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LEGIONELLA ASSESSMENT
The importance of
controlling the risk of Legionnaires’ disease within any
occupied building can never be over-stated.
Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’
disease, occurs naturally within water and therefore all
buildings with a water supply can present a risk to the
occupants.
The HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L8 ‘the control of
Legionella bacteria in water systems’ provides specific guidance
on the best way to reduce the risk to the building occupants – a
message that is reinforced in the Health and Safety at Work etc.
Act 1974. Our tailored Legionella control programmes have been
developed in accordance with this legislation, ensuring all our
clients receive the most up to date advice and service.
Watermation Ltd approaches the control of Legionella bacteria through a
meticulous four stage approach; firstly assessing any potential
risks there may be, rectifying any immediate or significant risk
areas, ongoing monitoring and sampling and finally any
evaluation to ensure the systems are working. The combination of this thorough approach and proactive
management makes our Legionella control process extremely
effective, thus minimising the risk to the building occupants
and ensuring the building adheres to the current legislation.
1. Risk Assessment
The HSE’s ACOP L8 states that every building should have a
suitable and sufficient risk assessment undertaken.
In buildings occupied by five or more people the results should
be formally recorded. This document should be reviewed or
updated regularly or at least every two years. The first step to any water hygiene control programme is to
undertake a risk assessment to establish the current site
condition and highlight any existing potential risk areas.
The risk assessment will look at all aspects of a buildings
water services and record the findings with detailed notes,
including schematic diagrams and photographic records.
Finally, the risk assessment will provide straight forward
recommendations on what actions need to be taken to reduce the
risk and ensure compliance with water regulations.
Health and Safety
Executive approved (L8) risk assessments are one of the surest
ways of reducing the risk of legionnaires disease in your water
systems.
A comprehensive risk survey will look at all aspects of your
water system; paying particular attention to problematic areas
such as cooling tower, tanks and water systems that may create
aerosols.
You will receive comprehensive reports showing any issues &
remedial action required, a log book, a comprehensive treatment
program, regular inspections and monitoring.
2. Remedial Works
Once the risk assessment has been completed, there may be some
items of remedial works which will require attention.
This could include the removal of deadlegs, cold water storage
tank upgrades or removal of old items of plant.
Watermation Ltd can undertake most of these tasks for you using our
own, fully qualified engineers, who specialise in the many
fields of knowledge that are needed to understand a typical
water system design.
3. Ongoing Monitoring.
An integral part of the ACOP’s requirements is the need to
undertake regular monitoring and checks on the systems to ensure
that they are operating within the guideline parameters.
By using the information gained during the risk assessment
process, we can firstly design a bespoke monitoring and testing
regime based upon the guideline parameters laid out in ACOP L8.
A site specific water hygiene log book can then be instigated
which can be used to record and collate all of the information
relating to water hygiene. The upkeep of this log book will
ensure your total compliance with current legislation and
guidance.
4. Evaluation
Often undertaken on an annual basis, the evaluation of any water
Legionella control programme is essential.
This ensures the systems instigated are working effectively to
help reduce the risk of contamination.
This stage provides the opportunity to make any necessary
adjustments to the control parameters to ensure total
compliance.
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