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Legionnaires’ disease is a major threat to public health. Solutions to deal with this problem are usually siloed and not entirely effective. This paper aims to model the information requirements of legionella-safe cooling towers in the era of Industry 4.0.

A year-long design science research was conducted in a cooling tower producer for heavy industries. The project started with a bibliometric analysis and literature review of legionella in cooling towers. Goal modeling techniques are then used to identify the requirements for digital transformation.

The improvement of legionella prevention, detection and outbreak response in digitally enabled cooling tower should involve different stakeholders. Digital twins and blockchain are disruptive technologies that can transform the cooling tower industry.

For theory, this study revises the most recent advances in legionella protection. Legionella-safe systems must be prepared to anticipate, monitor and immediate alert in case of an outbreak. For practice, this paper presents a distributed and digital architecture for cooling tower safety. However, technology is only a part of outbreak management solutions, requiring trustworthy conditions and real-time communication among stakeholders.

As another major outbreak of Legionnaires' disease makes the headlines with the recent case at the BBC's London headquarters, fears and uncertainties — and some misconceptions — have hit the public at large. The risk of legionella can be reduced to a negligible factor, but a careless slip by a designer, contractor, and particularly by maintenance management and technicians, can prove how fragile our defences against the disease are.

Discusses the factors which affect how quickly Legionella bacteria grow: water throughput, water temperature, and chemical water treatments. Examines management criteria for control of these factors – training, water quality testing, record keeping and maintenance – as well as inspection procedures for cooling systems. Concludes that control of microbiological water quality depends on knowledge of building and systems as well as clear procedures and records.

Concentrates on the fact that britain has had an unusually large proportion of cases of Legionnaires’ Disease. Reminds employers of obligations of buildings legialtion from the Health and Safety at Work Act and The Code of practice on Prevention of Legionellosis (which came into force on 10 April 1990). Reports on the history of Legionellosis, the infection route, actions for employers to take to prevent infection. Indicates that outbreaks of the disease in a company is traumatic regarding staff relations and personal tragedy. It can also be expensive as insurance companies no longer look on outbreaks as “Acts of God”.

Concentrates on the fact that Britain has had an unusually large proportion of cases of legionnaires′ disease. Reminds employers of obligations of buildings legislation from the Health and Safety at Work Act and The Code of Practice on Prevention or Control of Legionellosis (which came into force on 10 April 1991). Reports on the history of legionellosis; the infection route; actions for employers to take to prevent infection. Indicates that outbreaks of the disease in a company is traumatic regarding staff relations and personal tragedy; it can also be expensive as insurance companies no longer look upon outbreaks as “Acts of God”.

Discusses the re‐appraisal of precautions against Legionnaires′ disease required by the publication of official advice documents in 1991. Considers the relevant legislation, response to an outbreak, consequences of breach, the Code of Practice, identification of responsibility, and the HSE Guidance Note. Surmises that a clear preventive policy is essential to comply with the new legislation, which provides ample guidance to develop suitable programmes.

Outlines the new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Approved Code of Practice which provides the HSE with a range of new powers with which to prosecute outbreaks of legionellosis. Presents the principal points of the updated Guidance Note on Legionnaires′ Disease HS (G) 70 which provides advice on preventing and minimizing the risk of an outbreak and being able to demonstrate that measures have been taken to achieve this.