Legionella Risk Assessments (Domestic Style Systems)
Legionnaires’ disease
Legionnaires’ disease, also known as Legionellosis, is a type of pneumonia, which can potentially be fatal. Those most at risk are the elderly and the very young, male over 50’s, the ill and smokers to name a few. Legionella bacteria can also cause other, less harmful illness such as Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever, which can affect all people. The main route of infection is through inhalation, by inhaling airborne water droplets that contain Legionella. It cannot be spread from person to person and the majority of cases or outbreaks of the disease have been via domestic water services, evaporative cooling towers, and spa pools.
It is also important in residential properties to regularly assess your water systems in your property, especially where water systems have been stagnant for some time.
If you are a Landlord, it is a legal requirement for you to ensure an assessment is carried out on your rental properties for the safety of your tenants.
Landlords & tenants in your properties
Below is a brief overview with regards to Residential/Domestic Legionella Risk Assessments and Building Owners obligations;
Landlords have a legal responsibility when it comes to protecting their tenants from harm against Legionella disease caused by the legionella bacteria commonly found in residential water supplies; yet many landlords are not fully aware of their responsibilities and what they need to do to protect themselves and their tenants.
BS 8580:2010 also states that a review date should be specified on the risk assessment. Unless any specific risks mean that a shorter review period is specified, a review date of 2 years from the date of inspection is recommended. Please note, however that this is not a requirement.
Assessment review date
1.Approved Code of Practice L8, HSG 274 and BS 8580:2010 do not specify a timescale for review of the risk assessment; however the record of the assessment is a ‘living’ document that must be reviewed to ensure it remains up-to-date.
2.This may be necessary due to:
3.Changes to the water system or its use.
4.Changes to the use of the building in which the water system is installed.
5.The availability of new information about risks or control measures;
6.The results of checks indicating that control measures are no longer effective.
7.Changes to key personnel.
8.Changes to the occupiers of the premises.
9.A case of Legionnaires’ Disease/Pontiac fever associated with the system.
Typically a report is a live document If the risk assessment concludes there is no reasonably foreseeable risk or the risks are insignificant and are managed properly to comply with the law, then the assessment is complete. Although no further action may be required at this stage, existing controls must be maintained.
The assessment of risk is an ongoing process and not merely a paper exercise. Duty holders should arrange to review the assessment regularly and specifically when there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid. An indication of when to review the assessment and what to consider should be recorded and this may result from.
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Below are links to the relevant HSE/ACOP documents and a Tenants leaflet, please fill free to download;
| technical_guidance_hsg274.pdf |
| acop_l8.pdf |
| legionella_-_information_for_tenants.pdf |
