Legionella Compliance

What is Legionella bacteria?

Legionella is an aquatic bacterium, which means it must be suspended in a water droplet to survive. It is found in both natural and man-made water systems and can grow within a temperature range of 20–50°C.

Whilst people can catch Legionnaires' disease from other species of Legionella, almost all cases are associated with Legionella pneumophila and of those, most are associated with serogroup 1 – so it is a very specific type of bacteria that causes the illness.

There are three subspecies of Legionella pneumophila - Legionella pneumophila subspecies fraseri, Legionella pneumophila subspecies pascullei and Legionella pneumophila subspecies pneumophila.

Legionnaires’ disease poses a specific risk to the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. This disease is contracted through airborne droplets which is why it is crucial that water systems are well maintained.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Legionella risk assessments are a legal requirement. The Duty Holder has a duty of care to anyone in the building, as well as a legal obligation. This risk assessment should be carried out by a water hygiene specialist to ensure compliance.

I would have no hesitation in recommending them as core contractor to other organisations.

The first step in any risk management process is production of a professional risk assessment, and Legionella management is no different. A written risk assessment is required for all commercial buildings with a water supply where five or more people are employed.

Conducting a Legionella risk assessment and complying with the Legionella Management Programme are required by law in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Legionella Risk Assessment

Based on the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACOP L8) and HSG 274, a written risk assessment is required for all commercial buildings that have a water supply and where five or more people are employed.

As set out in the guidance, the person on who the statutory duty falls (Duty Holder) is required to have ‘access to competent help in assessing the risks’. This involves the engagement of an external water consultant to produce a risk assessment, which should identify and evaluate all potential sources of risk, review how exposure to bacteria can be prevented, or where prevention is not possible, exposure can be controlled.

For a handy quick guide to the role of the duty holder Legionnaires’ disease A brief guide.

Nemco Utilities Limited provide fully qualified City and Guilds trained risk assessors to assess the risk in accordance with BS8580-2019.

A Legionella Risk Assessment should contain both a physical inspection of the water system/s at your premises, as well as a consultation with the responsible people in this process. Firstly, the assessor will review any previous legionella risk assessments and determine if the outcomes were acted on appropriately. Then, they will tour the site to identify how and where water is stored and distributed, and the risks involved with current measures. Based on both aspects, a report will be drawn up and any recommendations to reduce or remove the risk of legionella bacteria will be documented along with a schematic drawing of the associated water systems.

A full reassessment should be completed regularly inline with HSG274

The guidance changed in 2014 (HSG 274) from a review being required every 2 years. It is now recommended that the risk assessment should be reviewed 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 or its use
A change to the use of the building where the system is installed
New information available about risks or control measures or changes to legislation/guidance
The results of checks indicating control measures are no longer effective
Changes to key personnel
A case of legionnaire’s disease/Legionellosis associated with the system.

A Legionella Management Plan prevents exposure to bacteria that causes Legionellosis

Where risk assessment shows there to be a foreseeable risk of exposure to bacteria, it is then necessary to implement ongoing controls to mitigate the risk highlighted within the assessment. This usually takes the form of a Legionella Management Plan and would include the following:

Weekly flushing of infrequently used services (Twice weekly in Healthcare properties)
Monthly temperature monitoring of sentinel outlets and Hot Water Vessels.
Quarterly descaling and disinfection of shower heads and Spray taps
Six Monthly purging of Expansion Vessels
Annual TMV failsafe or servicing, Annual Cold Water Storage Tank Inspections, Annual records(Logbook) review)
Awareness training
Tank cleaning and disinfection
Sampling

A site specific log book is created based on the report findings and water system detailed in the risk assessment setting out the controls necessary and appropriate forms for creation of an audit trail.

Useful Links

ACOP L8 - Legionnaires' disease. The control of legionella bacteria in water systems

HSG 274 Part 1: The control of legionella bacteria in evaporative cooling systems

HSG 274 Part 2: The control of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems

HSG 274 Part 3: The control of legionella bacteria in other risk systems

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

Solutions we offer

Legionella Management

At Nemco, we understand that every water system is different, and therefore so are the needs and constraints of varying companies and organisations.
In light of this, all management programmes are tailored to meet the needs of the client and range from completion of weekly flushing for unmanned sites, to on-site training of maintenance staff.

Legionella Risk Assessment

At Nemco, our expert team provides detailed Legionella Risk Assessments to meet the HSE’s guidelines. As part of a thorough risk assessment, all areas of the water system are inspected including loft spaces and void areas.

Following the on-site assessment, a report is produced together with remedial recommendations and schematics drawings. Advice is provided for those buildings where the risk of exposure to Legionella is possible, in order to mitigate such risks.

Legionella Compliance

What is Legionella bacteria?

Legionella Risk Assessment

A full reassessment should be completed regularly inline with HSG274

A Legionella Management Plan prevents exposure to bacteria that causes Legionellosis

Useful Links

Solutions we offer

Legionella Management

Legionella Risk Assessment

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