Risk Assessment

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulation, operators of all commercial premises, not inclusive but including hotels, schools, hospitals, care homes, social housing, offices and leisure facilities have a statutory duty to control the risk of Legionella bacteria in water systems.

Where there is a risk and there are five or more employees in any given environment, the assessment should be formal recorded in the form of a document known as The Legionella Risk Assessment

You are required to

  • Identify and assess the sources of risk
  • Prepare a scheme for preventing or controlling the risk – The SafeWater programme
  • Appoint a person to be managerially responsible
  • Implement and manage precautions
  • Keep records of the precautions implemented

As set out in the HSE ACOP L8 guidance – the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems – the individual on who the statutory duty falls is required to have access to competent help in assessing the risks of exposure.

This involves the appointment of an external water expert to produce a risk assessment.

The ACOP L8 regulations indicate that an appropriate risk assessment is the first step in Legionnaire’s disease prevention.

The purpose is to identify all water systems where Legionella bacteria could possibly grow, and assess the risk of people being exposed to contaminated aerosols from them.

All water systems need to be included in the Legionella risk assessment. The most common places where Legionella can be found include purpose-built water systems, cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold-water systems and spa pools.

There are also several other systems that may pose a risk to exposure to legionella, including humidifiers, air washers, emergency showers and indoor ornamental fountains.

HydroChem Legionella Risk Assessments

HydroChem Group are a Category 1 Legionella Control Association registered company.

A HydroChem professional Legionella Risk Assessment will identify the level of risk within a property. This is the first step of any water hygiene control programme, which will qualify for L8 compliance

This also includes:

  • Initial Assessment
  • Water System Schematic Diagram(s)
  • Recommendations for Remedial Works to minimise Legionella risk
  • Recommendations for on-going water Hygiene monitoring in accordance with L8
  • Comprehensive Logbook for record keeping
  • Microbiological Reports of any water tests – if applicable
  • Treatment Records and Certification – if applicable

Where the risk assessment highlights a foreseeable risk of exposure to bacteria, it is then necessary to implement control measures to reduce the risk brought to light within the Risk Assessment. This usually takes the form of a Legionella Monitoring programme and would include the following:

  • Weekly flushing of infrequently used services
  • Monthly temperature monitoring
  • Quarterly de scaling and disinfection of shower head
  • Six monthly tank inspections
  • Annual review
  • Awareness training
  • Tank cleaning and disinfection as required

For further information about Legionella Risk Assessments and the importance of control over the issue, then contact our team who would be pleased to help and signpost you to the right solution.

Contact us

To learn more about our services and products, or to get advice or more details, just get in touch. 

The full range of HydroChem Services:

Water Treatment - Industrial

We are leading supplier of Legionella compliance services, water hygiene risk assessment, water treatment, installations and maintenance.

Water Treatment - Domestic

Assessing systems that may pose a risk to exposure to legionella, including humidifiers, air washers, emergency showers and indoor ornamental fountains.

Risk assessment

Ensuring all commercial premises have a statutory duty to control the risk of legionella bacteria in water systems. 

Water Hygiene

Protecting the public from hazards associated with bacteria in water systems particularly Legionella.

Chemicals

We offer an extensive range of water treatment chemicals to suit all processes and requirements.

Chemical Cleaning & Disinfections

We have dedicated teams of experienced engineers to diagnose and give site specific recommendations.

Plant & Equipment

We offer a vast range to ensure that processes are effectively operated to their maximum advantage and costs.

Remedials

After a Legionella risk assessment, it is likely that corrective or improvement works are required to bring your system up to compliance.

Mould, Air & Surface Remediation

Our protocols allow a building or site be kept clean, environmentally sound and free of contamination.

Borehole Water Treatment

We offer an extensive range of borehole water treatment options to suit all processes and requirements.