Since 19th July, the easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK has led to thousands returning to the office.  

We’ve all been made well aware of the dangers posed by a deadly airborne virus over the last 18 months – but there are many other risks associated with the reopening of businesses post-pandemic. 

Legionella in water systems

If you’re opening your business or office space after a long period of closure, your water systems are likely to be suffering from water stagnation. Dangerous bacteria and disease, such as Legionella, can multiply in these stagnant water systems – and risk being transmitted to humans, with sometimes dangerous consequences. 

Imagine your staff drinking, washing their hands, and preparing food with this stagnant water – it doesn’t bear thinking about.

Having been stood for months without use, these water systems need to be flushed and chlorinated, to mitigate the risks of your workforce developing Legionnaires’ disease. 

Since lockdown restrictions have been lifted, we’ve been working with a number of organisations including local councils and Citizens Advice, to ensure their water systems are safe for their return to the office. 

There are simple ways to ensure your water systems within your business or commercial space are safe to use, and free from any harmful bacteria. Our legionella assessment allows us to assess health risks and rectify areas of concern effectively – keeping your staff safe as they make their return to the workplace.

HVAC safety

HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems are designed to be used regularly, if not constantly. However, since the coronavirus pandemic, many systems will have been inactive for months on end.

While the government has shared guidance about the use of HVAC systems in combating the spread of COVID-19, there have been no warnings over the risk posed by reactivating systems now businesses have reopened.

As systems convey air and/or cool it, they build up moisture and so, if they aren’t regularly serviced or if they are inactive for long periods of time, these humid, enclosed and moist environments become a breeding ground for bacteria, mould and fungus.

Mould or mildew can grow in air ducts, filters or vents as well as in drip pans and coils. It spreads through the production of microscopic spores which float through the air and deposit on surfaces. In the right environments, these spores can form mould colonies, where they can then produce more spores which can be spread further. Worse, these spores can survive and linger in an atmosphere for long periods, and some moulds can be deadly.

We’ve provided our HVAC services to many businesses, more recently including National Law Firm, Mills & Reeve. We’ve allowed their Leeds-based team to return to the office in the knowledge that their AC systems have been thoroughly deep-cleaned, serviced and disinfected by our expert team.

If you’ve recently made, or planning to make, a return to your office or commercial space post-lockdown, get in touch with our team today. We offer a number of services to make your workplace safe for your staff and customers.