G8: Unmasking Hidden Legionella Risks in the Built Environment

Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center 

Room: 395 

CM Credit Hours: 1 

Legionnaires' Disease remains a significant public health concern across the built environment, with outbreaks traced to hospitals, hotels, office complexes, and other high-occupancy facilities. While cooling towers are often the first suspected source, decades of investigation have proven that any system capable of aerosolizing water droplets poses a potential risk. For health and safety leaders, the challenge lies not only in identifying the source, but also in assessing risk, interpreting data, and implementing effective, lasting mitigation strategies.

This session will move beyond theory to deliver practical insights grounded in real-world investigations. Participants will gain perspective on how to structure a risk assessment, select and interpret sampling methodologies, and align findings with evolving regulatory expectations. Through interactive case studies drawn from diverse facility types-including healthcare, hospitality, and retail-we will explore decision-making in action: why assessments were initiated, how results were evaluated, and what mitigation strategies were ultimately successful.

By combining technical context with applied examples, this session will equip EHS professionals with tools to better anticipate risks, communicate findings, and protect both building occupants and organizational reputation.

Upon completion, the participant will be able to:
• Evaluate potential sources of Legionella within building systems and prioritize areas for risk assessment beyond cooling towers.
• Apply risk assessment frameworks in collaboration with facility stakeholders to identify exposure pathways and vulnerable populations.
• Compare and select sampling methodologies that align with project goals, building conditions, and regulatory expectations.
• Interpret Legionella analytical data, benchmark results against promulgated standards, and determine next steps for mitigation.
• Design and recommend short- and long-term mitigation strategies tailored to building type, occupancy, and operational needs.
• Analyze case study findings to identify root causes, assess the effectiveness of mitigation actions, and communicate outcomes to stakeholders. 

Intermediate

Biological Hazards

Toxicology / Human Disease

Education and training

Ventilation

In-person

OnDemand

Professional

Case Studies

Problem Solving /Practice Exercises

Small Group Discussion