A vital role in keeping water systems safe

Following the publication, in HEJ’s January 2017 issue, of the first in a planned series of articles on the role, responsibilities, and remit, of IHEEM–registered Authorising Engineers, in this second such article, Dr Nick Hill, chair of the Institute’s Water Technical Platform – who has over 25 years’ experience advising clients including NHS Trusts on water safety and hygiene, and served on the Department of Health’s Steering Group for the production of the ‘new’ HTM 04-01 (HEJ – June 2016) – outlines the vital contribution of the AE (Water) to the safe operation of healthcare facilities. He also explains the registration process for such personnel. 
process 

The raison d’être for Authorising Engineers was eloquently described by Graham Stanton in his January 2017 HEJ article; to paraphrase, Health Technical Memorandum 00: (2014) Policies and Principles of Healthcare Engineering, recommends that Authorising Engineers are appointed for each of the disciplines described in HTMs 01 to HTM 08. Each Authorising Engineer is expected to act as an independent professional adviser to the healthcare organisation. This requirement had been stated previously in the 2006 edition of HTM 00. However, the 2006 edition of HTM 04-01, specific to water, made no reference to the Authorising Engineer (Water), although some AE(W)s were practising at that time. More recently, HTM 04-01 (2016), Safe water in healthcare premises, Part B: Operational Management, does make reference to an Authorising Engineer (Water), stating that the Water Safety Group (WSG) would normally include an independent AE(W), (see pages 36-38 for short profiles on five IHEEMregistered AE (W)s) – with a brief to provide services in accordance with the HTM and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)’s technical guidance, HSG274.

What is an AE (W)?