Legionella - What are my duties under the law?

1. CLIENTUPDATE
04 February 2010
Water Safety Management
All water storage and delivery systems have assessed by a competent person and suitable
the potential for Legionella and other control measures implemented to reduce the
potentially harmful bacteria to proliferate. risks.
Guidance is available on this subject, known as
Legionella is a naturally occurring bacteria,
which can quickly grow given the right L8 and this can be found by clicking here.
conditions. Legionella is known to cause a Legionella and other bacteria grow in water
severe illness which can be fatal, systems where the following conditions exist;
(Legionnaires Disease). The bacteria enters
• where a food source is present, rust,
the body by the victim breathing in water
sludge, algae etc
vapour or droplets.
• Where temperatures are in the range of
Where a water system is located within a work 20-45 Degrees Centigrade
place, duties are imposed on the employer • Where water is stagnant - low usage or in
under The Health and Safety at Work etc Act dead legs within the system
1974, The Management of Health & Safety at
Certain systems have a higher risk of exposing
Work Regulations 1999 and The Control of people to Legionella bacteria and these include;
Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
2002. • water systems incorporating a cooling
tower
Employers and/or the persons in control of the
• water systems incorporating an
premises must ensure the risks associated
evaporative condenser
with Legionella and other bacteria are
• hot and cold water systems
© 2010 Peligro Risk Management Limited 1

2. • other plant and systems containing water What do I need to Do?
which is likely to exceed 20°C and which If you are an employer and/or controller of
may release a spray or aerosol (ie a premises, you have a legal duty to assess the
cloud of droplets and/or droplet nuclei) risks associated with Legionella and put
during operation or when being measures in place to reduce the risk.
maintained. To comply with this duty you must;
• Appoint a competent person to assess your
water systems
• Once the assessment is complete you must
implement the controls recommended
• Review the assessment on a regular basis
(usually bi-annually)
Peligro Risk Management Limited have a
partnership with a reputable water safety
consultancy and can arrange a water risk
assessment for you for a discounted fee. We
can also review the controls recommended and
assist you with implemented them.
Control Measures If you would like further information about water
There are a wide variety of control measures safety management, or would like a quotation
that can be used to control Legionella and for a water risk assessment, please contact us;
other bacteria in water systems including;
• Regular microbiological sampling of storage
tanks and outlets Enquiries@peligro.co.uk
• Regular Chlorination of water storage
tanks/Calorifiers 0845 643 9797
• Weekly flushing of rarely used water outlets
• Cooling of cold water to below 20 Deg C
• Maintenance of hot water temperatures
above 60 Deg C
• Identification and removal of dead legs in
the system e.g. Redundant pipework
• Measuring and logging of water
temperatures to demonstrate compliance
with temperature control
Further control are required for Cooling towers
and evaporative condensors.
The control measures required for each system
will be determined by the competent person
assessing the system.
© 2010 Peligro Risk Management Limited 2

3. © 2010 Peligro Risk Management Limited 3