NSW Health is making significant changes to the Legionella Regulations. This will mean every cooling tower system will need to have a Risk Management Plan which will be audited annually. There are are raft of changes as detailed.
2. Legionella Management is Changing in
NSW
These changes will shift the industry
from a self-regulated model to an
Australian standard risk management
framework.
The first steps have already taken place
in the form of compulsory monthly
testing with government notification
for reportable test results.
Significant changes to enforcement
mean that stakeholders must continue
to work together
3. Risk Management Plans
One of the next changes to be introduced are risk management plans for each
cooling tower system.
The timeline for completion is based on each local government’s risk
assessments, with high-risk systems to be completed before September 2018,
medium-risk before December 2018 and low-risk in March 2019.
These risk management plans must be completed by “competent individuals” on
the NSW Health “Approved Form”.
In the future, risk management plans will be reviewed yearly for high-risk
systems and every five years for medium- and low-risk systems.
4. Provision of Previous Years’
Documentation
Buildings with cooling tower systems will need to provide five years worth of
documentation to their local government within four hours of initial request.
This documentation can include service reports, risk management plans, audits
and the contact details of each person who has worked on the system over the
previous five years.
This is likely to pose a significant practical challenge given the changes that can
occur in building ownership and management, as well as the contractors
engaged over a five-year period.
5. Renewed Focus on Safety
With increased auditing, development of risk management plans and
government involvement, the suggested changes will lead to a greater focus on
consultant and inspector safety.
There will be additional focus on the various environmental and safe-handling
aspects associated with chemical handling, storage and maintenance.
We support any outcome that will deliver an improvement on public health in
New South Wales.
6. New Framework Support
Hydrochem strongly support the new improvements to cooling tower system regulation in New
South Wales.
While there will no doubt be some difficult, with NSW Health’s upcoming education program we
expect to see widespread levels of acceptance and significant improvement for public health.
For more information, visit the following site:
https://hydrochem.com.au/
https://hydrochem.com.au/resource/riding-changes-legionella-control-nsw/
