Legionella Risk Assessment and Control

Health and Safety Law - Legionella Risk Assessment

Aqua (Scotland) Ltd, can carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment for the businesses and implement the required management policy to ensure continued compliance with the current UK Regulations.

Under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974, there is a legal requirement for all companies employing five or more people to consider the risks from legionella, that may arise from work activities and to premises controlled in connection with a business. The legislation applies to employers and/or persons (e.g. Landlords) in control of buildings. These legal duties are outlined in the L8 ACOP document, legionnaires' disease - "The control of legionella bacteria in water systems".

The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 extends to the control of Legionella bacteria within the UK and under health and safety law, organisations must assess the risks from legionella bacteria that may affect not just the staff, but residents, visitors or members of the public and take suitable precautions to reduce all risks to a minimum, this process is known as legionella risk assessment.

What is Legionella?

"During the mid 1970s in America a bacteria was discovered for the first time. It was discovered in water systems. This often-fatal illness is contracted through inhalation of water droplets, which are contaminated by these bacteria. It became known as 'legionnaires' disease'.

Potentially fatal, multi-system respiratory illness, accompanied by pneumonia. It attacks some 2 to 5% of those exposed (representative of those most susceptible) and has an average mortality rate of approximately 15 to 20%. It incubates in human hosts within 2 to 10 days of exposure and will not abate without medication.

                                                                                                                                                                                    Certain groups of people are known to be at a higher risk of contracting legionnaires disease, for example, men appear more susceptible than women, as do those over 45 years of age, smokers, alcoholics, diabetics and those with cancer or chronic respiratory or kidney disease. When diagnosed and treated early, the disease responds well to the antibiotic erythromycin and many of the newer macrolide antibiotics.

As the then Director of the HSE stated "Legionnaires' disease" is an illness we have managed to create for ourselves. In designing and constructing systems to control our environment we have created conditions, which can be ideal for the proliferation of Legionella. Those systems must be properly monitored and maintained. That is the key to controlling the disease."

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/whatis.htm

Practical Solutions to Water Systems Safety

Practical solutions are provided in all aspects of water systems safety and as a result of a site survey Aqua (Scotland) Ltd will tailor a maintenance contract to ensure Organisations comply with the legal requirements, by providing:

• Legionella risk assessments
• UKAS accredited microbiological testing of water samples
• Written report on the findings and suggestions for treatment
• Routine monitoring and maintenance
• Water tank inspections
• Cleaning and disinfection of tanks and water delivery systems
• Repairs and Remedial Works
• Records - on site log books
• Site schematic drawing

Legionella Control Management

As an employer or a person in control of the premises, responsibilities are to:

• Identify and assess sources of legionella bacteria risk.
• Prepare a scheme, (or course of action), for preventing or controlling the risk of legionella within premises.
• Implement and manage the legionella control scheme.
• Appoint a person to be responsible for your legionella testing, design, management of key actions or management plan.
• Keep records and check that precautionary systems are effective, (continued legionella monitoring).
• If appropriate, notify the local authority if business has cooling tower (s) on site.

Where are the Risks of Legionella ?

A foreseeable risk and potential for exposure to legionella bacteria exists in the following examples:

• Hot and Cold Water Systems
• Water Softeners
• Sprinkler and Hose Reel systems
• Indoor Water Features and Fountains
• Emergency Showers and Eye Wash Sprays
• Lathe and Machine Tool Coolant Systems
• Water Systems Cooling Tower or an Evaporative Condenser
• Horticultural Misting Systems
• Ultrasonic Humidifiers / Foggers and Water Misting Systems
• Spray Humidifiers, Air washers and Wet scrubbers
• Dental Equipment and Vending Machines
• Car, Lorry, Bus Washes and Window Cleaning
• Health, Fitness, Leisure, Spa Clubs and Sports Centres
• Hotels, Motels, Pubs, Eateries and Restaurants
• Schools, Colleges and Universities
• Office, Public, Commercial, Industrial Properties
• Plant and systems containing water which is likely to exceed 20oC and which may release a spray or aerosol (i.e. a cloud of droplets and/or droplet nuclei) during operation or when being maintained