I am writing in response to the article written by the CEO of CIPHE on raising the standards in the plumbing and heating industry in the edition of PHAM news on 12th March. The valid point was made around treating water safety as seriously as gas safety. One of the points was around the installation and maintenance of the heating and water systems.

However, there are the day-to-day issues around the overall general cleaning of the water components at the end of the water and heating chain that can be simply addressed. We must look at the water system as a whole and not in simple isolation. The major culprits are where water collects and can stagnate such as showerheads and bath overflows. When you have young family members, especially children using showers, you want to make sure they are safe at all times from something that is easily and efficiently addressed.

Over the last 20 years, recognizing the risk of Legionalla staphylococcus, Wisemans have developed and continue to develop Wisemans Evershower spray as an effective product. It is regarded as the industry leader for safe disinfection, descaling and cleaning of sanitary ware and showerheads . Suitable for domestic use, organic, Evershower is biodegradable and works instantly in a simple spray like any other domestic cleaning product that sits the household cupboard. So for plumbers, this is something they can use when installing showers or sanitary ware. Once used why not leave a bottle of Evershower spray and help educate customers.

Another area of concern, that is part of a much greater debate, is that of the responsibilities of Letting agents and Landlords towards their tenants and the practical and proportionate application of Health & Safety laws. Whilst there is a duty to assess the risk from exposure to Legionella to ensure the safety of their tenants, this does not require an in-depth, detailed assessment. There does exist legislation under HSE requirements, however, many are ignoring this hence to the CIPHE’s point about creating a health check.

Letting agents and Landlords are putting tenants at risk if not looking at the water system as a whole, especially if properties have been left vacant for a while with stagnant water through out the system and the outlets.  It is part of their remit to ensure that plumbing experts come in and perform their checks as well as cleaning all parts where any stagnant water will have been.

Where showers are installed, these have the means of creating and dispersing water droplets which may be inhaled causing a foreseeable risk of exposure to Legionella.  If used regularly the risks are reduced but in any case, tenants should be advised by their plumbers to regularly clean and disinfect showerheads. 

HSE and Local Authority inspectors do not proactively inspect domestic premises or ask for evidence that Landlords have undertaken a risk assessment. However, if a tenant were to contract Legionnaires’ disease from the water system in their home, the Landlord may be liable to prosecution under HSWA, and would have to demonstrate to a court that they had fulfilled their legal duty, so it is important that they assess and control the risks by ensuring they are working with their plumbing experts to ensure the whole water system has been checked and cleaned.

(www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/coi-e-05.htm).

Landlords and Letting agents can easily ensure that when cleaning for their next tenants their plumbers Evershower use on all the bathroom outlets, which will help to give extra piece of mind.

Harvey Wiseman, CEO and MD Wiseman Industries Ltd.