Late last week Victoria’s Health Department finally identified the source of the latest outbreak of the deadly legionnaire’s disease: a cooling tower in Altona North. As at the beginning of the week, there had been 107 confirmed cases and two deaths related to the outbreak.
This outbreak raises some issues for workplace Health and Safety Representatives.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Clare Looker said last week that they had identified and ‘already treated’ the source of the outbreak. Of the identified cases, 103 had been in hospital at some stage. According to media reports, the Health Department is investigating how legionella grew in the cooling tower.
After an outbreak of the disease at the then newly opened Melbourne Aquarium, regulations were introduced by the Victorian government which require building owners to undertake regular testing (from monthly to quarterly, depending on several factors), develop a Risk Management Plan, and undertake an annual audit.
There is an important role for HSRs: to ensure that, if there is a cooling tower at your workplace, your employer (or the building owner if this is not your employer) is complying with the legal requirements under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019. For a start you can request to review the risk management plan and that the latest annual audit be tabled for discussion at the next OHS Committee meeting.
Read more: Legionnaires Disease and Air Conditioning & Legionnaires Disease