Legionella risk assessments and legal requirements explained by Yorkshire-based water compliance experts

Every time your tenant or staff member turns on a tap, flushes the loo or has a shower, they are at risk of a rare but potentially fatal form of pneumonia.

Legionella is a bacteria commonly found in and around water. Without regular maintenance to ensure water systems are protected, the bacteria grows and is spread through microscopic water droplets.

It’s particularly dangerous to people with lowered immune systems, chronic lung or other lifelong conditions, smokers, the elderly and the very young. When people contract it, there is a 10 per cent mortality rate.

We asked Craig Taylor, from Absolute Water Compliance which covers every corner of Yorkshire and throughout the UK, to talk us through the causes, legal requirements, and ways to minimise risk.

What exactly is Legionella?

The disease itself is not contagious and is not passed from person to person. Instead, this severe form of pneumonia is spread through tiny bacteria in water droplets, which are not visible to the human eye. It’s a particularly nasty disease, and can be fatal. If a person develops legionnaires’ disease, early medical intervention is crucial for a positive outcome.

Is every business at risk?

The larger and more complex the water system in a building, the more at risk it is. That’s why places like factories, schools and hospitals should have a legionella risk assessment and ongoing processes in place, while a home is a much less likely breeding ground for the bacteria. Legionella can also grow in buildings where intermittent usage which leaves stagnant water in pipes, for example a holiday let.

Cooling towers and systems found in certain premises are also a breeding ground for the Legionella bacteria.

Is there a legal requirement to take preventative action?

According to the Health and Safety Executive, property owners must carry out a risk assessment and take appropriate action to minimise risk. Continuous monitoring of the risk and accurate record-keeping of tests are also a legal requirement. Whether you are a building manager, the employer or the landlord, you have a legal requirement to carry out a risk assessment, regardless of the size of the building you operate from.

Can it be prevented?

The best way to contain legionella is through identifying and assesses any sources of risk, managing those risks, putting prevention or controls in place, and maintaining accurate records of all work carried out.

Craig said: “Companies generally don’t have the experience or skills in house to carry out such assessments and tests, and to then make any interventions required. At Absolute Water Compliance we know the risks inside out, and our City and Guilds trained teams can do comprehensive audits and arrange for relevant action to be taken.

Best practice

“This not only keeps you, your staff and your customers safe, it keeps you within the guidance. Professional bodies and insurance companies are becoming much more aware of the benefits. In fact, if you were trying to sell your company or building, most buyers would expect to see your up-to-date Legionella risk assessment before completing a sale. It’s important on many levels.

“Laws and requirements change over time, we keep up to date with what’s required so you don’t have to, and will ensure your business is fully compliant.”

To get a fully compliant Legionella risk assessment – contact the Barnsley-based team today by phone on 01226 491133, by email at [email protected] or learn more at https://www.absolute-water.co.uk/legionella-risk-assessment