The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have today (Friday 20^th January) released some new Health and Safety Guidance for Spa Pools. The new Spa Pool guidance is entitled Health & Safety Guidance 282 (HSG 282). Spa-pool systems are a recognised source of diseases caused by infectious agents including the organism that causes legionnaires’ disease, primarily Legionella pneumophila. 

The Spa Pool Guidance works in unison with the Approved Code of Practice for Legionella (ACoP L8) and has been introduced to help spa pool owners and users. The HSG 282 document provides guidance on operating and maintaining commercial-type systems. Additionally, there is specific guidance for domestic spa pools / hot tubs that are used as part of a business activity. 

Click here to download the HSG 282 Spa Pool Guidance

There have been a number of Legionella outbreaks linked to spa pools in leisure centres, hotels, holiday homes, on cruise ships and on display. The main risk from spa pool and hot tubs comes from the fact the water is heated, usually between 30–40 °C, the optimum temperature for bacteria such as Legionella to grow and thrive. Furthermore, these systems have the ability to produce aerosols by means of air jets or similar devices, this is a particular concern for Legionella bacteria which water droplets to be dispersed by aerosols to infect humans.

Other pathogens of concern which customers may wish to consider when reviewing the microbial content of spa pool and hot tubs include: