect everyone on your boat, ship or vessel as much as possible, whether this means providing them with adequate protective clothing, gear and equipment to clean the areas and fix your water systems.
As regulators, you must make your operators responsible for the primary aspects of Legionella disease control practices. Doing so will allow you to comply with the UK legislation that states hotels and maritime vessels must have adequate risk assessments and other vital documents to control Legionella growth, alongside various other health threats.
All vital health and safety documents must be regularly updated, especially when those owners or operators make significant system changes. Cruise ships and hotels often have many exact requirements; however, more are implemented for cruises to comply with maritime law.
The EU previously established the increasing development and funding of SHIPSAN. Its objective was to implement European-wide health and hygiene standards on all ships and vessels. Its implementation of WSPs was an integral part of the SHIPSAN manual to enforce these regulations' best guidance and practices. Many countries and continents will likely adopt similar water safety plans and requirements.