What We Do
Our aim is to help you understand your responsibilities and advise you on the best approach to managing the risk of legionella. We can do this by carrying out a legionella risk assessment or if you already have one we can advise and implement corrective actions.
Please feel free to contact us for more information or just some advice.
What Is Legionnaires Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease (legionellosis) is a potentially fatal lung infection that is caused by the legionella bacteria. It can be contracted by inhaling small droplets of water (aerosols), containing the bacteria. Certain conditions can increase the risk from legionella.
What Type Of Properties Are Affected?
All Properties can harbour the legionella bacteria and All commercial properties require a legionella risk assessment. If you are an employer, or someone in control of premises (including landlords) you must understand the health risks associated with legionella. Are you responsible for any of the following?
■ Schools ■ Doctors Surgeries ■ Care Homes ■ Nurseries ■ Shops ■ Hotels ■ Dentists ■ Warehouse Units ■ Manufacturing Units ■ Landlord Properties ■ Offices ■ Restaurants
These are just a few examples. If you are unsure if your Property or business requires a legionella risk assessment, please do not hesitate to contact us. At Saferspace we have over twenty years experience working within the Indoor Environmental industry. We are sure to be able to help.
There is a reasonably foreseeable legionella risk in your water system if:
■ water is stored or re-circulated e.g Cold Water Storage Tanks, Calorifiers, Electric Water Heaters;
■ the water temperature in all or some part of the system may be between 20–45 °C, which is suitable for growth;
■ there are deposits that can support bacterial growth, such as rust, sludge, scale and organic matter (e.g in Cold Water Storage Tanks);
■ it is possible for breathable water droplets to be created and dispersed (e.g. showers, spray outlets or spray hoses);
■ it is likely that any of your employees, contractors, visitors, tenants etc. could be exposed to any contaminated water droplets.
What Are Your Responsibilities?
The need to manage the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria comes from the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (the HSW Act) and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
The technical guidance documents that assist the industry to comply with this act are the HSE ACoP L8 (fourth edition) and HSG 274 Parts 1, 2 and 3. Healthcare properties have additional guidance such as Health Technical Memorandum 04-01: Safe water in healthcare premises.
HSG 274 Part 2 states:
“Carrying out a legionella risk assessment and ensuring it remains up to date is required under health and safety law and is a key duty when managing the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria”
How Often Do You Need A Legionella Risk Assessment?
This is based on the inherent risk of your property including the susceptibility of occupants, the types of systems on site and the current control status. Each time you conduct a risk assessment a re-assessment interval will be set by the assessor. There are some cases however that should trigger a new assessment .
These include:
■ 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
■ the results of checks indicating that control measures are no longer effective
■ changes to key personnel;
■ a case of legionnaires’ disease/legionellosis associated with the system.