Legionella Compliance & Control

PREVENTING LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE THROUGH WATER HYGIENE

Legionnaires‘ Disease is progressive and potentially fatal – a typical pneumonia caused by the inhalation of water aerosols containing Legionella bacteria deep into the lung.

The onset is relatively abrupt with high fever, a membrane covering the lungs (pleurisy) etc, and in some cases death. Legionella bacteria inhabit hot and cold water systems such as cooling towers, water storage tanks and shower heads.

On average there are around 300 cases of Legionnaires’ Disease reported each year in the UK.

LEGIONELLA LEGISLATION

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, owners and operators of all commercial premises (including schools, retirement homes, social housing, offices, prisons, MOD sites, hotels etc, have a statutory duty to control the risk of legionella bacteria in water systems. It is a legal requirement to conduct a legionella risk assessment of hot and cold water systems.

A risk assessment will have a significant impact on reducing liability should any problems occur.

LEGIONELLA RISK MANAGEMENT

Subsequent to the completion of a legionella risk assessment, a risk management programme would need to be agreed and implemented.

This document will recommend the necessary actions required to control the identified risks and will also ensure regulatory compliance.

To find out how about how our water hygiene services and water treatment solutions can minimise the risk of Legionnaires’ Disease through effective Legionella Risk Management.

LEGIONELLA RISK ASSESSMENT

A risk assessment is normally carried out as the first step of a legionella risk management programme which helps to identify and manage the risk from legionella bacteria in water service systems. Our Legionella Risk Assessments are undertaken in accordance with the guidelines and recommended practices issued by the UK Health & Safety Executive document ACOP L8 and the associated Technical Guidance HSG 274 Legionnaires’ Disease.

Our Legionella Risk Assessment involves the identification and evaluation of potential sources of risk and typically includes:

The compilation of a full site asset register detailing systems which fall within these guidelines. This would normally include digital photographs of all identified assets.
A review of the current condition of the water systems and whether the water storage is hygienic and compliant with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
The production (where possible) of appropriate schematic drawings of the identified water systems.
Monitoring of water temperatures to ensure they are within satisfactory limits for the control of Legionella bacteria.
The risk assessment would detail any remedial actions that might be required in order to achieve compliance with the guidelines. It will also offer recommendations with regard to either eliminating or managing the risk in the form of an action plan. It will also recommend a schedule for on-going water hygiene monitoring.
The completed document provides the customer with a clear understanding of how the guidelines relate directly to the site and provides the documentation required by the HSE/HSC. It will also identify and recommend any training requirements of on-site personnel.

If you'd like to know a little more, full details of our Legionella Risk Assessment are also available.