Legionella Risk Assessments, certified legionella risk assessor

Although everyone is susceptible to infection, certain groups are particularly vulnerable. These include smokers, heavy drinkers, people with diabetes, people who suffer from chronic respiratory disease, and anyone over the age of 45.

Legionella is a bacterium responsible for causing Legionnaires' disease, a rare but serious type of pneumonia. The disease is contracted by inhaling small water droplets contaminated with the Legionella bacterium, which can result in persistent health problems or even fatality. While the infection can affect anyone, it poses a higher risk to smokers, heavy drinkers, individuals with diabetes, those with chronic respiratory diseases, and people aged 45 and above. Additional information is available on the HSE website.

 The principal regulations covering legionella in Scotland are the primary health and safety laws. These include:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974  – provides relevant health and safety legislation to apply to landlords to ensure a duty of care is shown to their tenants regarding their health and safety.
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 – provides a framework of actions to control the risk from a range of hazardous substances, including biological agents (e.g. legionella) – to identify and assess the risk and implement any necessary measures to control any risk.
• Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8 (3rd Edition) – sets out the requirement for landlords of both domestic and business premises to assess the risks from exposure to legionella to their tenants, where water is used or stored, and there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of exposure to legionella bacteria.

When letting out a property, landlords have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their tenants by mitigating the risks of health hazards. This includes legionella bacteria. It is, therefore, a legal responsibility to conduct a legionella risk assessment for their property – or have one undertaken for them.

 A legionella risk assessment involves a systematic evaluation of water systems to identify potential sources of legionella bacteria.

As part of a legionella risk assessment, a qualified assessor will check:

• Where water is stored or re-circulated as part of the system.
• The water temperature of the system.
• If the system has rust, sludge, scale and organic matter.
• If parts of the system are dormant or used infrequently.
• If there is any redundant pipework in the system.

It’s important to note that the complexity of the assessment can vary depending on factors such as the type of water systems and the size of the facility.

 Trained legionella risk assessors possess in-depth knowledge of legionella bacteria and the risk assessment process. We are familiar with the conditions that promote growth, can recognise the potential sources of growth, and offer tailored recommendations based on the specific water system and its usage patterns. Our expertise ensures a thorough assessment and effective risk management.

After the assessment, we provide thorough documentation of the process, findings, and recommended actions. In the case of any adverse outcomes or legal issues, having a certified assessor’s report adds a layer of professional accountability and credibility and demonstrates compliance with the law.

Finally, legionella regulations and guidelines can vary depending on location and can change over time.