September 22, 2003—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has added a new eTool on its Web site concerning Legionnaires’ Disease. The eTool offers a graphical menu to assist in the assessment of worksites for potential Legionnaires’ disease. It provides information on disease recognition, investigation procedures, and control strategies. The page also gives links to applicable OSHA and ANSI Standards, examples of hazards and possible solutions, and additional assistance on related safety and health topics and professional associations, as well as relevant news releases.
Legionnaires’ disease, or Legionellosis, is a bacterial disease commonly associated with water-based aerosols. It is often the result of poorly maintained air conditioning cooling towers and potable water systems. Legionellosis has not been shown to be communicable, so it affects only those who are directly exposed to the contaminated aerosolized water source. There are an estimated 10,000 to 50,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease each year in the US.
