Legionella Risk Assessment
Why do I need a Legionella Risk Assessment?
Any water system, with the right environmental conditions, could be a source for legionella bacteria growth, which can lead to fatalities or serious illness. So ensuring your employees, tenants and visitors are not exposed to it is vital.
There is a reasonably foreseeable legionella risk if your water system:
- has a water temperature between 20–45 °C
- creates and/or spreads breathable droplets, e.g. aerosol created by a cooling tower, or water outlets
- stores and/or re-circulates water
- likely to contain a source of nutrients for the organism to grow, e.g. rust, sludge, scale, organic matter and biofilms
The most common sources of legionella are in man-made water systems including:
- cooling tower and evaporative condensers
- hot and cold water systems
- spa pools
- humidifiers
- air washers,
- indoor ornamental fountains etc.
Legionella Risk Assessments by LPG Group
Legionella Risk Assessments by LPG Group ensure that your properties meet ACoP L8 compliance; as required by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
Our legionella risk assessors have years of experience and are fully qualified and trained to use the latest Legionella monitoring and auditing technologies.
How long will the Legionella risk assessment take?
Legionella Risk Assessments can take anywhere between 1-6 hours depending on the size of your site.
After you have received your legionella risk assessment, you must ensure all recommendations are carried out and that the legionella programme is carried as per the schedule provided including monitoring and inspections.
Why do you need a legionella risk assessment?
Employers and owners of business premises must secure the health and wellbeing of their employees and tenants. And take suitable precautions to prevent or control the risk of exposure to legionella.
They also need to either understand, or appoint somebody competent who knows how to identify and assess sources of risk, manage those risks, prevent or control any risks, keep records and carry out any other legal duties they may have.
When and how often do you need one?
The Approved Code of Practice L8 (HSG 274) in accordance with The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 states that – “The Duty holder should arrange to review the assessment regularly and specifically when there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid. An indication of when to review the assessment and what to consider should be recorded and this may result from:
- A change to the water system;
- A change to the use of the building where the system is installed;
- New information available about risks or control measures;
- The results of checks indicating that control measures are no longer effective;
- Changes to key personnel;
- A case of legionnaires disease.”
We would recommend that an inspection is carried out once a year.