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GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Legionnaires
« on: June 07, 2012, 05:20:45 pm »
so i dont know if this as been brought up on here since its been on the new but id feel bad if i didnt and it happened to one of us!

does anyone know the risks? im wfp with a 350ltr van tank, the thing on my mind is that i never actually empty the tank fully (very nearly some days though) and im concerned the little bit of water always left in the tank could carry Legionnaires!

opinions welcome, good bad and indifferent!  :)

george

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2012, 05:27:14 pm »
check this out!....   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionellosis   ...

matthewprice

  • Posts: 767
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2012, 06:07:36 pm »
as far as i was told the water has to be above 23 degrees for it to grow in the water ,and i have taken regular readings and my pure only got to 15,4 degrees.if it was to get warmer i would add a uv light :)

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2012, 06:56:44 pm »
as far as i was told the water has to be above 23 degrees for it to grow in the water ,and i have taken regular readings and my pure only got to 15,4 degrees.if it was to get warmer i would add a uv light :)

so it is something we should be worried about you think? im gonna test my water temp now and let you know what mine is

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2012, 06:57:38 pm »
This is from wiki!...



70 to 80 °C (158 to 176 °F): Disinfection range
At 66 °C (151 °F): Legionellae die within 2 minutes
At 60 °C (140 °F): They die within 32 minutes
At 55 °C (131 °F): They die within 5 to 6 hours
Above 50 °C (122 °F): They can survive but do not multiply
35 to 46 °C (95 to 115 °F): Ideal growth range
20 to 50 °C (68 to 122 °F): Growth range
Below 20 °C (68 °F): They can survive but are dormant

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4334
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2012, 07:02:52 pm »
I suspect that if you have water left in your van tank over a hot weekend with the van in the sun, you could easily get over 20deg.

Ditto if you have an IBC in the sun (especially a black one like me).

Possibly worth a bleaching once in a while.

Vin

Simon@ Clearview contractors

  • Posts: 755
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2012, 07:03:37 pm »
Leigionella is only contractable(is that a word?) when it is airbourne.   Im pretty sure we cant pick it up from washing the windows down.

Unless there are mico particles coming down that are absolutley riddled, you would then have to have the misfortune of inhaling the dropletts and then the virus taking hold.

It's ever so slightly possible proable more chance of winning the big Euro lottery this friday...

Simon@ Clearview contractors

  • Posts: 755
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2012, 07:09:43 pm »
Your water also has to become contaminated with the host/source of the infection to start with before you can worry about it multiplying...

Dave Willis

Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2012, 07:19:29 pm »
Fan jets, droplets?

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4334
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2012, 07:36:31 pm »
Your water also has to become contaminated with the host/source of the infection to start with before you can worry about it multiplying...

It would equally be valid to ask how you would know if it were clear.

From WP: "Legionella live within amoebae in the natural environment" so I get the impression you can't escape the damned thing.

A bleach once in a while might be worth a punt; certainly over the summer.  Detecting it is tough, so prevention may be better than cure.  I've been considering this for some time.  Lots of my customers are elderly (aren't they all?) and I'd hate to kill them off.  After all, I need their cash...

I'm thinking of a bottle of unscented thin bleach in a full IBC.  Leave for 12 hours, pump into van tank, wait another 12 hours, rinse out.

Do it over a weekend and my total time input will be negligible. Possible payoff, massive.

Vin

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2012, 07:44:13 pm »
interesting thoughts hmmmmmm well my temp at the moment is 18 c!
 
do any of you test for legionnaires and if so how?

thanks for all the interest so far!

george

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2012, 07:46:36 pm »
Your water also has to become contaminated with the host/source of the infection to start with before you can worry about it multiplying...

It would equally be valid to ask how you would know if it were clear.

From WP: "Legionella live within amoebae in the natural environment" so I get the impression you can't escape the damned thing.

A bleach once in a while might be worth a punt; certainly over the summer.  Detecting it is tough, so prevention may be better than cure.  I've been considering this for some time.  Lots of my customers are elderly (aren't they all?) and I'd hate to kill them off.  After all, I need their cash...

I'm thinking of a bottle of unscented thin bleach in a full IBC.  Leave for 12 hours, pump into van tank, wait another 12 hours, rinse out.

Do it over a weekend and my total time input will be negligible. Possible payoff, massive.

Vin

 so bleach kills it hey? i might follow your lead if thats gonna prevent manslaughter charges  ???

Splash 4 Cash

  • Posts: 155
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #12 on: June 07, 2012, 07:48:18 pm »
O fcku we are all going to die. 

matthewprice

  • Posts: 767
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #13 on: June 07, 2012, 07:49:11 pm »
i was told that all water has it in it and that pure is more of a problem because we take out the calcium ,i make 5000l a week and use it all so it does not sit  long,also got a mate who is in the navy and they have to steralise there water tankes once a year to meet h/s

Splash 4 Cash

  • Posts: 155
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #14 on: June 07, 2012, 07:56:33 pm »
I think it would be wise to go to the Doctors tomorrow and check if we might just have this bug as my muscles ache on some days.

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #15 on: June 07, 2012, 07:59:07 pm »
I think it would be wise to go to the Doctors tomorrow and check if we might just have this bug as my muscles ache on some days.
  ;D mine do too now you mention it hehehehe

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #16 on: June 07, 2012, 07:59:57 pm »
i wonder if anyone has caught the disease through a wfp set up?  ???

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #17 on: June 07, 2012, 08:04:32 pm »
i was told that all water has it in it and that pure is more of a problem because we take out the calcium ,i make 5000l a week and use it all so it does not sit  long,also got a mate who is in the navy and they have to steralise there water tankes once a year to meet h/s

 so maybe we should start following the navy's H & S procedures! out of interest what does your mate use to steralise the tanks?

thanks

GB Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 3262
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #18 on: June 07, 2012, 08:15:28 pm »
i just found this on another (yes they do exist  ;D) windy forum...




...Your query concerning legionella bacteria and window cleaning has come
through to me. You ask a number of questions in your message which may be
better talking through over the phone. However, I am out of the office for
two weeks beginning tomorrow so in case you don't pick this message up in
time, here are some of my thoughts regarding your questions:

"Can pure water incubate the Legionnaires' Disease?"

The answer here is that legionella will not tend to multiply to dangerous
levels in pure water because they need nutrients to grow and divide.
However, most water will contain some impurities that will act as a
nutrients source for legionella e.g., contamination in pipework - you'd
have to go to some lengths to ensure that water is totally uncontaminated.

"What precautions must window cleaners take to prevent Legionnaires'
disease?"

As well as nutrients, legionella bacteria require temperatures to fall
between 20C and 45C for them to grow and divide. Clearly in warm weather,
like we've had lately, there is potential for stored water to reach these
temperatures. Therefore the approach to take in order to control risks
from legionella would be one that took into account both cleanliness of
the system and water temperatures i.e.,

keep system (pipework, storage tanks, purification equipment) clean
if possible, take steps to keep stored water temperature below 20C.

STEVE-UK

  • Posts: 1609
Re: Legionnaires
« Reply #19 on: June 07, 2012, 08:15:32 pm »
makes you wonder about hot water systems eh