Operate a commercial hot tub or spa pool? Stop what you’re doing and to read this article.

Back in 2012 there was an outbreak of  Legionnaires disease in Fenton, Stoke on Trent. The point source was a hot tub at a discount warehouse operated by a company called JTF.

21 people became ill and three people (Richard Griffin, Harry Cadman, 71 and William Hammersley, 79) died.

There were major failings in the way that JTF were operating that hot tub. We assume it was operating for retail display purposes.

JTF were recently found guilty of a breach of section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. This places a duty on employers to ensure the health and safety of members of the public.

Hot tubs/spa pools etc. that are poorly managed are dangerous. There’s a lot more to managing them properly than people think. Don’t be fooled by the relatively small scale of the associated water treatment system. It might not be as large and extensive as that for larger swimming pool installations. But the requirement for competent pool plant operators is no less vital.

If you operate a commercial hot tub/spa pool, please do yourself (and your customers) a massive favour and get several of your team trained to the required standard.