If you’re an employer, landlord, or in charge of a premises, it’s your responsibility to understand, identify and manage any risks associated with Legionella, and protect employees and the public from harm.

Without control measures in place, Legionella bacteria can grow to dangerous levels in purpose-built hot and cold water systems and pose a significant risk to human health. The bacteria can cause Legionnaire’s disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, which is spread when people inhale contaminated water droplets.

Legislation

Legionella awareness is a key requirement of current health and safety legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations.

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations provide an overview of controlling health and safety at work.
• COSHH provides a framework of actions for assessing, preventing and controlling risks from bacteria including Legionella.
• HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (L8) provides practical guidance on managing and controlling Legionella risks in your water system.

To achieve and maintain compliance, you are legally required to:

• Carry out a Legionella risk assessment – to identify and assess sources of risk
• Manage any risks via a competent person – an expert with the skills, knowledge and experience to understand Legionella risk, control and management
• Put a strategy in place to eliminate or control any risks
• Keep and maintain records to evidence compliance
• Carry out regular reviews to make sure your strategy is working effectively and efficiently, and make any improvements needed

We’re here to help

Our experienced team of qualified and accredited low carbon energy consultants can help you assess, measure and report on your energy and carbon impacts in line with relevant legislation and regulations. We provide assessments, audits and certificates for a wide range of commercial, industrial and residential buildings; together with expert guidance on how to improve your energy efficiency. We can also support and evidence exemption applications.