Below are a number of Legionella-related questions that we often get asked by our clients. Simply click on the question to find the answer written by our in house legionella experts.
Legionella related FAQs
What is Legionnaires' Disease?
Legionella pneumophila, is the causative organism for most cases of Legionnaires' disease. Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia. It was named after an outbreak of severe pneumonia, which affected a meeting of the American Legion in 1976. It is an uncommon but serious disease.
The illness occurs more frequently in men than women. It usually affects middle-aged or elderly people and it more commonly affects smokers or people with other chest problems. Legionnaires' disease is uncommon in younger people and is very uncommon under the age of 20.
How do I book a Legionella Risk assessment?
Employers have a duty of care and a legal obligation to undertake a Water and Legionella Risk Assessment on all premises where there is a risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria. This will apply to the vast majority of buildings where water is stored and used.
We can carry out your assessment for you.
Do all places of work require a Legionella Risk Assessment?
Simply put, yes all places of work do require a legionella risk assessment.
Do I need a Legionella Risk Assessment for a domestic property?
The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems (L8) is only relevant in circumstances where the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies, therefore most domestic property is exempt from regulation.
How much does a Legionella Risk Assessment cost?
The cost of a water or Legionella and Water Hygiene Risk Assessment is entirely dependent on the amount of water services in and the size of the property.
Typical costs range from £200.00 for a small dental or GP practice to £500.00 for a medium sized care home. Our assessors undertake regular assessments of all types of buildings and water systems including offices, manufacturing sites, warehouses and public buildings.
Contact us to request your fixed quotation.
What do I need to do after the Legionella Risk Assessment?
The legionella risk assessment will find the site to be either low or negligible risk, in which case a simple review of the assessment should be made every two years.
It may be that a reasonably foreseeable risk is identified. In this instance, remedial work may be recommended together with a programme for continual monitoring and control.
We can of course advise you of any actions and help you implement them as part of our service.
What site monitoring will I need to do?
The required level of monitoring will depend on the plant and water services at the site.
Bradley Environmental can tailor programmes for the management of legionella to suit the property type and size.
Typically, a small to medium office or factory with simple domestic welfare facilities may require monthly monitoring of water temperatures as well as periodic inspections of cold water storage tanks and an annual review of the management programme. In addition, water services that are used infrequently would need to be flushed weekly.
In situations where water is used in a process or a cooling tower or evaporative condenser is in operation more frequent and in-depth monitoring would be required.
Can we do the assessment or monitoring in-house?
The control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems (L8) states that 'persons who carry out the assessment and provide advice should have such ability, experience, instruction, information, training and resources to enable them to carry out their tasks competently and safely, where the expertise is not possessed it may be necessary to resource help and support from outside the organisation.
However with some basic training, some sites may be able to carry out certain elements of the monitoring programme (i.e. monthly temperature checks) in order to reduce costs and to retain ownership, while at the same time receiving advice and support from Bradley Environmental.
How often should I carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment?
According to HSE ACoP L8 The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems, the assessment should be reviewed every 2 years and if there is reason to suspect that is no longer valid, for example:
- Where there have been changes to plant, the water system or its use;
- Where there have been changes to the use of the building;
- Where new information about risk or control measures has become available;
- Where monitoring indicates that control measures are no longer effective.
Is the Landlord or the tenant responsible for managing Legionella?
This will ultimately be determined by the lease agreement but 99% of the time tenants who have sole occupancy of a building where they are also responsible for maintenance and repairs will be the person or persons on whom the statutory duty falls.
Where there are multiple occupants or where the landlord services and maintains the building, then the duty would usually fall to the landlord unless other arrangements have been documented and communicated.
What are the regulations that govern Legionella control?
The two main pieces of legislation are the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation (1994).
Organisations that fail to comply with HSE ACoP L8 The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems may be prosecuted under either of these regulations.
Who is Most at Risk from Legionnaires' Disease?
Because Legionnaires' disease is caused by an infection of the bacterium legionella, those who are frequently exposed to unclean water sources where legionella breeds are at risk. Infections have been known to occur in people who work with large cooling towers or air conditioning systems.
What happens when an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease occurs?
An outbreak is defined as two or more confirmed cases of legionellosis occurring in the same locality within a six-month period.
Local authorities will have established incident plans to investigate major outbreaks of infectious disease including legionellosis. These are activated by the Proper Officer who invokes an outbreak Committee, whose primary purpose is to protect public health, and prevent further infection. This will normally be set up to manage the incident and will involve representatives of all the agencies involved.
Can I incorporate a water risk assessment into a standard risk assessment?
Yes, a Legionella Risk Assessment can form part of a general risk assessment, but the water risk assessment has to be sufficient to cover the specific measures associated with control of Legionella, which are set out in detail in the HSE ACoP L8 The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems. In brief, the assessment should identify where there are:
- Suitable conditions for Legionella growth: water temperature of 25°C to 45°C.
- Means of dissemination, such as showers or air-conditioning units.
- Presence and nature of the people exposed. Old and infirm people are more prone to contracting Legionnaires' disease.