As the UK Government has once again recommended that we should prioritise working from home, the lengthening pandemic raises new concerns for building safety. With more workspaces being either moth-balled, or seeing vastly reduced usage, there is a public health concern regarding the design of water systems and how they will be kept in a healthy condition, where their planned use is no longer occurring. Imagine a building that was designed to be used regularly by 500 people, where the population have been working from home, or in a hybrid arrangement. Over a prolonged period, such as we have seen with the ongoing pandemic, with a reduction in occupation the flow of fresh water and waste will be vastly reduced and can lead to plumbing problems.
Health and safety concerns are for the risks of waterborne pathogens, including legionella, as well as the deterioration of holding tanks, leading to contamination, build-up of sludge and residues, and therefore a need for ongoing vigilance and maintenance. Cold water should be kept cold, hot water kept hot, and systems kept well maintained and regularly flushed through. This is also the case for the maintenance of air conditioning and vented heating systems.
Risk assessments should be carried out, and an ongoing schedule of works planned, regardless of the working arrangements for staff in order to maintain the building’s safety – especially in anticipation of a full return to the workplace.
To read more about the risks and issues raised, see the IOSH article
