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Ben Frieders is the Business Development and Marketing Manager at ChemREADY, an industrial water treatment company, where he focuses on driving growth through strategic marketing, business development, and acquisitions. A former U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer with a background in nuclear operations, Ben brings a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership to the water treatment industry. Certified in ASSE 12080 Legionella Water Safety and Management, he is a recognized expert in water quality standards, regulatory compliance, and Legionella risk management. Passionate about scaling businesses and optimizing systems, Ben combines data-driven strategies with a hands-on approach to help organizations achieve sustainable growth.

Articles From Ben

ST108

Understanding Ohio Hospital Legionella Regulations

Hospitals and healthcare facilities in Ohio must now comply with newly established Ohio Hospital Legionella Regulations designed to prevent Legionnaires’ disease and other waterborne infections.

ST108

Effective ST108 Documentation And Audit Compliance

ST108 documentation and audit compliance is essential for maintaining water quality standards and meeting regulatory requirements. By implementing thorough documentation practices and regular audits, facilities can ensure continuous improvement, quickly address issues, and uphold compliance with industry standards.

ST108

ST108 Training and Competency Verification Guide

Ensuring effective water quality management starts with assessing training needs and developing thorough training programs for ST108 training and competency verification.

ST108

Essential Steps for Effective ST108 Water Quality Monitoring

Step 8 of the ST108 Implementation Timeline focuses on Ongoing Water Quality Monitoring. Maintaining consistent water quality is essential for ensuring compliance and patient safety. Let’s explore what this step involves.

ST108

ST108 Implementation: Developing a ST108 Water Management Plan

The first step in developing a ST108 Water Management Plan is to identify specific water quality needs, especially for medical device processing, where different stages require varying standards. Once you understand these needs, work with a trusted water treatment company to choose the right systems. Set target water quality parameters aligned with ST108 standards to ensure compliance and performance.

ST108

NuSurg Water Treatment System for ST108 Compliance

The NuSurg Water Treatment System offers a compact, cost-effective solution for medical facilities, integrating essential filtration technologies in one unit. Designed for ST108 compliance, it saves space and reduces costs while maintaining high water quality standards for medical, dental, and surgical environments.

ST108

Selecting and Installing ST108 Water Treatment Systems

Selecting and installing the right water treatment systems for ST108 water treatment systems ensures safe and efficient water quality for medical device processing facilities. By evaluating your facility’s needs, integrating systems like reverse osmosis and deionization, and using technologies such as the Loop Boss, you can maintain high standards and meet ST108 compliance.

ST108

Preliminary Water Quality Testing for ST108 Standards

Preliminary water quality testing is essential for establishing a baseline and identifying any immediate concerns in compliance with ST108 standards for medical device processing. By sampling key points in the water system, analyzing results, and documenting findings, facilities can ensure effective water quality management and ongoing regulatory compliance.

ST108

Risk Assessments for Medical Device Water Quality Processing

Maintaining water quality is critical in medical device processing to ensure both patient safety and device functionality. A comprehensive water quality risk assessment is essential for meeting required standards and mitigating risks. Here's a step-by-step guide to conducting an effective water quality risk assessment in your facility.

ST108

Management Requirements for ANSI/AAMI ST108 Water Quality

Management requirments plays an essential role in ANSI/AAMI ST108 Water Quality Various types of water are used throughout the process, each serving a specific purpose and adhering to strict quality standards to maintain the integrity of medical devices and ensure patient safety.

ST108

Building Your ANSI/AAMI ST108 Water Quality Management Team

Creating a multidisciplinary water quality management team is the first crucial step in implementing the ANSI/AAMI ST108 standard for maintaining high standards in medical device processing.

ST108

Understanding AAMI ST108 Healthcare

Water is essential in healthcare settings, not just for basic hygiene but also for complex medical procedures and device processing. Recognizing its critical role, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) has introduced ST108. This standard evolves from its predecessor, AAMI TIR34. This new standard marks a significant advancement in defining water quality parameters, underscoring the integral link between water quality and patient safety.

ST108

What Is AAMI ST108?

AAMI ST108 is an American National Standard that provides guidance on the quality of water used in the processing of reusable medical devices. It was published in 2023 and supersedes the previous standard, AAMI TIR34.

ST108

AAMI ST108 Water Standards - Prepare your Sterile Processing Department

Patient health doesn’t solely rely on the outcome of a surgical procedure, but also upon the sterile water treatment, cleanliness of the operating room and instruments used. Water quality could be the single most important factor for proper sterilization of surgical instruments. Learn more in our article.

ST108

Medical Device Processing: Ensuring Safety Through Effective Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization

Discover the importance of medical device processing, including cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. Learn how standards like AAMI ST108 help maintain patient safety and compliance in healthcare settings.

ST108

AAMI ST108 Explained: Guidelines, Sterilization Standards, and Practical Solutions

Discover what AAMI ST108 covers, how it differs from other AAMI standards like TIR34, and why it matters for sterilization. Learn how ChemREADY supports compliance, high-quality water, and improved patient safety.

Water Treatment

Healthcare Water Treatment: Patient Safe Cost-Effective Operations

Enhance your healthcare water treatment with a new system design, chemical optimization, or detailed cost analysis with ChemREADY.

Legionella

Effective Strategies for Legionella Control in Water Systems

Effective Legionella control in water systems starts with analyzing system data to pinpoint problem areas and implement targeted interventions. By examining positivity rates, temperature variances, and disinfectant levels, facilities can avoid unnecessary system-wide disinfection and address persistent issues with validated solutions like POU filters. Achieve compliance and safety through a proactive, data-driven approach.

Legionella

Legionella Risk Management Strategies

Legionella Risk Management Strategies for water systems in domestic water systems requires a strategic and comprehensive approach to minimize health risks and ensure compliance. Key steps include implementing immediate emergency measures like short-term disinfection and filters, evaluating sampling adequacy to detect risks, notifying water utilities when contamination is found at entry points, and applying equipment-specific remediation for high-risk devices such as ice machines and water heaters.

Legionella

Defending Your Water: Preventative Maintenance for Legionella

Legionella, a type of bacteria, can thrive in man-made water systems, posing a serious health threat. It causes Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a flu-like illness. Fortunately, proactive maintenance strategies can significantly reduce the risk of Legionella growth in your water supply. This message will explore preventative maintenance practices and the crucial water quality parameters to monitor for optimal legionella control.

Legionella

Legionella Control in Water Systems: Steps to Prevent Outbreaks

Learn how to prevent Legionella growth in cooling towers, hot water systems, and more. Discover legionella control, disinfection strategies, and best practices to keep your water systems safe.

Legionella

AAMI ST 108 Standard for Water Quality in Medical Device Processing

The AAMI ST standard (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation Sterilization) plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of water used in the processing of medical devices. As the medical industry continues to advance, it becomes increasingly important to adhere to these standards to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of medical instruments.

Legionella

Methods Used for Legionella Remediation in Commercial Buildings

If Legionella is found in a commercial building's water system, it is important to take steps to remediate the problem. Learn about some of the methods that can be used for Legionella remediation.

Legionella

Standard Procedures for Legionella Water Testing

To prevent the spread of Legionnaires' disease, it is important to test water systems for Legionella on a regular basis. The standard procedures for Legionella water testing vary depending on the type of water system, but some common steps include:

Boiler Treatment

How Do You Perform Water Boiler Maintenance

A water boiler is a heating appliance that produces hot water for domestic or commercial use. It is important to maintain your water boiler regularly to ensure that it operates safely and efficiently.

Legionella

How Is Legionella Testing Performed?

Legionella testing is performed to detect the presence of the bacteria in water. There are a number of different methods that can be used for Legionella testing. Learn about them in our article.

Cooling Towers Legionella

What Are The Risks Of Legionella In Cooling Tower Water?

Cooling towers are a particular risk for Legionella growth because they contain warm water that is constantly evaporating. This creates a mist that can contain Legionella bacteria. If people breathe in this mist, they can become infected with Legionnaires' disease.

Legionella

What Are The New Advancements In Legionella Water Treatment Technologies?

Legionella is a bacteria that can cause a serious lung infection called Legionnaires' disease. It is found in warm water, such as in hot water tanks, cooling towers, and spas. Legionella can grow and multiply in these environments, especially if the water is not properly treated.

Legionella

What Services Do Legionella Water Testing Companies Provide?

Legionella water testing companies provide a variety of services to help businesses and organizations protect themselves from Legionella contamination. Legionella is a bacteria that can cause a serious lung infection called Legionnaires' disease. It is found naturally in water, but can grow and spread in warm, stagnant water systems. Businesses and organizations that have water systems, such as hotels, hospitals, and office buildings, are at risk of Legionella contamination.

Legionella

How Can Businesses Implement Effective Legionella Risk Management

Legionella is a bacteria that can cause a serious lung infection called Legionnaires' disease. It is found naturally in water, but can grow and spread in warm, stagnant water systems. Businesses that have water systems, such as hotels, hospitals, and office buildings, are at risk of Legionella contamination.

Legionella

5 Ways to Control & Prevent Legionella in a Cooling Tower

Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause Legionnaires' disease, a serious lung infection. Cooling towers are a common source of Legionella, as the warm, moist environment in cooling towers provides an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria.

Cooling Towers Legionella

How Often Should I Test My Cooling Tower For Legionella?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that cooling tower legionella testing for bacteria be done at least quarterly. However, the frequency of testing may need to be increased if there are any risk factors for Legionella growth.

Cooling Towers Legionella

Cooling Tower Legionella Control: A Guide for Facility Owners

Cooling tower Legionella control is necessary so the Legionella bacteria does not grow and spread within the towers. Legionella bacteria are a type of bacteria that can cause Legionnaires' disease, a serious lung infection. Cooling towers are one of the most common places where Legionella bacteria can grow and spread. This is because cooling towers are large, open structures that contain water and a warm, humid environment, which are ideal conditions for Legionella bacteria to grow.

Legionella

What is ASHRAE 188 and Why is it Important?

ASHRAE 188 is a standard developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) that outlines a risk management plan for Legionella bacteria and other waterborne pathogens in building water systems.

Boiler Treatment Cooling Towers Legionella Water Treatment

An Overview Of Water Treatment Systems

An overview of what you should know about water treatment systems while working in the water treatment industry.

Boiler Treatment Closed Loops Cooling Towers Legionella Water Treatment

What are Tagged Polymers in Water Treatment

Fluorescence is a valuable tool in detecting tagged polymers in cooling tower water treatment. The method is rapid, non-destructive, easy to use, and cost-effective, making it a useful tool for monitoring the concentration of tagged polymers to maintain water quality and prevent the growth of microorganisms and corrosion.

Legionella

Water System Maintenance Tips to Prevent Legionella

Facility managers in charge of water system maintenance to prevent Legionella need an experienced, trusted partner to aid with testing and preventive treatment to keep these systems safe from bacteria, a partner like ChemREADY.

Legionella

Monochloramine: the Science Behind The Reasons Why It’s So Effective against Legionella

Monochloramine Water Treatment: Legionella are ubiquitous bacteria with a worldwide spread in natural and artificial water environments, able to survive in a range of environmental conditions. Their ability to colonize our artificial water systems represents a serious concern for public health, since they can cause pneumonia and other respiratory illness (collectively referred to as “legionellosis”), especially in susceptible individuals.

Legionella Water Treatment