Those responsible for premises, including business owners and landlords, have a legal duty to manage the risks associated with legionella.
This involves identifying potential hazards, implementing effective control measures, and maintaining accurate records.
Who is the duty holder for legionella?
The legionella duty holder is the individual or organisation with ultimate legal responsibility for controlling legionella risks in a building, typically the employer, landlord, or business owner.
They bear the final accountability for ensuring water systems are safe, even if daily management tasks are delegated to others.
It is their responsibility to protect employees from risk of exposure to Legionella.
How do duty holders manage legionella risks?
- Carry out a risk assessment to identify sources and risks from Legionella bacteria.
- Consult with employees.
- Keep records of control scheme inspections, tests etc.
- Always review risk assessment when circumstances change (or if no changes, when review is scheduled).
- Appoint a competent person to manage risk and implement control measures.
- Ensure risk assessment is completed by a competent person.
The responsible/ competent person is appointed by an organization’s duty holder to manage day-to-day legionella control.
They must have the competence, authority, and knowledge to execute water management procedures, halt dangerous operations, and maintain compliance with UK health and safety regulations.
They must be specifically trained in understanding water systems, the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8), and the risks of Legionnaires’ disease and typically be senior enough to authorise corrective actions.
This involves identifying potential hazards, implementing effective control measures, and maintaining accurate records.
Risk Assessment
A legionella risk assessment will need to identify the following things:
- Hazard e.g. legionella bacteria being inhaled.
- Likelihood, consequence & risk rating.
- Control measures.
- Persons at risk.
- PPE e.g. Gloves.
Remember, following your risk assessment any control measures to be implemented should follow your hierarchy of control. So, if:
- You can remove the risk all together, do so.
- You cannot remove, then implement control measures to reduce the risk:
- Service and maintain your water systems.
- Manage water temperature.
- Use of biocides and chemical treatment.
- Conduct employee health surveillance.
- Competent person to regularly review control systems in place to ensure working.
Why is effective record keeping important for legionella?
Risk assessments, monitoring results, and staff training must be kept for minimum of 5 years.
This demonstrates legal compliance to the HSE during audits.
Records can also be used to help with an investigation in the event of an outbreak.
How can WA Management help?
WA Management offer an online Legionella training course, suitable for those who carry out water management tasks. For duty holders, we endorse this course by Commodious.
We can also assist with building a risk assessment pack relevant to your business.
Environmental Awareness and Legionella courses are essential tools in reducing your environmental impact and protecting employees from environmental hazards.
Make sure you don’t miss out on our 10% off deal on these courses, available until the end of July. Simply enter the code ‘eco10’ at checkout to save!
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