Legionella Risk Assessment - Book Online

It is a legal requirement to have "A suitable and sufficient assessment"

(source HSC The Control of Legionella bacteria in water systems. Approved Code of Practive ACOP, Page 6, Paragraph 23)

Legionellosis

Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression and smoking. It is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria. Legionella bacteria can also cause less serious illnesses, which are not fatal or permanently debilitating. The collective term used to cover the group of diseases caused by legionella bacteria is legionellosis. Legionellosis is normally contracted by inhaling legionella bacteria, either in tiny droplets of water (aerosols) or in droplet nuclei (the particles left after the water has evaporated) contaminated with legionella.

Statutory Requirements

In January 2001 the Health and Safety Commission issued an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and guidance document to aid the control of legionella bacteria in building water systems and outbreaks of legionellosis; this document was entitled L8.

The document gives guidance on the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 with respect to legionellosis.

The responsibilities of the employer, a self-employed person or the person who is in control of the building include:

• Identify and assess the sources of risk
• Prepare a scheme for controlling any assessed risk
• Implement and manage precautions
• Keep records of precautions implemented
• Appoint a person to take managerial responsibility

A key stage in this process is the risk assessment. The purpose of this is to enable a valid decision to be made regarding:

• Risk to health, i.e. whether the potential for harm to health from exposure is reasonably foreseeable (unless adequate precautionary measures are taken).
• What measures for prevention, or adequate control, to minimise the risk from legionella, should be taken.

You can book your fully L8 compliant Risk Assessment by filling out the form below.