Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor Environment

8/3/2019 Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor Environment

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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor Environment

Facilities Managers Guide to Auditingthe

Indoor Environment

BIFM BSSIG Created on 07/08/2003 04:07:00 Page 1 of 40


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Page Contents4 Introduction

4 Legal Requirements

5 Who should you use to monitor and audit your workplace?

5 How do monitoring and auditing differ?

7 Successful Health, Safety and Environmental Management

9 Indoor air quality

10 Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)

11 Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)13 Asbestos

14 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

16 Microbiological contaminants17 Photocopier emissions18 Carbon dioxide20 Carbon monoxide20 Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs)23 Humidity25 Computer room auditing

25 Zinc Whiskers26 Waters systems auditing27 Legionnaires disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems30 Selecting a risk assessor32 Coliforms34 Escherichia coli (E.coli)35 Drinking Water Quality: Pseudomonas aeruginosa



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Special thanks to those all who helped contribute to this guideAdam Masters emsChris Mills Ernst & Young

Andrew Martin BSRIAJeremy Philpot The imperial

War MuseumMartin Jolly AmecNicola

Robinson

BIFM



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Introduction The need

The requirements for environmental auditing in the workplace are many and various. Your staff willwant the reassurance they are working in a safe and healthy workplace. The local authorities need youto demonstrate that you are complying with legislation such as the workplace (Health, Safety andWelfare) Regulations 1992. It is also important to help you demonstrate to management and the boardthat they are getting a good return on the investment you have made in creating and maintaining theworking environment.

Monitoring of the workplace environment usually involves taking samples and measurements of airand water. It can also include the measurement of comfort parameters such as temperature, humidityand airflow. However, who you use to conduct the tests can affect the end result. The auditors role isto ensure the practices you have in place are satisfactory to make sure you have a safe, healthy andcompliant workplace. It can, but does not necessarily have to, involve sampling. It will include anexamination of your management systems and documentation to ensure due diligence on compliantissues can be demonstrated.

Legal Requirements GuidanceThe following lists pertinent regulations and Guidance:

Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) Technical Note TN 18/92 "VentilationSystem Hygiene" - a review.BSRIA Standard Specification for Ventilation Hygiene - Report 71.The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002HSE Guidance Note EH40 "Occupational exposure limits"HSE Guidance Note HS(G)173 "Monitoring Strategies for Toxic Substances"HSE Guidance Note EH46 "Manmade mineral fibres"

Biological Agents Approved Code of PracticeMethods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS 70) "General methods for samplingairborne gases and vapours"Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992.Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Building Services Maintenance ManagementTechnical Memoranda TM17:1990.HS(G)38 "Lighting at Work"



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LegalRequirements(Cont.)

Noise at Work Regulations 1989.Noise Guide No. l: Legal duties of employers to prevent damage to hearing.Noise Guide No. 2: Legal duties of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers to prevent damageto hearing.BS7179 "Ergonomics of Design and Use of Visual Display Terminals (VDT) in Offices"Approved Code of Practice & Guidance (L8): Legionnaires disease: The control of legionella bacteria

in water systems.Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) "Minimising the Risk of Legionnaires'Disease TM13:1991"Report of the Expert Advisory Committee on BiocidesBritish Association for Chemical Specialities (Approved Code of Practice) "The Control of Legionellae bythe Safe and Effective Operation of Cooling Systems".Water Industry, England and Wales - The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.Bacteriological Examination of Drinking Water, Report 71.The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000.The Food Safety Act 1990.The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995.The Food Safety (Temperature) Regulations 1995.

BS 7083:1996 "Guide to the accommodation and operating environment for information technology (IT)equipment."BS 7083:1996 "Accommodation and operating environment of computer equipment."BS 5295:1989 "Environmental cleanliness in enclosed spaces"

Who should you use tomonitor and audit your

workplace?

Ideally the company you choose should be independent with no vested interest in the recommendationsor guidance they give you. They should be certificated with BSI ISO 9002 and most importantly haveUnited Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) certification for both site sampling/measurementtechniques and laboratory analysis. It is essential that the company can demonstrate to you a high levelof competence in all areas as they will be responsible for auditing and policing the managementsystems you have, or are going to establish.

How do monitoring andauditing differ?

What does monitoring involve?Monitoring of the working environment usually involves taking samples of indoor air and water. It can



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How do monitoring andauditing differ? (Cont.)

also include the measurement of comfort parameters, such as temperature, humidity and airflow.However, who you use to conduct the tests can affect the end result.

Who should carry out the monitoring?

A maintenance engineer could quite happily carry out the sampling for you. The question you have toask yourself is how the sample was taken, transported and analysed. If a water sample was poured intoa coffee jar, then thrown into the boot of a car where it sat for a few days before it reached thelaboratory, the result of any microbial analysis is hardly likely to be accurate! This is an extremeexample, but similar practices are occurring with people employed purely as sample takers.

How can you ensure that the test results are accurate?Accurate test results will only be obtained from an independent organisation holding UKAS accreditationfor site sampling and laboratory testing. This will ensure that the monitoring follows nationallyrecognised rationales and that strict sampling, handling and processing procedures are adhered to. Inturn this will guarantee that your results are accurate, reproducible and are traceable to nationalstandards. This also means they will not be challenged by the enforcing agencies.

What does workplace auditing involve?The auditors role is to ensure the practices you have in place are satisfactory to make sure you have asafe, healthy and compliant workplace. It can, but does not necessarily have to, involve sampling. Itwill include an examination of your management systems and documentation to ensure the correctprocedures are being followed and that the results of any treatment and maintenance are suitablyrecorded.

Why is it not a good idea to include auditing as part of your maintenance contract?From a purchasing point of view, it may appear to be logical to include auditing as part of themaintenance or water treatment specification. However, it is important to remember that one of thepurposes of workplace auditing is to ensure that you are receiving an appropriate level of service fromthese companies. Quite simply, auditing will establish whether you are receiving value for money.Even if your maintenance provider employs an independent company to carry out the audits, theauditors allegiances may lay with their employer rather than with you, the customer. There is also adanger that your maintenance company may remove any warts from the auditors report prior topresenting it to you, to ensure they are not reflected in a bad light. So where possible, it is always bestto employ your workplace auditor directly.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentIt is also worth noting that you cannot delegate your responsibility to a third party contractor. If yourorganisation is found to be in breach of a Regulation, ultimately it will be you who will face prosecution.Therefore, you must be 100% certain that the supplier you use to audit your workplace is competentand is painting a true picture of their findings if you want to ensure you are complying with currentlegislation.



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Successful Health, Safetyand Environmental

Management

How can you ensure your health, safety and environment management is successful?In 1992 HSEs Accident Prevention Advisory Unit produced HS(G)65 Successful Health and Safety

Management. This document was revised in 1999.

HS(G)65 is designed to promote excellence in the field of health and safety. It sets out a number ofissues to be addressed to ensure that health, safety and environmental management is successful. Theprinciples behind HS(G)65 can be applied to any aspect of the working environment, from health andsafety to water quality management. They can also be used to develop a programme for improvement,define training needs and audit performance.

The areas covered by HS(G)65 are outlined below. Although, they should all be addressed, the key toensuring that successful health, safety and environmental management continues is the auditingprocess. This should be carried out regularly to take account of any changes that have taken placesince the original assessment.



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Successful Health, Safetyand Environmental

Management (Cont.)

The PolicyThe policy is your organizations recognition that people may be at risk in their workplace. It is acommitment to allocating the necessary resources and people to evaluate the risk, and eliminate orcontrol the risk. Regular reviews of the risk control processes should be carried out.

ResponsibilityThis states who is responsible for what from the very top of the organization down to the lowest level ofresponsibility.

The Risk AssessmentThe risk assessment documents the hazards and risks in your workplace and the likelihood of theseevents occurring. It is the basis for preparing the procedures and processes to protect your staff andthe public.

The Written SchemeThe written scheme uses the information from the risk assessment, to identify the hazards and the risks

that need to be controlled, and the actions that you need to take to control them.

TrainingYou need to be able to demonstrate that anyone involved in managing or controlling risk is suitablytrained to show competence.

The need to understand why is as important as the need to understand what.

Implementing ControlsThe actions taken to control risk, are carried out in accordance with the written scheme.

Checking, Inspecting, MonitoringThe activities carried out to make sure the controls are being done and are working properly. Theseactions help you demonstrate your compliance to the issues raised in your written scheme.

RecordsThe records consist of the results of the checks, inspections and monitoring and the certificates relatingto control measures. It also includes a log of events that allows you or the authorities to trace howcontrol is maintained, or if lost, how it was lost.



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ReviewThe review assesses what is working well and what could be improved. It also provides an opportunityfor all people involved in the control process to have input and make their suggestions for improvedcontrol.

AuditAn independent consultancy can audit all of these areas to ensure you have the right level of control inplace. Ultimately, this will ensure that you are protected.



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Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality (Cont.)

Why is indoor air quality so important?Indoor air quality has become very important in recent years due to:

Public awareness of issues which can affect the workplace environment, such as Sick BuildingSyndrome, which have been linked to poor indoor air quality;

Investigations into indoor pollution;

A growing number of ventilation hygiene organisations using pressure selling tactics to persuadefacilities managers to buy ductwork cleaning services.

Changes in the way we work and where we work in have given rise to concern over indoor air quality,particularly in call centres.

What are the legislative requirements concerning indoor air quality?Under the Health & Safety at Work Act etc 1974 and the Occupiers Liability Act 1984, an employer has aduty of care to ensure that a safe and healthy environment is provided.

The Approved Code of Practice accompanying the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations1992, states that indoor air quality should be at least equal to but ideally better than the air outsideyour building.

HSE document EH40 contains a list of maximum exposure limits and occupational exposure standardsfor specific gases as required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994.

How do you establish whether indoor air quality is good or inferior?In 1991 the House of Commons Environment Committees Sixth Report on Indoor Pollutionrecommended MOT style assessments of air quality within buildings. These assessments shouldcover:

Outside air: Types and amounts of dusts, bacteria and gases should be measured prior to beingfiltered, heated or chilled. This will act as a benchmark to demonstrate that the air inside your

building is at least equal to the air outside.

Indoor air: Dust and bacteria should be measured in the workplace to ensure the filters are removing the

majority of the contaminants from the outside air. Ventilation rates should also be measured to ensure they are satisfactory and are therefore removing

contaminants such as carbon dioxide, (which at high levels can cause lethargy). Specific gases, such as carbon dioxide and ozone, should be monitored to ensure that the levels

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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentLocal Exhaust Ventilation

(LEV)

In many work activities, substances that are hazardous to health are handled, produced, or processed inways that results in dust, fumes or gases being given off to the work atmosphere. (LEV) when properlyapplied can provide a very effective means of exposure control. There are two main methods ofventilation, which can be used to control airborne contamination of the workplace dilution ventilationand LEV. Dilution ventilation provides a flow of air into and out of the working area and does not giveany control at the source of contamination.

LEV on the other hand, intercepts the contamination as soon as it is generated and directs it into asystem of ducting connected to an extract fan.

One of the most important LEV systems to consider in the workplace is that of kitchen LEV, Due tosignificant risk of fire as accumulation of grease and oil in the ductwork will be plentiful. For thesesystems ensure they are regularly cleaned, and inspected by your independent environmental auditor.



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Sick Building Syndrome(SBS)

What is SBS?Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a phrase which describes a malaise affecting some people working inoffice buildings.

What are the symptoms?Many of the symptoms are common in the community at large and may reflect what is normal in yourarea for the time of year.

The symptoms range from:

sore eyes;

dry throats;

chest complaints;

headaches;

lethargy.

What are thought to be the causes of SBS?Researchers have suggested that SBS could be attributed to psychological factors e.g. lack of

motivation causing lethargy. Surveys have indicated that where the workforce has greater control overtheir work environment they feeling of well being is increased.

Many of the symptoms experienced by occupants in suspect buildings are related to:

low humidity;

poor lighting;

thermal imbalance; or

high levels of carbon dioxide.

Inadequate maintenance standards, poorly designed work areas and unbalanced ventilation systemscan also contribute to these symptoms.

How can you prove that a building is sick or healthy?Where staff perceive that their building is sick, their concerns can be addressed though a workplaceaudit.



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Sick Building Syndrome(SBS) (Cont.) An assessment of workplace comfort conditions covering:

temperature;

humidity;

airflow velocity;

lighting

gas levels e.g. carbon dioxide

These tests can confirm the causes of any mysterious illness.

Quality assured reports demonstrating that the working environment is healthy can dispel the rumoursthat a building is sick.

What guidance exists on SBS?HSE have produced a guidance document of SBS called How to deal with SBS: Guidance foremployers, building owners and building managers, HS (G) 132, ISBN 0-7176-1861-1.

In addition to this publication, CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) havedesigned a questionnaire to help you investigate claims of SBS as part of their Building Health CheckProtocol. In the documentation which accompanies the questionnaire they list a number of factorswhich are likely to increase the risk of a building becoming sick. However, they do state that absence ofall or any of these factors should not be used as justifications for not carrying out a building healthcheck.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentAsbestos

Asbestos (Cont.)

What is Asbestos?Asbestos is a natural mineral used primarily for insulation and fireproofing. There are three main typesof asbestos:

Chrysotile (white asbestos);

Amosite (brown asbestos);

Crocidolite (blue asbestos).

However, they cannot be identified purely by their colour.

Why is it hazardous to health?Asbestos related diseases are currently responsible for about 3,000 deaths per year in Britain. Thereare usually long delays between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease, which can varybetween 15 to 60 years. Disturbing asbestos can release small fibres into the air. Inhaling these fibrescan cause fatal diseases. Tiny fibres can pass into the lower parts of the lung and may work their waythrough the lung lining potentially causing:

Asbestosis or fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs;

Lung cancer;

Mesothelioma (a cancer of the inner lining of the chest wall or abdominal cavities).

What are the legislative requirements concerning asbestos in the workplace?In November 2002, the amended Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (CAWR) came intoeffect. Regulation 4 introduces a new duty to manage asbestos in premises. This comes into force on21 May 2004 after an 18-month lead in period.

What guidance is available?To raise awareness of the duty to manage, and to promote effective compliance, HSE has published thefollowing guidance material: A new Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) has been introduced to support Regulation 4 of CAWR. The

management of asbestos in non-domestic premises (L127) gives advice on how to comply with thenew requirements.

A new guidance bookletA comprehensive guide to managing asbestos (HSG227) is aimed at thoseduty holders in more complex organisations.

A free leafletA short guide to managing asbestos in premises is aimed at those with smaller, lesscomplex premises.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentVolatile Organic

Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile OrganicCompounds (VOCs)

(Cont.)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of carbon based chemicals. Many of them form theessential building blocks of life. However, a number of organic compounds we use today, althoughoccurring naturally are often synthesised. At room temperature vapours readily escape volatilechemicals. VOCs are released from burning fuel, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas; and fromsolvents, paints glues and other products used in the workplace as well as tobacco smoke. Vehicleemissions are also a major source of VOCs.

What is their significance?Exposure to significant quantities of different VOCs can result in various symptoms. The most commonare eye, nose and throat irritation and headaches. These symptoms are often linked with SickBuilding Syndrome. Some VOCs, such as benzene, are known to cause cancer in humans.

When can VOCs be a problem in the workplace?Most of the time levels of VOCs in the workplace will be extremely low. However, these levelssometimes increase after refurbishment when new furniture and equipment have been introduced,particularly if ventilation to the refurbished area is inadequate.

How can you monitor VOCs?

youcan monitor levels of VOCs, such as benzene, acetone and toluene as part of an IAQ (Indoor AirQuality) audit.

How can you reduce levels of VOCs in the workplace?Increase ventilation after bringing new sources of VOCs into your building.

Avoid smoking indoors.

What are the exposure limits?Name COSHH Long

Term ExposureLimit (8 hourTime WeightedAverage) (mg/m3)

Some common sources

Acetone 1810* Lacquer solvent, tobacco smokeBenzene 16* Tobacco smokeStyrene 430* Insulation foam, jointing, fibre board, tobacco

smoke



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentToluene 191 Adhesives, jointing compound, sealing tape, wall

paper, floor covering, vinyl, paint, tobacco smokeXylene 441 Adhesives, wall paper, floor coverings, lacquers,

tobacco smokeHexane 72 Floor covering, wall paper, chipboard, insulation

foam, tobacco smoke

Ethanol 1920 Fibre board, solvents, tobacco smokeCyclohexane

350 Tobacco smoke, lacquers, resins, paint removers

Occupational exposure limit (OES) * Maximum exposure limit (MEL)(Source: HSE EH40)



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Microbiologicalcontaminants

What are microbiological contaminants?Common indoor microbiological contaminants include bacteria, moulds, mildew, viruses, dust mites andpollen. These contaminants can travel through air and are often invisible to the naked eye. There aremay sources of these pollutants:

Bacteria carried by people, soil and plant debris;

Viruses transmitted by people;

Pollens originating from plants.

Two factors are necessary to support microbiological growth - nutrients and moisture. Suitableconditions can be found in many locations such as humidifiers, air conditioning systems and somecarpets and furniture. Moulds, mildew and other microbiological contaminants can grow in central airhandling systems. These systems can distribute the contaminants throughout the workplace.

What is their significance?The majority of microbiological contaminants found in circulating air do not pose a hazard to health.However, some of the medical effects that are associated with microbiological contaminants are:

Allergic reactions, including allergic rhinitis and some types of asthma. Allergic reactions occur only

after repeated exposure to an allergen. However, that reaction may occur immediately on re-exposure, or after multiple exposures over time. As a result people who have noticed only mildallergic reactions, or none at all, may suddenly find themselves very sensitive to particular allergens;

Diseases such as humidifier fever can be traced to microorganisms that grow in building wethumidifier systems. These micro-organisms cause an allergic reaction (allergic rhinitis similar to asevere case of hay fever);

Symptoms of exposure to microbiological contaminants include sneezing, watery eyes, coughing,shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy, fever and digestive problems.

What is the legislation/ guidance on this area?Although there is no specific legislation regarding microbiological contaminants the Control of

Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 state that every employer shall ensure that theexposure of his employees to substances hazardous to health is either prevented, or where this is notreasonably practical, adequately controlled.

There are guidance documents available containing technical input from the ventilation hygiene andcleaning industry. These include the CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers)publication TM26:2000 Hygienic maintenance of office ventilation ductwork.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentHow can you monitor microbiological contaminants?As part of an indoor air quality (IAQ) audits you can monitor levels and types of micro-

organisms in the circulating air. Representative samples of indoor air are taken andsubsequent laboratory analysis will identify any bacteria or moulds which may pose ahazard to health.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentPhotocopier emissions What substances do photocopiers/laser printers emit?

Photocopiers and laser printers emit hydrocarbons, ozone, volatile organic compounds and dust frompaper and toner.

What is the official guidance regarding these emissions?There is specific guidance regarding levels of ozone and specific VOCs in the workplace. For example,the Health and Safety Executive guidance note Occupational Exposure Limits (EH40) occupationalexposure standard for ozone is 0.20ppm over a 15 minute reference period. Further information onozone, VOCs and particulates is available in our specific guides on the subjects.

How can I limit these emissions?Most modern photocopiers and laser printers are already fitted with filters which limit the amount ofgases and dust which are released into the atmosphere. This ensures that even when equipment isoperating in the minimum specified environmental conditions, (i.e. the machine is situated in thesmallest siting location recommended and with only natural ventilation to the room), it meets all thenational and international occupational exposure limits for ozone. It is therefore unlikely that anyadditional filters need to be fitted to your photocopiers.

The problems commonly associated with photocopiers and laser printers such as heat gain and odourscan be minimized by ensuring that there are adequate quantities of outside air being introduced to thearea combined with an efficient extract system to remove the odours and dust. A regular maintenanceprogramme will also ensure that the machinery and their filters are in good working order.

What are the health effects of these emissions?Office equipment such as photocopiers and whether their emissions can be linked to lung disease havelong since been a subject of debate. Many substances released from office equipment or furnishingscan affect health if present in significant quantities in poorly ventilated areas. However, due to thefilters that this type of equipment is fitted with, it is unlikely that levels of gases such as ozone shouldbuild up in your office.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentHow can I be sure that the emissions are within the recognised limits?If you feel that current filters on your photocopier or laser printers are inadequate the best course ofaction would be to ask the advice of the manufacturer of the equipment for a copy of their materialsafety datasheet (MSDS).

Alternatively, you could ask an independent organisation to measure the levels of particulates, airflow and gases, such as ozone,in the area in which the equipment is situated.



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Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (Cont.)

What is carbon dioxide?Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a non flammable, colourless, odourless gas.

How is it generated in the workplace?The main generators of carbon dioxide in the workplace are human beings. The gas is produced as abyproduct of the respiratory process.

How does a build up of carbon dioxide occur in the workplace?Carbon dioxide levels can be a particular problem in naturally ventilated buildings in the winter. Peopleare reluctant to open the windows during these periods as it is cold outside and they do not wish to sit ina draught. However, this means that insufficient outside (fresh) air is being introduced into theworkplace to dilute the gas.

Outside air is required in all types of premises whether they be naturally or artificially ventilated. Itensures that there is sufficient air provided for respiration, removes excess heat and dilutes/removesairborne impurities such as carbon dioxide.

Sometimes, office refurbishment can lead to a build up of carbon dioxide in the workplace. If partitions

have been moved to accommodate more desks or alter the layout of an office which contradict theoriginal building design, A dead zones can be created where insufficient outside air is being supplied tocertain areas.

What is the guidance/legislation concerning carbon dioxide levels?Regulation 6 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 states that:

Effective and suitable provision shall be made to ensure that every workplace is ventilated by asufficient quantity of fresh or purified air.

The guidance recommends that fresh air supply rates should not normally fall below 5 to 8 litres persecond, per occupant.

In addition to these Regulations, the HSE occupational exposure limit for carbon dioxide in EH 40 is5000 ppm (parts per million). However, a more realistic recommendation has been published by BSRIA(Building Services Research and Information Association) of 800 ppm over an eight hour time weightedaverage. Experience shows levels of up to 1000 ppm can be reached before people begin to experienceproblems with lethargy and headaches.



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Carbon monoxide

What is carbon monoxide?Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless gas that interferes with the delivery of oxygen in theblood to the rest of the body.

What are the major sources of CO?Carbon monoxide is produced as a result of incomplete combustion of carbon fuels including coal,natural gas and fuel oil. It can be emitted by combustion sources such as gas space heaters, furnaces,water heaters, vehicle exhausts and tobacco smoke. Problems can arise from improper instillation,maintenance or inadequate ventilation.

What is its significance?Carbon monoxide interferes with the distribution of oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body.Depending on the amount inhaled, this gas can impede co-ordination, worsen cardiovascular conditionsand produce fatigue, headache, weakness, confusion, disorientation, nausea and dizziness. Very highlevels can cause death. The symptoms are sometimes confused with flu or food poisoning.

What are the exposure limits?The Health and Safety Executive guidance note Occupational Exposure Limits (EH40) occupational

exposure standard for CO is 30ppm (parts per Million) over an 8-hour time weighted average referenceperiod and 200ppm over a 10 minute period.

How can you measure CO levels?Levels of CO and other gases, such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, can be measured as part of an indoorair quality (IAQ) and workplace comfort audit. Coupled with airflow velocity measurements the resultswill demonstrate whether adequate ventilation rates are occurring.

Electric and MagneticFields (EMFs)

What are EMFs?During the past 20 years the general public has become increasingly concerned about the potentialadverse health effects of exposure to electric and magnetic fields at extremely low frequencies (ELF).

Electromagnetic fields consist of electric (E) and magnetic (H) waves travelling together at the speed oflight. ELF fields are those defined as having frequencies of up to 300 Hz.Electric fields arise fromelectrical charges. Any device connected to an electrical outlet, even if the device is not switched on,will have an associated electric field that is proportional to the voltage of the source to which it isconnected. Electric fields are strongest close the device and diminish with distance. Common materialssuch as wood and metal, shield against them.



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Electric and MagneticFields (EMFs) (Cont.)

Magnetic fields arise from the motion of electric charges i.e. a current. Any device connected to anelectrical outlet, when the device is switched on and a current is flowing, will have an associatedmagnetic field that is proportional to the current drawn from the source to which it is connected.Magnetic fields are strongest close to the device and diminish with distance. They are not shielded bythe most common materials and easily pass through them.

Where are EMFs found in the workplace?EMFs are generated by electrical equipment in the workplace such as VDUs, photocopiers, laserprinters and mobile phones. However, the levels of EMFs that office workers are exposed to are verysmall indeed and have not been found to adversely effect human health.

EMF InterferenceSometimes, office workers may see image movement on the screen of their computer terminal. Thiscan be caused by ELF magnetic fields interfering with the electrons, which produce the image on thescreen. These magnetic fields are found near cables that provide electrical power or aroundtransformers associated with power supplies to buildings. The fields from these sources are generallywell below the levels that cause any health concerns. A simple solution to this problem is to relocate

the computer to another part of the room.

People also associate EMFs with micro shocks they receive from equipment in the workplace. Althoughit is possible for static fields to contribute to this phenomenon they may also be caused as a result oflow humidity in the workplace. This can be a particular problem in buildings without any humidificationcontrol during the dry winter months.

Is there any guidance or legislation concerning EMFs?A number of governmental and professional bodies have developed exposure standards for EMFsincluding the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

In 1993 the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) issued exposure guidelines for electric and

magnetic fields which apply to both residential and occupational exposure. For static magnetic fields ,the restrictions recommended are 200 mT averaged over 24 hours, 2000 mT as a maximum whole-bodyfield, and 5000 mT as a maximum to arms and legs. For static electric fields the investigation levelrecommended is 25 kV/m.

ELF electric fields emitted from a VDU range typically from less than 1Vm -1 up to 10Vm-1 at operatorpositions. Magnetic flux densities range from 100 - 700 nT, (1000 nT {nanotelsa} = 1 mT {microtelsa}).



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Electric and MagneticFields (EMFs) (Cont.)

Static electric fields at operator positions are likely to be in the range of 5 - 20 kVm-1.

What are the health effects of EMFs?EMFs have been linked to causing everything from headaches and skin rashes to cancer and adversepregnancy outcomes. As technology proliferates in our professional and personal lives the issue of

whether EMFs cause these complaints or diseases has been cause for much debate. WHO take theseconcerns very seriously and in 1996 they established the International EMF Project to resolve the healthissues raised by EMFs.

Recent studies in Scandinavia have strengthened the evidence for believing that some groups ofworkers in industries where exposure to EMFs may have been elevated have an increased risk ofleukemia, but not of brain cancers. No increase in the risk of leukemia has, however, been seen inworkers exposed to high levels of EMFs. However, the conclusion remains that whether the hazard, ifone exists, is due to exposure of EMFs or to some chemical associated with the work is impossible todecide at present.

The guidance that HSE produce to accompany the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment)Regulations 1992 states:

...The levels of electric and magnetic fields are similar to those from common domestic electricaldevices. Although much research has been carried out on possible health effects from exposure toelectromagnetic radiation, no adverse health effects have been shown to result from the emissions fromdisplay screen equipment.



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Humidity

What are some of the problems caused by humidity?There are certain periods of the year when humidity can fall to very low levels. This can occur duringwinter periods when we experience cold, dry spells. The situation is exacerbated in todays office bythe amount of electronic equipment present. The heat generated by this equipment causes humiditylevels to be reduced even further.

The problems experienced by low humidity range from:

Sore eyes, dry throat, itchy or dry skin and a stuffy nose. All of these symptoms have beenassociated with attacks of flu and even Sick Building Syndrome. However, one of the mostlikely causes for these symptoms would be low humidity levels.

Sometimes people working in offices find itchy red marks on their ankles which they assumeare flea bites. However, these marks are more probably a result of static electricity, (causedby synthetic carpet fibres that become charged), which is increased as a result of the lowhumidity in the area. This phenomena is known as the phantom flea affector illusoryparasitosis.

Static can also increase the potential for equipment failure.

What are the guidelines for humidity?The guidance that HSE produce to accompany the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment)Regulations 1992 states:Electronic equipment can be a source of dry heat which can modify the thermal environment at theworkstation. Ventilation and humidity should be maintained at levels which prevent discomfort andproblems of sore eyes.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers therefore recommend that humidity levels inoffices should be between 40% and 70% to maintain appropriate levels of comfort. However, mostpeople only start to experience the problems described above when humidity levels fall below 30%.

How can the problems associated with low humidity be overcome?In an ideal world all workplaces would be fitted with some kind of humidifcation control. However, incircumstances where this is not practical (i.e. due to constraints in the building design or financialresources), there are certain cost effective measures which can be taken to ensure that humidity in theworkplace can be maintained at an appropriate level.

Carpets can be lightly sprayed with water in the morning before the staff start work.BIFM BSSIG Created on 07/08/2003 04:07:00 Page 26 of 40


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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentHumidity (Cont.) People should be encouraged to drink more fluids, especially water, during periods when

humidity is low.

Introduce water loving pot plants to work areas. This can help raise humidity levels (so longas the plant is watered regularly!). They also make the working environment more pleasing.

How can I monitor humidity levels within the workplace?Personal comfort is a subjective area. In an environment where the majority of people are comfortablethere will always be at least one person who claims to be dissatisfied with their working conditions! Thecause of their unrest may be deeper rooted than the temperature in the office. However, if severalpeople have similar complaints about the levels of comfort in their workplace it may be worth investingin an independent audit of the conditions. This will cover areas such as workplace humidity,temperature, airflow as well as specific gases such as carbon dioxide.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentComputer room auditing What is a clean room environment? A room in which the concentration of airbourne particles is

controlled, and which is constructed and used in a manner to minimise the introduction, generation, andretention of particles in the room, and in which other relevant parameters e.g. temperature, humidity,and pressure are controlled as necessary.

Computer rooms are becoming increasingly important to business functions. A loss of part or all of theequipment operating within such rooms at any given time can result in a loss of millions per minute for

many organisations. Therefore control is critical.

Regular independent monitoring of computer room parameters such as temperature, humidity, airflows,airbourne particles, air pressures, heat gains, gases, vibration, electrostatic and examinations ofstructural integrity, standards of cleanliness etc will help to ensure the environment is maintained to anacceptable standard and ensure hardware failure does not occur as a direct result of environmentalconditions.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentZinc Whiskers What are zinc whiskers?

Zinc whiskers originate from zinc electroplated surfaces commonly used in a variety of buildingapplications, including computer rooms. The zinc is used to coat metal fixtures to prevent rusting oroxidation occuring. The whiskers are typically 2 microns in diameter and, over time, can grow toseveral millimetres in length.

Where are they found?

Any zinc-electroplated surface may experience whisker growth, however it is certain types of floor tilesused in computer room raised floor applications which are of most concern. These tiles tend to havelarge surface areas and are often disturbed/moved during normal activity, causing the whiskers to shedinto the environment.

What are the implications?Zinc is a metal and a good conductor of electricity.

Because the subfloor voids in most computer rooms are used as ducts, the susceptible surface of thetile is within the supply airflow. The whiskers are brittle, can become dislodged easily and, if they cometo rest on an exposed circuit card inside your equipment, they can cause short circuits, voltage

variances and other signal disturbances, often intermittently. In the majority of cases, the same shortcircuit caused by the whisker will either vaporize the offending contaminant or else the whisker willbecome dislodged when the board or card is removed, leaving definitive fault analysis impossible.

It has been said that:

Zinc whiskers could turn out to be the single most failure-causing anomaly of electronic and computer equipment in data centersand computer rooms.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentZinc Whiskers(Cont.) Zinc whiskers are not known to pose a threat to health. Unlike lead or asbestos, zinc

whiskers are not toxic. While there is no published research on exposure, overexposure isnot thought to be a factor since indoor concentrations are relatively low.Why have zinc whiskers appeared?For the past several years, both the electronics industry and the metal and plating industry have beenaware of this phenomenon.

More recently, two contributing factors have increased the recognition of zinc whiskers as a potentialrisk within computer rooms:

Firstly, quite simply the floors are now old enough to have grown reasonably sized whiskers which mayhave broken off and entrained in equipment.

Secondly, older electronic designs were less susceptible due to the size of the equipment. Thecontinual shrinking of electronic assemblies has meant that the lead pitch (lead to lead spacing) onintegrated circuits and other components is now so small that zinc whiskers have a much better chanceof causing a short. Even a small whisker can now short two leads.

Specific audits can be undertaken to test for the presence of zink whiskers in computer room audits.

Waters systems auditing There is much legislation and guidance concerning water systems in buildings. The Health & Safetycommissions approved code of practice and guidance Legionnaires disease the control of legionellabacteria in water systems (L8) offers essential practical advise on maintenance, water treatment andmonitoring requirements. The requirements to demonstrate you have the correct regimes in place willdiffer depending on the nature of the building and the waters systems within it. For example a buildingwith cooling towers will require additional maintenance, water treatment and monitoring whencompared to a building that uses an air-cooled dry system. Conversely a building that uses bore holewater supply will require additional monitoring to meet with the Private Water Supplies Regulations1991.

Regular independent environmental auditing of the water systems within your building will help youdemonstrate that you are meeting your legal obligations. It will also validate maintenance and watertreatment regimes are effective and appropriate to the level of risk and ensure you are getting a goodand cost effective service from your service providers whether they be external or internal.



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Legionnaires disease: Thecontrol of legionella

bacteria in water systems

Why was the original document HS(G)70 revised?In 1991 HSE introduced The prevention or control of legionellosis (including legionnaires disease)(HS(G)70). However, this document was not clear about who, in terms of building owner or buildingmanagement and suppliers of products or services related to water treatment and management, wasresponsible for what with regard to the control of this bacteria..

The new publication, Legionnaires disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems,consolidates the information in HS(G)70 and the Approved Code of Practice. The aim is to make iteasier to read and understand your duties under the law.

The revised document includes more advice on the competence and training for staff responsible fordeveloping, managing and conducting the risk assessment and implementing the controls. It alsoemphasises the duties on suppliers of products and services to carry out work effectively and safely andto liaise with the client duty holders when deficiencies are identified. This is primarily aimed at watertreatment contractors to help them improve their standards.

What are the key changes?

The key changes in this document are:

The removal of the 300 litre limit in domestic hot water services. This is because it was recognized thatsystems below 300 litres could present a potential risk. The ACoP now clearly applies to any workplaceor undertaking where water is used or stored and there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of legionellosis;

Guidance for when hot and cold water systems should be sampled and tested for legionella.

The recommendation that cooling water systems are sampled and tested quarterly for legionella, (andparticularly during outbreaks), and the actions recommended when legionella is detected.

How can the risk of legionellosis be minimized?

The original guidance concentrated on reducing the risk by avoiding conditions where legionella couldproliferate and, where possible, avoiding unnecessary exposure to aerosols. In some cases, this led toreplacing wet cooling processes with dry ones. Where this was not an economic or practical option,legionella growth was controlled through chemical dosing of cooling water systems and ensuring watertemperatures for domestic services were maintained outside of the optimum legionella growth range,

(20 to 45C with a peak growth rate around 37C ).



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentLegionnaires disease: The

control of legionellabacteria in water systems

(Cont.)

However, in non-domestic properties, where the through put of water relative to the system volume canbe low, legionella bacteria can become established and reach high concentrations, even wheretemperature regimes are followed. Legionella bacteria can survive for hours, even at 50C.

The new guidance reiterates the concept that it is not the absence (or presence) of legionella in a single

sample that is significant. It is the existence of the circumstances that could lead to rapid growth oflegionella to potentially hazardous levels. Ideally, these should be minimised by good design andoperation but regular flushing may also be required where stagnation cannot be eliminated withcertainty. Other issues such as water storage, circulation and system cleanliness are also discussed indetail.

What are your responsibilities under the new guidance?The ACoP and guidance covers five key areas of equal importance:

Identification and assessment of the risk

A suitable and sufficient assessment is required to establish what risks of exposure to legionellabacteria exist from both the water systems and work activities. It should identify the necessarymeasures to prevent, or adequately control, the risk from exposure to legionella bacteria.

The ACoP states that a risk assessment should be carried out by a competent person, (i.e. someone whounderstands water systems and the risk from exposure to legionella bacteria associated with them).

The key to getting a risk assessment right is the competence of the assessor. Some of the questionsyou should ask an assessor to judge their competence are:

What experience of water systems do they have?

What do they know about controlling the risks associated with exposure to legionella bacteria?

Have they signed the Water Management Society and British Association of Chemical SpecialtiesCode of Conduct on the control of legionellosis for service providers?

What forms of quality assurance do they hold?

What training has the assessor undergone?

As part of the risk assessment, the guidance recommends that an asset register of all associated plant,pumps, strainers and other relevant items be provided along with a schematic diagram showing the



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentLegionnaires disease: The

control of legionellabacteria in water systems

(Cont.)

layout of the plant or system.

Managing the risk: management responsibilities, training and competence

If the assessment shows that there is a risk from exposure to legionella bacteria, someone should beappointed to take responsibility for and supervise the implementation of the necessary precautions. This person should be a manager, director, or have a similar status and sufficient authority. They

should also be competent and have the knowledge of the system to ensure that all operationalprocedures are carried out in a timely and effective manner. This person may be appointed from asupplier if there is nobody in the organization with the expertise.

Training should be provided for anyone carrying out the control measures, (such as a maintenanceengineer), to ensure the tasks are carried out in a safe and technically competent manner. Trainingrecords should be kept, including details of any refresher training.

Staff responsibilities and lines of communication, both internally and between your suppliers, should beproperly defined and clearly documented.

Preventing or controlling the risk from exposure to legionella bacteria.

Once the risk has been identified and assessed, a written scheme should be prepared for preventing orcontrolling it. This should include:

An up-to-date schematic of the system;

A description of the correct and safe operation of the system;

The precautions to be taken;

Checks to be carried out to ensure the scheme is successful and the frequency of such checks;

Remedial action to be taken in the event that the scheme is shown not to be effective.

Conditions which allow legionella bacteria to proliferate should be avoided, (e.g. water temperaturesbetween 20C and 45C) as should the creation of aerosols and sprays.

Record keepingA record of the assessment, precautionary measures and the treatments should be kept. All recordsshould be signed by those people performing the various tasks assigned to them. This should ensurethat precautions continue to be carried out and that adequate information is available.



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Responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installersDesigners, manufacturers, importers or suppliers of water systems have a legal obligation to ensuretheir systems can be operated, cleaned and maintained safely. The guidance provides a number of

points to consider for the design and construction of water systems. These include fitting effective drifteliminators, (cooling tower systems) and reducing stored cold water to a minimum required to meetpeak periods, (hot and cold water systems).

What is the WMS Code of Conduct?The Code is designed to help owner/operators select competent service providers by highlighting sixcritical areas:

Allocation of responsibilitiesTraining and competence of personnelControl measures

Communication and managementRecord keepingReviews

The Code specifies that there be a written agreement between the service provider and the clientsetting out the individual responsibilities of both parties. Adequate and up to date monitoring andtreatment records should also be kept and retained for at least five years.

Any service provider involved in the water management process should sign the code of conduct andprovide you with a copy of their certificate.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentSelecting a risk assessor

Selecting a riskassessor(Cont.)

How do I know if I need a risk assessment?If you employ more than five people at any site you are required by a number of health and safetyregulations to carry out a risk assessment. For example, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health(COSHH) Regulations 1999, require you to carry out an assessment of the risk in your premises fromexposure to legionella bacteria from your water systems.

What areas should be risk assessed?

You are required to identify any significant risk presented by your workplace, working practices,products etc. Therefore, all of your water systems, (this includes showers, cooling towers, humidifiersand storage tanks), need to be assessed to judge whether legionella bacteria are:

Liable to enter the system;

Grow in the system;

Whether fine aerosols or water droplets are likely to be formed from the system.

Who would be exposed to the droplets;

Are these people in a susceptible group prone to contracting Legionnaires disease?

In addition, you also need to judge whether the current control measures are suitable and sufficient to

either eliminate or adequately control the risks identified.

What should a risk assessment include?In order to identify the risks your risk assessor will examine your maintenance documentation and watertreatment records to ensure that the appropriate procedures are being followed and documented. Theassessment should also incorporate:

A detailed asset register of your water systems and the facilities they serve;

A comprehensive schematic, so that you can prove that all the systems that might present a risk inthe premises have been identified and suitably assessed.

Who should conduct a risk assessment?Ideally, someone should carry out the risk assessment with no vested interest in managing or servicingyour water systems.

If you use your maintenance or water treatment contractor to conduct the risk assessment, you will beasking the people who you have given specific control tasks to report formally on their effectiveness. Ifsome of the regular tasks they carry out are done incorrectly, they may not even be aware of theirmistakes.



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Coliforms

Coliforms (Cont.)

What are the coliform bacteria?Coliform bacteria are a large assemblage of various species of bacteria which are linked togetherbecause of the ease of culturing as a single group. They include both faecal coliform bacteria (bacteriathat are found naturally in the intestines of warm blooded animals) and non-faecal coliform bacteria..

How does contamination occur?Coliform bacteria are indicator organisms. There normal habitat is mammalian gut as well as soil and

warm water. Many coliform bacteria do not cause disease and therefore do not pose any threat tohuman health. However, if coliforms are detected in drinking water it indicates that there may be moredangerous bacteria also present in the supply, such as Salmonella etc.

What is the legislation?In the UK the statutory instruments which apply to drinking water quality are the Water Supply (WaterQuality) Regulations 1989 and the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. Theseregulations state that drinking water should have no unpleasant taste, colour, odour or turbidity. Norshould drinking water contain certain chemicals and micro-organisms, such as coliform bacteria.This legislation is further enforced by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992which state that every employer has a duty to supply wholesome drinking water. Furthermore,

Report 71, (The Microbiology of Water 1994, Part 1 - Drinking Water) recommends that coliforms are notpresent in a 100ml sample of drinking water.

How do I know if it is present in my drinking water?Regular testing of your drinking water supply by an independent company with no involvement withwater treatment or maintenance of drinking water outlets, such as vending machine and water coolers,will ascertain whether coliforms or any other bacteria are present in your water system.

The microbiological quality of drinking water quality can be ascertained by using total viable bacteriacounts to measure the effectiveness of water treatment and test samples for specific organisms todetermine whether there has been any faecal contamination.

In our experience, drinking water supplied directly from the mains in the UK tends to be of an extremelyhigh quality (less than 1% of the samples we have taken during 1999 from direct mains sources havefailed to meet the wholesome drinking water criteria). However, we do find problems with drinkingwater quality in a high percentage of samples we take from vending machines and water coolers.

What should be done if coliforms are detected in a vending machine or water cooler?If coliforms are detected in a vending machine or water vending machine or water cooler the following



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Escherichia coli(E.coli)

What is Escherichia coli(E.coli)?E.coli is a bacterium that is a common inhabitant of the gut of warm blooded animals, including man. Itis one species of faecal coliform bacteria and only grows in the mammalian gut. Therefore its presencein drinking water is an indication of direct faecal contamination.

How does contamination occur?

Contamination of the water supply can occur in the following ways:

When there has been a leak of sewage onto the drinking water source;

Where staff or cleaners have employed poor hygiene practices. For example, not washing oneshands after visiting the toilet then touching a water outlet, such as a tap.

What is the legislation?In the UK the statutory instruments, which apply to drinking water quality, are the Water Supply (WaterQuality) Regulations 1989 and the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. Theseregulations state that drinking water should have no unpleasant taste, colour, odour or turbidity. Norshould drinking water contain certain chemicals and micro-organisms, such as E.coli bacteria..

The legislation is further enforced by the workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992which state that every employer has a duty to supply wholesome drinking water. Furthermore,Report 71, (The Microbiology of Water 1994 Part 1 - Drinking Water) recommends that E.coli is notpresent in a 100ml sample of drinking water.

What other health risks are posed by E.coli?One type of severe E.coli poisoning can lead to abdominal cramps and watery diarrhoea. Fever andvomiting may also occur and most patients recover within 10 days.

How do I know if it is present in my drinking water?Regular testing of your drinking water supply by an independent company with no involvement with the

water treatment or maintenance of drinking water outlets, such as vending machine and water coolers,will ascertain whether E.coli or any other bacteria is present in your water system.

The microbiological quality of drinking water can be ascertained by using total viable bacteria counts tomeasure the effectiveness of water treatment and test samples for specific organisms to determinewhether there has been any faecal contamination.



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Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor EnvironmentEscherichia coli(E.coli)

(Cont.)

In our experience, drinking water supplied directly from the mains in the UK tends to be of an extremelyhigh quality (less than 1% of the samples we have taken during 1999 from direct mains sources havefailed to meet the wholesome drinking water criteria). However, we do find problems with drinkingwater quality in a high percentage of samples we take from vending machines and water coolers.

What should be done ifE.coliis detected in a vending machine or water cooler?IfE.coli is detected in a vending machine or water cooler the following action should be taken:

Take the relevant machine out of service immediately;

Disinfect the machine in accordance with the AVABs (Automatic Vending Association of Britain)Code of Practice for Hygienic Machine Operation;

Review cleaning procedures to ensure that they comply with current recommended guideline.

Drinking Water Quality:Pseudomonas aeruginosa

What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen. The bacterium almost never infects healthytissues, yet there is hardly any tissue that it cannot infect if the bodys defences are compromised insome manner.

How does contamination occur?Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial species which is particularly good at forming biofilms. Its growthin drinking water can cause problems with colour, taste, odour and turbidity. Once established, biofilmscan be difficult to eradicate from manmade water systems because they need a biodispersant (achemical to breakdown the biofilm) and or physical removal prior to disinfection.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is very difficult to get rid of once established in a vending machine because ofthe inaccessibility of many of the components.

Contamination of vending machines and water coolers by Pseudomonas aeruginosa results from thebacteria either being introduced via the mains supply or through poor cleaning practices. Due to the,

often sporadic or, low flow rates in the units, the bacteria can attach to the internal pipework surfacesand form a biofilm to protect themselves and start to multiply.



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Drinking Water Quality:Pseudomonas

aeruginosa(Cont.)

What is the legislation?In the UK the statutory instruments, which apply to drinking water quality, are the Water Supply (WaterQuality) Regulations 1989 and the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. Theseregulations state that drinking water should have no unpleasant taste, colour, odour or turbidity. Norshould drinking water contain certain chemicals and micro-organisms.

This legislation is further enforced by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulation 1992 which

states that every employer has a duty to supply wholesome drinking water. Furthermore, Report 71,(the Microbiological of Water 1994, Part 1 - Drinking Water) recommends that Pseudomonas aeruginosais not present in a 100ml sample of drinking water from a vending machine.

What are the health effects?Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause urinary tract infections, respiratory systems infections, dermatitis,soft tissue infections and a variety of systemic infections, particularly in victims of severe burns, cancerand AIDS patients who are immuno-suppressed. For healthy people it is more likely to causeproblems with the taste and odour of drinking water and is not likely to have any dramatic effects ontheir health.

However the biofilms that Pseudomonas aeruginosa form could also be harbouring more dangerousbacteria such as Coliform organisms and E.coli.

How do I know if it is present in my drinking water?Regular testing of your drinking water supply by an independent company with no involvement with thewater treatment or maintenance of drinking water outlets, such as vending machines and water coolers,will ascertain whether Pseudomonas aeruginosa or any other bacteria is present in your water system.

In our experience, drinking water supplied directly from the mains in the UK tends to be of an extremelyhigh quality, (less than 1% of the samples we have taken from direct mains sources have failed to meetthe wholesome drinking water criteria). However, we do find problems with drinking water quality inapproximately 30% of samples we take from vending machines and water coolers.

What should be done ifPseudomonas aeruginosa is detected in a vending machine or watercooler?As Pseudomonas aeruginosa can prove difficult to remove, care needs to be taken when dealing withthe management ofPseudomonas aeruginosa contamination.



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Drinking Water Quality:Pseudomonas

aeruginosa(Cont.)

Actions taken should include:

Discussions with your vending contractor regarding their procedures to minimise/removecontamination;

A review of the location and usage of the machine;

A regular review of water quality from your machines, ideally independent of your suppliers.

To avoid problems with cross-contamination of machines itis extremely important to ensure that the staffresponsible for the cleaning and sanitising of vending machines or water coolers are correctly trainedand aware of the potential for contamination during the cleaning process.


Documents

Facilities Managers Guide to Auditing the Indoor Environment