FAQs
What is Legionella?
Legionella is a naturally occurring bacteria widespread in nature. When the bacteria enter water systems in the built environment, conditions can often favour and encourage significant growth and reproduction to levels which can cause bacterial pneumonia and could be fatal to humans. As a result, legionella is considered as a biological hazard and is listed under the COSHH Regulations. This defines the need for a suitable risk assessment to cover water systems in the workplace.
What are the different types of Legionella bacteria?
There are over 40 different species of legionella bacteria. However, legionella pneumophila is considered the most dangerous as it causes about 90% of the cases of infection. Around 16 different subgroups of legionella pneumophila have been reported as the cause of infection. However, Legionella Pneumophila Serogroup 1 is the most associated with Legionnaires’ disease in the UK.
Is Legionella dangerous?
When the bacteria enters the water system, conditions can encourage significant growth and reproduction to levels which can cause bacterial pneumonia. In some instance this could be fatal to humans.
Who needs a Legionella risk assessment?
All local authorities are required to carry out legionella risk assessments, as well as any premises, trade, business or commercial enterprise using or undertaking activity with water. Where water is used or stored which can be transmitted in an aerosol and then be inhaled, there will be a reasonably foreseeable risk of exposure to legionella bacteria. As a result, if you have water on your site, you will need to carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment to identify the level of risk.
How often should you review a risk assessment?
The legionella risk assessment should be updated at least every two years. However, where there are changes to the water systems or responsibility structure, the risk assessment will need to be updated. Further to this, an annual review should be conducted to ensure the systems are being suitably managed.
Do all workplaces need a Legionella risk assessment?
The HSC’s, Approved Code of Practice applies to any work activity and to any premises in connection with a trade, business or commercial enterprise. In this instance, if you have water on your site, you will need to carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment to identify the level of risk. Ask yourself, does the Health and Safety at work Act apply to your situation? if the answer is yes, then you most definitely need a legionella risk assessment. Even in a brand-new building!
What happens if I don’t comply?
Failure to comply with any provision of the Approved Code of Practice is not in itself an offence but can be used in criminal proceedings as evidence of failure to comply with appropriate regulations.
What do I need to do after the Legionella risk assessment is carried out?
If your Legionella risk assessment identifies a low or negligible risk, then a simple review of the assessment will be required at least every 2 years. If a reasonably foreseeable risk is identified a programme for continual monitoring and control will be required and remedial actions may also be required to find an engineered solution to manage or eliminate the risk.
Do Local Authorities and Housing Associations need to carryout Legionella Risk Assessments?
Yes, all local authorities are required to carry out legionella risk assessments – more info at http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/localgovernment/faq.htm
What needs to happen if a risk is identified?
If a risk is identified, a programme for continual monitoring and control, as well as remedial actions, will be required to find an engineered solution to manage or eliminate the risk.
What are the requirements for a business under ACOP L8?
Our Risk Assessors are competent qualified personnel, with an expert knowledge of domestic water systems. They have all the required knowledge and skills to identify the conditions that can lead to an outbreak of Legionella.
How can we ensure we meet our obligations and responsibilities?
A full risk assessment is required every two years. As part of the assessment an in-person survey needs to be conducted by a trained assessor to examine the water services within your buildings, and water samples need to be taken. These will then be analysed and you will receive a full report and set of recommendations for planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and advised upgrades and one-off tasks, required for your complete legionella compliance.
What is a Thermostatic Mixing Valve (TMV)?
A TMV accurately controls water temperature for bathing, showering, hand-washing and bidets.
They are designed to maintain the desired water temperature, even when the incoming water pressures/flow rates change.
They are designed to maintain the desired water temperature, even when the incoming water pressures/flow rates change.
Why are TMVs important?
A TMV provides an important role in safety to prevent scalding, which can cause very serious and even fatal injuries, especially among young children and older people.
In the event of cold water supply failure, the thermostatic mixing mechanism will automatically shut down the flow to prevent discharge of dangerously hot water. The flow will also be shut down in the event of a hot water supply failure to prevent thermal shock. In the event of a sudden supply temperature increase (a ‘spike’), the TMV will also quickly, although not quite instantly, adapt and deliver water at a safe temperature.
In the event of cold water supply failure, the thermostatic mixing mechanism will automatically shut down the flow to prevent discharge of dangerously hot water. The flow will also be shut down in the event of a hot water supply failure to prevent thermal shock. In the event of a sudden supply temperature increase (a ‘spike’), the TMV will also quickly, although not quite instantly, adapt and deliver water at a safe temperature.
How often do TMVs need servicing and what’s included?
A TMV is an important safety feature and, therefore, their maintenance is important. For regulatory requirements, an annual functionality check is required, but we also recommend annual preventative servicing, if not more regularly. Why? Because several factors, including water hardness and frequency of use of the TMV may determine that servicing is needed more frequently.
Servicing includes checking the TMV to see if the valves operate as they should and can be set between 39-43c, which is the recommended temperature range for hot water outlets where a TMV is installed.
As well as TMV servicing safety checks, we also isolate and strip the TMV to clean, descale and disinfect the strainers too, to help with longevity, high performance and to ensure there is no dirt that could lead to bacteria growth, such as Legionella.
Servicing includes checking the TMV to see if the valves operate as they should and can be set between 39-43c, which is the recommended temperature range for hot water outlets where a TMV is installed.
As well as TMV servicing safety checks, we also isolate and strip the TMV to clean, descale and disinfect the strainers too, to help with longevity, high performance and to ensure there is no dirt that could lead to bacteria growth, such as Legionella.