In the 21st century, access to clean, safe water is largely something that we take for granted. In the UK at least, it’s generally expected that if you drink from a tap, you shouldn’t suffer any negative consequences.

While most water sources are safe nowadays, water safety isn’t just something that happens – it takes a careful, strategic approach using a professional water safety company and making the most of all ongoing adjustments. Let’s take a closer look at why water safety is still relevant for all businesses.

It’s a legal requirement

First of all, it’s important to note that businesses are legally required to provide their employees with access to safe, clean water according to The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. This means that employers have a legal responsibility to take adequate measures to maintain safe access in the long run.

Even if a water safety-related incident doesn’t occur, if you’re found to be lacking in this area during a routine compliance check, your business could still potentially face serious legal repercussions.

Protect your brand

Quite aside from any legal-related issues resulting from a water safety-related issue, the effects it could have on people’s trust in your brand can also be catastrophic. Things like water safety are considered a bare minimum for most employees and customers, and if they see that your business isn’t able to take care of that, they’ll likely wonder about your ability to operate safely and effectively in other areas as well. Regaining complete trust after a significant hit to your brand image can be incredibly difficult, sometimes even ultimately impossible. 

Waterborne diseases are still around

Just because we don’t hear about them as much nowadays, waterborne illnesses such as Legionnaires’ disease haven’t gone anywhere. The reason we don’t hear about them so frequently is precisely because of the strict regulations that have been put in place, and the thorough approach that most businesses take as a result. You don’t want your business to be the one getting media coverage for a Legionella outbreak, and it doesn’t have to be.

It’s a simple issue to deal with

Luckily, water safety is a relatively simple issue to deal with, if you reach out for the right help. With the assistance of a water hygiene specialist, you can develop a comprehensive and effective water safety plan that enables you to ensure ongoing water safety in your business.

Your water safety plan will include the assignment of responsibility to certain key individuals in your organisation, along with a range of other site-specific stipulations. You’ll likely also need to have risk assessments conducted on a regular basis, by a team of qualified professionals.

Hopefully, these points will have you convinced as to the relevance of water safety for all businesses nowadays. It’s not just a formal legal responsibility, it’s also a practical necessity if you want your employees and customers to be able to trust your business in the long run. By taking the approach briefly outlined above, water safety doesn’t need to be all that difficult to take care of, as long as you continually update your approach to new potential risks.