Schools must be given time to prepare for reopening to protect pupils and staff against infections such as Legionnaires’ disease that can proliferate in dormant buildings, teachers have warned.
Thousands of schools could all be “desperately trying” to hire water treatment specialists at the same time before they reopen to guard against an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease unless they are given sufficient time to plan for reopening, according to the NASUWT teaching union.
General secretary Patrick Roach, who last week spelled out five conditions that needed to be met before schools could reopen, questioned whether the Department for Education understood the practicalities surrounding flushing out school water systems.
NASUWT boss: My five conditions for schools to reopen
Coronavirus: NHS workers’ call to ‘keep teachers safe’
Response: How do we reopen schools safely?
He said: “Schools have got to be fully ready to be reopened and if that means flushing the water systems to make sure we’re not poisoning children or adults with Legionella [the bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease], or whatever it happens to be, that has to take place.”
He added: “The government has issued some guidance about managing school premises in relation to any opening and they have talked about the importance of flushing systems, but does the government appreciate the practicalities of that?
“If schools are going to commission water treatment specialists, they have got to find them and schedule them, and we’ve got thousands of schools who may be desperately trying to do that at pretty much the same time. So the government has got to think about the timing of any announcement in relation to relaxing the current restrictions and ensure schools have meaningful time to get ready before any partial or full reopening.”
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia that can be lethal. It is caused by Legionella bacteria, which can contaminate unused water supplies.
The NEU teaching union says schools’ drinking fountains and showers may give rise to sprays or aerosols containing Legionella bacteria, but it says: “Provided the bacteria remain isolated in the pipework, and prompt and adequate efforts are made to deal with the problem, there should be no cause for major concern.”
A DfE spokesperson said: “While schools are partially closed, school buildings and grounds still need to be looked after to ensure they remain functional and safe. Schools are responsible for their health and safety measures and statutory compliance with regulations - this includes water safety management.
“We are also working in close consultation with the sector as we consider how to reopen schools, nurseries and colleges when the time is right, and will ensure there is sufficient notice to plan and prepare.”
