Legionella
What is Legionnaires' disease?
Legionnaires' disease is caused by the legionella organism, of which there are at least 34 different species - legionella pneumophila being the most dangerous.
Legionella is widespread in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes, streams, mud and soils, but can also live in man made water systems.
Legionnaires' disease can occur as sporadic cases or in clusters. It is commonly linked to large domestic water systems possibly in hotels, factories or hospitals.
Your company's responsibility
Under the COSHH regulations 1988, risk assessments and the adoption of appropriate precautions to prevent Legionellosis are required.
The approved code of practice (ACOP), The Prevention or Control of Legionellosis (including Legionnaires' disease), sets out further statutory requirements for dealing with the risk.
According to ACOP as an employer, you have a responsibility to:
- Identify and assess risk sources
- Prepare a scheme for preventing or controlling the risk
- Implement and manage precautions
- Keep records of precautions implemented
Practical steps to prevent legionella
Once the risk of legionella has been identified and assessed, a scheme should be prepared to prevent or control it.
Precautionary measures and treatments, monitoring results and remedial work should be recorded and sufficient information included to show what measures have been taken and how they have been monitored.
Testing of water quality is an essential part of the treatment regime and can include testing of both the re-circulating and make up water in order to ensure the absence of legionella organisms as well as assessing the general microbiological water quality.
See our sampling and analysis section to find out more about our testing facility.
How ACS can help
To enable you to manage the risk of Legionnaires' disease, ACS offers a comprehensive, high quality risk assessment and monitoring service of your water systems.
- Peace of mind - we undertake surveys to assist compliance with L8 - the Health and Safety Executive's approved code of practice for the control of legionella bacteria in water systems.
It is worth remembering that businesses may be prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 or the COSHH regulations 2002, if they fail to comply .
- Independent expertise - all our consultants and technicians are highly trained
- Quality assured - all systems and processes are covered by our UKAS accredited laboratory and the Code of Conduct Association for service providers.
- Practical solutions - in all aspects of water systems safety, including:
- Legionella risk assessments
- UKAS accredited microbiological testing
- Routine monitoring and maintenance
- Cleaning and disinfection
- Records - on site log books
- CAD schematic drawings
- Flexibility - the above options can easily be combined with our expert water regulation compliance surveys, as part of our water systems safety service
- Comprehensive service - at ACS we can carry out legionella risk assessments and perform the appropriate analysis, including Legionella sp, Total Viable Counts, Coliforms, E.coli and Sulphite Reducing Clostridia. The latter four tests indicate water quality and can be used to determine if the water is potable.
Related services
Other environmental analysis and consultancy services that we offer at ACS include:
- Exposure and contact plates
- Potable water supply
- Sick building syndrome
- Humidifier fever
- Hygiene audits
Find out how we can work with you to ensure that your company is fully compliant, when it comes to legionella regulations, call now on 01422 370 588 for an informal, no obligation discussion.
