Welcome to issue 33, this time we feature the first part of a series of notes covering Sick Building Syndrome.We also continue with part 8 of our serialisation of the UK's primary Legionella control document "Legionnaires' disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems", with extracts dealing with Legionella monitoring and routine inspections. We also feature a guide that takes a look at cost effective chemicals management for printers.

In this issue:

• Sick Building Syndrome - What is it? What are the causes? Who can be affected... more >>
• Legionella Monitoring and Inspection - A review of control measures from the HSE's ACoP ... more >>
• Cost Effective Chemicals Management for Printers- Looks at measures to reduce waste, the use of alternative materials and technologies ... more >>

Sick Building Syndrome - An Introduction

Do you regularly suffer from irritating symptoms including headaches, a runny nose and itching?

Have you noticed that your colleagues are taking much more sick leave, performing badly, or are unhappy with their surroundings?

If so, it could be a case of Sick Building Syndrome. The problem could be with the building you work in, your working environment or the way in which your work is organised.

This useful document forms part of a series that explains what Sick Building Syndrome is and what we know about the symptoms and the possible causes. This first part looks at what Sick Building Syndrome actually is, what causes it and who can be affected. The advice is aimed primarily at employers, building owners and building managers; but building designers, planners, architects, engineers, furnishers and suppliers may also find it useful ... more >>

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Legionella Monitoring and Routine Inspection - Review of Control Measures

Part 8 of the HSE's Approved Code of Practice "Legionnaires' disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems"

Review of control measures – monitoring and routine inspection

61 - If precautions are to remain effective, the condition and performance of the system will need to be monitored. This should be the responsibility of the responsible person or, where appropriate, an external contractor or an independent third party and should involve:

(a) checking the performance of the system and its component parts;

(b) inspecting the accessible parts of the system for damage and signs of contamination; and

(c) monitoring to ensure that the treatment regime continues to control to the required standard.

62 - The frequency and extent of routine monitoring will depend on the operating characteristics of the system, but should be at least weekly.

63 - Testing of water quality is an essential part of the treatment regime, particularly in cooling towers. It may be carried out by a service provider, such as a water treatment company or consultant, or by the operator, provided they have been trained to do so and are properly supervised. The type of tests required will depend on the nature of the system and further details are given in Part 2 for both cooling towers and hot and cold water systems.

64 - The routine monitoring of general bacterial numbers (total viable count) is also appropriate as an indication of whether microbiological control is being achieved. This is generally only carried out for cooling towers, rather than hot and cold water systems. Periodic sampling and testing for the presence of legionella bacteria may also be relevant to show that adequate control is being achieved. However, reliably detecting the presence of legionella bacteria is technically difficult and requires specialist laboratory facilities. The interpretation of results is also difficult; a negative result is no guarantee that legionella bacteria are not present. Conversely, a positive result may not indicate a failure of controls as legionella are present in almost all natural water sources. Further guidance on bacteriological monitoring and interpretation of test results can be found in Part 2.

65 - The results of monitoring and testing should be interpreted by a suitably experienced and competent person and any remedial measures, where necessary, should be carried out promptly.

more next time ... >>

Extracted with permission from "Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and Guidance "Legionnaires' disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems" (L8)" © Crown copyright

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Cost Effective Chemicals Management for Printers

A wide range of chemicals is used within the printing process, from film developers to acids in plate making. Improved management of these chemicals will:

• prevent and reduce waste generation;
• reduce costs and save time;
• reduce emissions and discharges;
• improve the working environment.

This Good Practice Guide sets out a chemicals management programme designed to help you improve how your company handles and monitors the chemicals it uses. It looks at measures to reduce waste, at the use of alternative materials and technologies, and provides background information to raise awareness of good chemicals management.

The first step in any waste minimisation programme is to measure current use.

This Guide contains three worksheets that will help you to measure performance, and calculate and keep a log of chemicals use. Measuring this information will highlight where there is the potential to make changes. This Guide will help you to make those changes, and thus improve the overall management, control and costs of your business.

This Guide also examines alternative materials and new technologies available to the printing industry, and the benefits of introducing them.

Many of the ideas in this Guide can be put into practice immediately. Other measures, such as changing to alternative products and technologies, require greater consideration. An Action Plan is included to help you ... more >>

©Crown copyright

For your complimentary copy of this excellent guide please e-mail info@accepta.com quoting the full title of the document.

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