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Legionella Assessments

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Description

PHH offers a UK-based Legionella and water hygiene independent and impartial consultation advice on all matters relating to the control, management, and prevention of Legionella and its associated risks in accordance with ACoP L8. As independent consultants, we offer our clients completely impartial advice on a full range of Legionella risk management and other environmental disciplines.

Our specialist consulting services are delivered through experienced and qualified consultants who have extensive knowledge of all aspects of ACoP L8. Our impartial advice and our expertise cover Legionella management, risk management, crisis and emergency management, water hygiene training, and environmental hygiene services.

Our professional Legionella Risk Assessments are fully compliant with the latest British Standards dealing with Legionella risk assessments, BS 8580:2010 Water quality – Guide to risk assessments for Legionella control, and ACoPL8 (HSE Approved code of practice L8).

The first step in any risk management process is the production of a quality risk assessment. Legionella management is no different and as required by the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACOP L8), it is now required for all commercial buildings with a water supply employing 5 or more people.

As set out in the guidance, the person on who the statutory duty falls is required to have access to competent help in assessing the risks’.     This involves the engagement of an external water hygiene specialist to produce a risk assessment. The risk assessment should;

  • Identify and evaluate all potential sources of risk
  • Be a means by which exposure to bacteria can be prevented (where possible)
  • Where prevention is not possible, it should be a means by which the exposure can be controlled.

What do Legionella risk assessment involve?

A Legionella Risk Assessment involves a trained risk assessor visiting your premises and making a comprehensive assessment of the water system’s potential to be colonized by Legionella bacteria and the various factors favorable for their continued growth These factors include;

  • Temperature – Legionella require a range of between 20-50 degrees centigrade to multiply
  • Nutrients – much like any other living organism the bacteria need a source of food. In a water system, this takes the form of silt and debris, scale, and rust.
  • Aerosol Creation – an assessment of the type of water services present to judge the likelihood of an aerosol being created from anything from cooling towers to showers, whirlpools, and Jacuzzi’s.
  • Potential for Stagnation – stagnant water can provide an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and often where slow-moving water is found, the temperature is raised.

To complete a risk assessment, all areas of the water system are inspected including roof/loft spaces and void areas There is no disruption to the water supply.

Following the on-site assessment, a report is produced together with remedial recommendations and basic schematics drawings.
Where there is any chance of a risk of the presence of Legionella, it is necessary to have some form of ongoing water hygiene management program.

How often should I review my risk assessment?

A full re-assessment should be completed every 2 years but in addition to this a risk Legionella risk assessment should be carried out when there is

  • Change the water system or its use
  • Change to use the of the building
  • New information about risks/control measures are identified or published
  • Tests indicate control measures are out of specification

Please feel free to contact us for further information on all the services we provide which may help your business.

Call us on 02920 493000 or email for more information