Water safety may not be the first thing you think of when reopening a business. But, it can become a danger if operations aren’t maintained. With the spread of covid-19 in 2020, people are taking a serious look at their health. And it’s more important now than ever for business owners to prioritize employees’ and customers’ health. Whether your business is in the process of opening up or will reopen soon, here’s some information about water safety for this year.
Two major risks for businesses
With many businesses being shut down for several months, business owners need to make buildings safe again for people to occupy. There are two major risks when businesses are unoccupied for long periods of time: mold and Legionnaires’.
Mold
Mold grows when moisture is present, and it can be especially harmful to those with asthma, allergies or lung disease. However, large amounts of mold can cause serious reactions like fever and shortness of breath. Mold is often found in roofs, windows, ceiling tiles and pipes. To prevent the growth of mold, businesses should fix leaky roofs/windows/pipes, clean well after flooding, control humidity levels, and make sure there’s proper ventilation inside.
Legionnaires’
The presence of Legionella or Legionnaires’ disease occurs in stagnant water, such as in a plumbing system. The droplets are so small that people usually catch the disease by breathing in the bacteria. People with weakened immune systems, underlying disease, smokers, and people over 50 are more likely to be affected by the disease.
To avoid Legionella, a complete water management system is needed for your business. This involves several steps, including maintenance of cooling towers, fire sprinklers and safety showers. To read more about water management, see here.
What to do next
This may all sound a bit complicated, but the most important thing is that you keep your employees and customers safe. Instead of doing it yourself, the most effective way to make your building safe is by getting help from experts. Whether you need water tank disinfection, chlorination, or simply need help figuring out where to start, we can help you make your business safe.