Legionella and Other Waterborne Pathogens
Minimizing Risk in Building Water Systems
An Intensive Full Day Seminar

This classroom course is no longer offered. Please see our online courses. www.hcinfo.com

This  course will teach you how to assess and minimize the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens in hospitals, hotels, and office buildings. Many of the principles apply to industrial facilities also. The course is for facility managers, safety officers, infection control coordinators, industrial hygienists, public health officials, plumbing inspectors, plumbing code officials, and those that offer services related to water treatment, plumbing systems, cooling towers, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, or infection control. 

• Protect your employees, patients, residents, and guests

• Improve patient care

• Enhance your career

• Comply with JCAHO EC 1.7

• Avoid lawsuits

• Reduce your liability

• Save money on equipment, services, and supplies

• Save time by knowing exactly what to do, how to get it done, and what not to do

• Improve codes and policies

• Learn to conduct risk assessments

• Network with other professionals and potential clients

• Retain clients by offering services they need—before your competitors do

• Enhance your credentials and competence

What past attendees said about our courses   Top

“Information was helpful in educating how to prevent colonies—especially in piping design with deadlegs.” Michael Wenczkowski, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

“Very good course—provided valuable risk assessment/control information.” Denise Copperthite, industrial hygienist, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Md.

 “Extremely beneficial. I recommend it to all my colleagues.” Rich Knestaut, Hydro-Logic Inc., Gloucester, N.J. 

“A very informative seminar…presentation was great.” Juan Salazar, hospital director of plant operations

“Course was very good—provided insight into Legionella and risk assessment.” Jay Farmerie, Cyrus Rice Water Consultants, Moon Township, Penn. 

“The speaker made it applicable & appropriate for all levels of experience. He didn’t talk at a level over your head.” Melissa Freedman, Plumbing & HVAC engineer, Detroit

“Instructor very knowledgeable...presented a very descriptive seminar.” Timothy Jim, hospital facility manager, Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service

"I had read extensively on the subject, but this added information I had not come across.” Matt Copthorne, Chemtech, Inc.

“This course is an excellent resource for hospital management and their consultants.” Joe Ficek, Grumman/Butkus Associates, Evanston, Ill.

“Very good seminar.” Mark Zipperer, hospital utility systems chairman

"I would recommend this to all of my colleagues!” Joe Russell, President, Watertech of America Inc., Hales Corners, Wisc.

“It was complete and we had the opportunity to discuss practical applications.” Infection Control Coordinator, Montreal

“Very informative, extremely helpful” Daniel Wong, Chem-Aqua, Inc.

“Quality of material both presented and handed out was excellent.” John Loop, Environmental Health & Safety Officer, University of Ottawa

“Very good presentation – I feel much more confident to evaluate potential Legionella risk.” Walter Tyler, Technical Director, Cascade Water Services, Hicksville, N.Y.

"The environmental sampling procedures and methodology recommended were extensive and useful.” Lap-chi Shek, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, EMSD Energy Efficiency Office, Hong Kong

“The seminar addressed everything I can think of. I feel very comfortable with future dealings with this problem.” Steve Gauer, water treatment specialist, Huntington Beach, Calif. 

“Great course…will not hesitate to recommend to customers.”  Rafael Gonzalez, President, Xelera Inc. (water treatment), Salem, VA

“Really enjoyed this excellent treatment and presentation of a very large subject matter.” Bill Pearson, Southeastern Labs, Raleigh, NC

“Excellent discussion at understandable level.” David Woodard, healthcare consultant

“Very useful to my company’s business development” Roderick Thorpe, MSc, CIAQP, Enviroperfect Inc., Montreal

“Lots of good information to take home for digestion & referral.” R. Stewart, infection control professional and laboratorian  

“Special effort was made to make sure we understood all materials & concepts.”  Patrick Flood, hospital lead technician

“Content and expertise of the speaker was excellent.” Jeff Fuze, Water Sciences Inc., Fort Wayne, IN

“It’s been a very helpful seminar, additional to the excellent manuals you made.” Jim Schalekamp, Municipal Health Department, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

“I came here looking for a comprehensive overview so that I could supply my customers with useful information regarding Legionella…I really feel I have accomplished this.” Patrick Smith, Klenzoid Co. Ltd., Toronto

“Very informative and worthwhile – Good Job!” Douglas Lowe, Plumbing engineer, Detroit  

“The research and real world experience were very beneficial.” Frank Lloyd, Technical Specialties Corporation (water treatment), Atlanta, GA

About the Instructor  Top

Matthew R. Freije is president of HC Information Resources Inc. He investigates Legionella problems, evaluates buildings for conditions that promote Legionella growth, recommends plumbing system disinfection strategies, serves as an expert in litigation, provides training, and teaches seminars. His book, Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk, a 1997 award finalist, has been highlighted in professional journals worldwide and has sold in more than 30 countries. Freije is the author of several reports and articles, has served as a guest speaker for professional societies, and is the editor of Legionella E-news, an international newsletter that covers outbreaks and new technology. He is a Purdue University mechanical engineering graduate and a member of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Water Quality Association (WQA), the American Society of Safety Engineers, and the International Water Association (IWA). He is a Certified Water Specialist, with additional certification in disinfection. Freije can be reached at e-mail.

Course Content  Top

All material is explained in easy-to-understand terms.

Overview of Prevention Strategies
Deciding which waterborne pathogens to address
Government and industry guidelines
Legal issues
Reactive vs. proactive approaches
Routine environmental sampling: Which pathogens? What about Legionella?
Wrong approaches: myths, blunders, and money wasters
Overview of management strategies for various building types

Preventive Measures for Domestic Water
Water temperatures: myths vs. facts
Dead-legs: why some are worse than others; examples; remedies
Policies to implement
Maintenance & operation
Good and bad plumbing design
Hot water tanks and instantaneous water heaters

Preventive Measures for Cooling Towers
Physical cleaning 
Water treatment: overall objectives, biocides, monitoring and feeding, industry recommendations
Maintenance
Preventing Legionella habitats
Monitoring cooling water
Location
Preventing transmission

Brief Overview of Other Potential Sources of Contamination
HVAC equipment
Manufacturing equipment
Decorative fountains
Dental unit water lines
Whirlpool spas and bathtubs
Misters
Humidifiers

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