Scalding incidents caused by hot water are considered "never events" by the NHS, meaning they should never occur under any circumstances. Ignoring or neglecting the risks associated with hot water and Legionella bacteria can result in devastating injuries.
Those who are most vulnerable to scalding risks may be found in hospitals, care homes, social services premises, and special schools, with many accidents recorded during bathing or showering.
Control measures like TMV's have been effective in decreasing fatal injuries, but the number of scalding incidents remains alarmingly high, resulting in legal actions.
Controlling the risk from hot water can be a complex task, you may think that reducing your water temperature will be sufficient, but this then poses a risk of Legionella bacteria. According to the HSE’s ACoP L8, a comprehensive Legionella Risk Assessment is essential, where in some cases, this assessment may necessitate maintaining hot water systems at temperatures that could pose a scald risk (above 44°C ).
Therefore, it is crucial to conduct a comparative assessment between the risk of scalding and the potential infection from Legionella.
A Scalding Risk Assessment will identify occupant vulnerabilities in each space/room of your buildings, examine domestic hot water outlets for potential scalding risks, and provide a thorough assessment of these issues. We then recommend actionable steps to manage these risks, ensuring compliance with HTM 04-01 requirements.
Without proper risk assessments, the potential dangers associated with hot water, steam, and hot surfaces can go unnoticed until it's too late. This puts vulnerable individuals at a higher risk of scalding accidents, causing pain, suffering, and potential legal consequences for duty holders, employers, or premises owners.
