Media Releases
Cooling tower shut down
The Department of Health and Aged Care last night took the precautionary measure of shutting down a cooling tower on the roof of the Alexander building in Woden, which was found to have notifiable levels of legionella.
8 February 2001
Cooling tower shut down
The Department of Health and Aged Care last night took the precautionary measure of shutting down a cooling tower on the roof of the Alexander building in Woden, which was found to have notifiable levels of legionella.
The Deputy Secretary responsible for corporate services, Mary Murnane, said the department had been advised by public health authorities that the tower posed minimal risk to staff and public safety.
"Contrary to some media reports, no cases of Legionnaire's disease have been identified," Ms Murnane said.
The department took the decision to replace the cooling tower after consultations with experts, including the head of the National Centre for Disease Control, the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, the ACT Chief Health Officer and other ACT health officers, as well as careful evaluation of all available information.
Portable cooling units have been installed as a temporary measure, to service areas used to store computer and telecommunications equipment. Two new towers are to be installed within eight weeks.
"At all times, the welfare of staff has been paramount," Ms Murnane said.
"However, the department acknowledges that a communications breakdown created an unsatisfactory delay before staff were notified that there had been a contamination.
"Communications procedures have been reviewed and stringent measures put in place to ensure this mistake is not repeated."
Even though there was a communications breakdown, immediate and appropriate maintenance action was taken after routine tests identified legionella bacteria above notifiable levels on December 29.
The ACT Health Protection Services inspected the tower on the same day and advised that the possible risk of exposure to staff and visitors was minimal, due partly to the hot and dry Canberra conditions.
Once the relevant officers became aware of the contamination, all staff were advised of the possibility that they may have been exposed to the bacteria during December.
Staff have been updated regularly since and encouraged to contact the department's Health Management Unit for advice.
The Department has offered to pay reasonable expenses for medical advice and testing undertaken by those concerned about risk of infection.
For further information: Susie van den Heuvel (0412 252 789)
