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Why accredited environmental testing laboratories are key to safer tourist accommodations
Why accredited environmental testing laboratories, with industry-specific expertise, are key to safer tourist accommodation sites.
Authors: Pau Crespi (CEO) and Beatriz Santandreu (Head of Business Assurance) Biolinea Int. Spain
The health and safety of guests should be a top priority for any tourist accommodation establishment. Whether it’s a hotel, resort, cruise ship, or vacation rental, the environment in which guests eat, drink, swim, and sleep play a vital role in their overall experience. One of the most effective ways to safeguard this environment which should form part the accommodation providers health and safety management system is the periodic analysis of environmental samples, such as drinking water, bathing water, food, surfaces, air, wastewater, and others. In many tourist destinations, such testing is not only a best practice - it’s a legal requirement.
Demonstrating regulatory compliance and proactive risk management
Tourist establishments are increasingly required by law to carry out regular environmental analyses, including Legionella testing in water systems, checking the quality of drinking water and pools, and testing food and surfaces for harmful pathogens or hygiene indicators. These requirements are designed to minimise the risk of foodborne and waterborne infections and outbreaks to check that standards are met. However, beyond legal compliance, these periodic tests provide invaluable data that contribute to more comprehensive risk assessments.
Laboratory testing is generally the only reliable way to validate practices and procedures, as it provides objective data that helps identify potential health hazards early, allowing establishments to take corrective actions before incidents occur. For example, detecting Legionella in a hotel’s water system or identifying surface contamination in food preparation areas can lead to immediate corrective measures. This proactive approach not only protects staff and guests but also shields businesses from reputational and financial damage.
The importance of accreditation for reliable results
While periodic testing is critical, it’s equally important that these analyses are performed by laboratories that meet recognised analytical quality standards. Accreditation by national bodies, such as ENAC (Spain), UKAS (United Kingdom), or equivalent, provides assurance that a laboratory’s methods and processes are validated, and its results are reliable. In many countries, this accreditation is already mandatory for certain analyses, such as testing for Legionella.
Accredited laboratories follow internationally recognised protocols, ensuring consistency and accuracy in their results. Moreover, published data shows that accredited laboratories consistently outperform non-accredited laboratories in proficiency testing programs, providing a higher level of confidence in their testing results. This is particularly crucial when test results are used in legal or regulatory processes, where reliability can significantly impact outcomes.
Accredited test results are also recognised globally, which adds another layer of trust. The recognition of accreditation across borders means that test results performed in one country can be accepted as equivalent in another. This international recognition provides confidence in the impartiality, and reliability of results, especially when dealing with international guests or global regulatory frameworks.
International health organisations recognise and endorse the use of accredited laboratories. For example, the European Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI) and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both highlight the importance of reliable testing for Legionella, underscoring the need for accredited laboratories that meet stringent quality standards.
Industry-specific expertise: A crucial advantage
Laboratories specialising in environmental testing for tourist settings, such as hotels, cruise ships, pools, and aquatic parks, have a much deeper understanding of the unique risks associated with these environments. But how, for instance, can a Legionella sampling be conducted effectively without familiarity with the intricate structure and operation of various hotel or cruise ship water systems? Knowing exactly where to sample—from water systems and kitchens to swimming pools and cooling towers—requires not only scientific knowledge but also experience with the environmental hazards that commonly arise in tourist accommodations.
Specialised laboratories can be critical when investigating incidents or travel-associated outbreaks. In these situations, laboratories with extensive experience and a deep understanding of the tourism sector can perform accurate and meaningful analyses. Handling such incidents requires far more than standard testing procedures—it involves tailored knowledge of guest movement patterns, communal areas, and staff interaction, all of which are vital to tracking and controlling an outbreak.
Specialised laboratories often have dedicated consultants and samplers who work directly with hotel staff, ensuring that the sampling process is carried out smoothly and efficiently. Their expertise allows them to provide more targeted advice on prevention, outbreak management, and risk mitigation, contributing to the overall safety and well-being of guests and staff. This is where sector-specific knowledge becomes a crucial differentiator in ensuring effective environmental health management in tourism settings.
Conclusion
Accredited environmental testing laboratories are essential partners in maintaining safe tourist accommodations. Regular testing for contaminants in water, food, and surfaces not only ensures compliance with legal requirements but also plays a critical role in proactive risk management. Furthermore, accredited laboratories consistently demonstrate superior performance in proficiency testing programs, making them the preferred choice for reliable results. Working with specialised laboratories that understand the unique risks faced by tourist establishments further ensures the accuracy and relevance of analyses. Accredited results are also recognised globally, providing confidence in the reliability and impartiality of the tests. In today’s world, where guest safety is paramount, the role of reliable environmental testing cannot be overstated.
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References
• ESGLI. European Technical Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Investigation, of Infections Caused by Legionella species. https://www.escmid.org/esgli/
• EFSA. EFSA Strategy 2020 Trusted science for safe food. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/corporate/pub/strategy2020
• SHIPSAN. European Manual for Hygiene Standards and Communicable Disease Surveillance on Passenger Ships. Edition 2, April 2016. https://www.shipsan.eu/Home/EuropeanManual.aspx