As an employer or organisation in control of any premises, you have an absolute legal duty to undertake a Legionella risk assessment. This duty is a requirement of the following legal framework:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA)
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR)
• More specifically, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and;
• HSE Guidance, The Approved Code of Practice: Legionnaires’ disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (ACoP L8 2013)
• HSG274 Parts 1,2 and 3

The risk assessment doesn’t have to be complicated but will determine the right precautions that maybe required to reduce the potential risk of exposure to Legionella. Whilst you maybe competent to carry out the assessment yourself it is more likely you will want to employ the services of a consultant who specialise in assessment such as SMS Environmental.

What should my assessment cover?

Your risk assessment should include:

• management responsibilities or “nominated authorities” including the name of the responsible person onsite.
• record of the competence and training of key personnel, a description of your building and water system - including a schematic drawing of your existing water system - and an asset register
• any hazard identified as posing a potential risk
• any control measures in place to control risks also known as a “written scheme of control”
• records of the monitoring results, inspections, and checks carried out on the water system
• procedure to review the risk assessment regularly, particularly when there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid

SMS Environmental are Legionella risk assessment specialists and offer service packages to monitor and manage the risk of Legionella.