Legionnaires’ disease is caught by breathing in tiny droplets that contain legionella bacteria. That means any activity that creates a fine spray from contaminated water can matter, not just showers.
Where to look
- Hoses left coiled with water inside, especially in warm weather.
- Pressure washers and steam cleaners used with stored or stagnant water.
- Wash bays and cleaning stores with little-used taps and hoses.
- Farm and yard hoses used only now and then.
- Spray nozzles and attachments that are rarely cleaned.
Practical steps
- Include hoses, wash bays and similar equipment in your legionella risk assessment if they are connected to your water supply.
- Drain hoses and store them off the ground after use.
- Run water through hoses and pressure washers for a short time before use if they have not been used for a while, keeping spray away from people.
- Avoid using water that has been stored for long periods, and check the cleanliness of tanks and containers. See our guide on cold water storage tanks.
- Clean and descale nozzles and attachments regularly.
- Keep a simple record of checks and flushing.
These are typical good-practice steps, and your risk assessment should set what suits your site.
Your duties
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to manage risks to health. The HPSC national guidelines for the control of legionellosis in Ireland give practical guidance for water systems.
Why hoses and pressure washers are a Legionella question
Legionnaires’ disease is caught by breathing in tiny droplets of contaminated water, called aerosols. Anything that sprays, splashes or mists water can create them, and a hose or pressure washer does exactly that. If the water in the hose or system behind it is contaminated, the spray can carry bacteria into the air.
Where the risk usually sits
- Hoses left full of standing water. Water that sits warm in a coiled hose, particularly outdoors in summer, is a typical place for bacteria to grow.
- Hose reels and fittings that are rarely drained or used.
- Pressure washers fed from stored water or from a tap that is hardly ever run.
- Misting and spray systems, including those used to dampen dust or wash vehicles, yards and bin areas.
- Washdown areas in kitchens, food production and workshops, where staff are in the spray for long periods.
Sensible precautions
- Run the water through a hose for a while before use to clear standing water, and point the spray away from people while you do.
- Drain and store hoses so they are not left full in warm places.
- Check hose reels and fittings and replace perished hoses.
- Avoid using spray equipment that creates fine mist close to people, and consider face protection if it cannot be avoided.
- Include hoses, washers and washdown areas in your water system record. Our logbook guide shows what to keep.
- Make sure staff know to report anything unusual, such as slime, smells or discoloured water.
Fitting it into your risk assessment
A Legionella risk assessment looks at everything that uses water in a building, including equipment that is easy to forget because it is portable or used only now and then. If you are not sure whether your hoses and washers have been covered, see our guide to the written scheme of control or our overview of common Legionella risks in buildings.
We carry out Legionella risk assessments for premises in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. See our Cork page and our Galway page.
Talk to us
Ask for a legionella risk assessment that covers the whole site, indoors and out. Call 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie. See common legionella risks in buildings.
Want your tanks looked after as well? Read about our cold water tank cleaning and disinfection service across Ireland.