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Just two weeks after getting the all-clear on the presence of Legionella bacteria at Place du Portage, some federal government workers are again being warned that the potentially deadly bacteria have been found in the complex.
A memo sent this week to workers at 200 Promenade du Portage says that Legionella bacteria are present in the building’s hot water supply. Routine samples of the water were taken on June 2, the memo said, and test results received June 12 showed “the presence of Legionella bacteria in the … Place du Centre.”
The hot water has been turned off until further tests show it has been disinfected, the memo said.
Public Works and Government Services Canada would not confirm the findings Monday, but a spokesman promised a response by late Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the union representing Public Service workers said it’s been kept in the dark.
“At this point, we have more questions than answers,” said Robyn Benson, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “Our members on the workplace health and safety committees are requesting information and have made it clear that they will need to be involved in any potential investigations and response measures.”
In mid-May, when Legionella bacteria were found in the cooling system of Place du Portage Phase III, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Gregory Taylor, joined senior staff from PWGSC to make the announcement and reassure workers.
The water in the cooling towers was treated with chlorine and tests released June 1 showed Legionella bacteria were back within safe levels.
The Legionella bacteria — named after a 1976 outbreak in Philadelphia that killed 29 U.S. Legionnaires — can lead to a form of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, or the less serious, flu-like Pontiac fever. Both illnesses have symptoms that include fever, cough, muscle pain and headaches. Symptoms usually appear from two to 14 days after infection. Most cases are treated by antibiotics. Those most at risk from Legionella are the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
The disease is not contagious and people are most likely to be infected when they breathe in bacteria carried in airborne water droplets. For that reason, the presence of Legionella bacteria in a building’s cooling towers is considered to be a higher risk. The systems extract heat through towers in which tiny water drops are sprayed through circulating air. That air is not supposed to mix with the air inside buildings, but can find its way in through breaches in ductwork.
This week’s memo says, “Health Canada has performed a risk assessment of this situation and has concluded that the risk to public health is low. The action taken to disinfect the hot water supply today addressed the immediate threat posed by the bacteria and PWGSC is confident that Place du Centre is safe for employees to work in.”
Results from followup tests should be available in two to three weeks.
Meanwhile, testing for Legionella bacteria is also being done at the Jean Edmonds Tower North on Slater Street in Ottawa after a Citizenship and Immigration Canada worker fell ill with Legionnaire’s disease. The person has since recovered.
“While nothing indicates that the source is Jean Edmonds Tower North, the department is proactively working with Public Works and Government Services Canada to test the ventilation system,” department spokesman Rémi Larivière told the Citizen in an email.
“A message was sent to all employees of the Department to inform them of the situation.”
— With files from Paula McCooey and Robert Bostelaar
bcrawford@ottawacitizen.com
查看原文...
A memo sent this week to workers at 200 Promenade du Portage says that Legionella bacteria are present in the building’s hot water supply. Routine samples of the water were taken on June 2, the memo said, and test results received June 12 showed “the presence of Legionella bacteria in the … Place du Centre.”
The hot water has been turned off until further tests show it has been disinfected, the memo said.
Public Works and Government Services Canada would not confirm the findings Monday, but a spokesman promised a response by late Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the union representing Public Service workers said it’s been kept in the dark.
“At this point, we have more questions than answers,” said Robyn Benson, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “Our members on the workplace health and safety committees are requesting information and have made it clear that they will need to be involved in any potential investigations and response measures.”
In mid-May, when Legionella bacteria were found in the cooling system of Place du Portage Phase III, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Gregory Taylor, joined senior staff from PWGSC to make the announcement and reassure workers.
The water in the cooling towers was treated with chlorine and tests released June 1 showed Legionella bacteria were back within safe levels.
The Legionella bacteria — named after a 1976 outbreak in Philadelphia that killed 29 U.S. Legionnaires — can lead to a form of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, or the less serious, flu-like Pontiac fever. Both illnesses have symptoms that include fever, cough, muscle pain and headaches. Symptoms usually appear from two to 14 days after infection. Most cases are treated by antibiotics. Those most at risk from Legionella are the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
The disease is not contagious and people are most likely to be infected when they breathe in bacteria carried in airborne water droplets. For that reason, the presence of Legionella bacteria in a building’s cooling towers is considered to be a higher risk. The systems extract heat through towers in which tiny water drops are sprayed through circulating air. That air is not supposed to mix with the air inside buildings, but can find its way in through breaches in ductwork.
This week’s memo says, “Health Canada has performed a risk assessment of this situation and has concluded that the risk to public health is low. The action taken to disinfect the hot water supply today addressed the immediate threat posed by the bacteria and PWGSC is confident that Place du Centre is safe for employees to work in.”
Results from followup tests should be available in two to three weeks.
Meanwhile, testing for Legionella bacteria is also being done at the Jean Edmonds Tower North on Slater Street in Ottawa after a Citizenship and Immigration Canada worker fell ill with Legionnaire’s disease. The person has since recovered.
“While nothing indicates that the source is Jean Edmonds Tower North, the department is proactively working with Public Works and Government Services Canada to test the ventilation system,” department spokesman Rémi Larivière told the Citizen in an email.
“A message was sent to all employees of the Department to inform them of the situation.”
— With files from Paula McCooey and Robert Bostelaar
bcrawford@ottawacitizen.com
查看原文...
