Screenwash health warning

Fleet operators have been warned of the risk of drivers contracting Legionnaires disease from screen wash and potential liability for companies.

Attendees at the ACFO Midlands July meeting were warned of the risk following a report by the Health Protection Agency in June.

According to the HPA, stagnant, warm water presents ideal conditions for the Legionella bacteria to thrive, and screenwash bottles containing just water were more likely to have the bacteria present.

A study by the HPA found one in five washer bottles with plain water in contained the bacteria, but none were found in those with screenwash detergent added.

ACFO Midlands chairman suggested alerting drivers to the risk and possible sending a sachet of screenwash to them.

Adrian Harris, fleet manager at Pertemps, said: “We should be concerned about it because it is a liability issue.”

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