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Legionella Risk Assessment

Legionella risk assessments are carried out by AEC’s qualified assessors and involves a thorough visual inspection of all aspects of your water systems, review of your existing water management systems, controls and records and provides you with a documents assessment of risk level posed by the systems along with system specific remedial recommendations designed to minimise legionella risk.

Legionella risk assessments are carried out by AEC qualified assessors and involves physical and administrative checks on your water system and its component parts.

FAQ

The legionella risk assessment is the foundation of your water management system. Simply put, it tells you what your water system is comprised of, identifies its main assets and their condition, confirms the current controls in place and provides an assessment of the legionella risk posed. Based on its findings, it will also provide remedial advice and recommendations for the remediation of the system and the ongoing safe management requirements. Based on this, organisations are required to design and implement their legionella control scheme/plan.

Legionella is a bacterium that can cause Legionnaires’ disease, as well as the similar but less serious conditions of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever. People contract Legionnaires’ disease by inhaling small droplets of water (aerosols), suspended in the air, containing the bacteria.

Legionella bacteria are widespread in natural water systems, such as rivers and ponds. However, the conditions are rarely right for people to catch the disease from these sources. Outbreaks of the illness occur from exposure to legionella growing in purpose-built systems where water is maintained at a temperature high enough to encourage growth such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold-water systems and spa pools used in all sorts of premises (work and domestic).

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal type of pneumonia. It can also lead to other similar, but less serious conditions, of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever. Any water system has the potential to become a hazard to health, from a change in environmental conditions on site, an unnoticed system malfunction or a physical change in the system and use of the premises.

A  legionella risk assessment involves a full inspection and assessment of the configuration, construction and condition of your water system. The purpose is to identify whether  the equipment associated with the system such as pumps, heat exchangers, showers etc, and its constituent part are  likely to create a risk from exposure to legionella.

 

A Water Management Policy, Plan and Procedure Document is designed to help your organisation set clear goals for water management.   It is an auditable document that details clearly how you will manage the risks and track any remedial actions and on-going monitoring of the water systems.  Your management plan should be reviewed annually and is an essential document to fulfil the statutory obligations.

Our clients benefit from AEC’s online portal.  Available 24/7 all your records are contained in an easy-to-use management system.  It’s a fast interactive system providing secure access to all reports and data to view  at any time.  View AEC’s Client Portal here.

The Duty Holder is the employer or person in control of the premises.

The Duty Holder is required to manage the risk from legionella bacteria by:

  1. Identifying and assessing sources of risk
  2. Managing any risks
  3. Preventing and controlling any risks
  4. Keeping and maintaining correct records
  5. Carrying out any other duties you may have.

Duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) extend to risks from legionella bacteria, which may arise from work activities. More specifically, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) provide a framework of actions designed to assess, prevent or control the risk from bacteria like Legionella and take suitable precautions.  The Approved Code of Practice: Legionnaires’ disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8) contains practical guidance on how to manage and control the risks in your system.

The Legionella Control Association (LCA) is a membership organisation for providers of services and products concerned with the control of legionella bacteria in water systems.  A valid registration with the LCA is evidence that the Member has an appropriate management system in place to comply with the LCA Member Commitments and that these are regularly audited by the LCA.

Testimonial

AEC are the pure definition of discretional effort. There are too many examples of how they have  gone beyond what the client stipulated to assist the university meet and exceed statutory compliance.

Andrew Welton, Facilities Safety & Compliance Manager, Lancaster University.

The Canal & River Trust are delighted to be working in partnership with AEC, a consultancy firm with such vast experience within the legionella and water hygiene industry.  AEC’S expertise and professionalism so far has been a credit to all those involved, and we are looking forward to working closely together to ensure our network of buildings and moorings sites maintain and achieve the highest levels of compliance.”

Dominic McCann, The Canal & River Trust’s Senior Building Surveyor

* AEC is UKAS accredited for asbestos surveys, air testing and bulk sample analysis only.

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