A recent Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City — traced to contaminated cooling towers has caused multiple fatalities and illnesses. While this happened abroad, it highlights an important truth for the UK: Legionella control is essential for building safety.
Many UK facilities, including hospitals, universities, offices and residential blocks operate cooling towers and complex water systems. Managed well, these systems are safe. But without proper legionella risk assessments, monitoring, and maintenance, they can become a source of serious health risk.
Why Legionella Control Matters in the UK
1. Legal Responsibility Under HSE’s L8 Guidance
In the UK, duty holders must comply with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) ACoP L8 guidance, which requires a Legionella risk assessment and ongoing water safety management. Facilities managers are legally responsible for controlling risk in systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems, and spa pools.
2. Seasonal Risks and Climate Factors
With UK summers becoming warmer, conditions in water systems may become more favourable to bacterial growth. Preventative action through temperature monitoring and cooling tower maintenance is vital.
3. Business Continuity and Reputation
Legionella outbreaks don’t just threaten health, they cause operational disruption, reputational damage, and regulatory intervention. Consistent maintenance is far more cost-effective than emergency remediation.
Key Steps to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease in the UK
Facilities managers can take these proactive steps to keep people safe:
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Conduct regular Legionella risk assessments – Review and update assessments to reflect current systems and occupancy.
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Implement cooling tower maintenance programmes – Routine cleaning, disinfection, and dosing with biocides reduce the risk of bacterial growth.
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Monitor water temperatures – Keep water outside the 20–45 °C range where Legionella thrives.
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Record and review compliance data – Keep clear records of inspections, sampling, and maintenance to demonstrate compliance.
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Educate and train staff – Ensure maintenance teams understand how to identify and respond to risks.
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Prepare incident response procedures – Quick, clear action plans limit risk if bacteria are detected.
Raising Standards in Water Safety
Our purpose is to keep people safe. By focusing on raising standards in water safety, we help facilities managers across the UK stay compliant with Legionella regulations and reduce the risk of outbreaks.
Whether you need a Legionella risk assessment, a cooling tower maintenance plan, or support with ongoing water safety compliance, our team provides practical, reliable solutions tailored to your organisation.
The New York outbreak is a reminder that Legionella risk management is not optional. For UK facilities managers, the priority should be prevention, ensuring that systems are well-maintained, risks are assessed, and compliance with HSE’s L8 guidance is met.
By taking proactive steps, facilities managers not only protect health but also ensure operational continuity and peace of mind.
Contact SMS Environmental today to ensure your water systems are safe, compliant, and effectively managed.
