Legionella Risk Assessments

What is Legionella?

Legionella are bacteria that are common in hot and cold water systems (storage tanks, pipe-work, taps and showers). The bacteria can live in smaller water supply systems used in homes and other residential accommodation as well as factories, hotel, hospitals and museums.

Legionnaires disease can cause severe illness and in some extreme cases can even cause death.

How do you catch it?

Legionnaires' disease is normally contacted by inhaling small droplets of water, suspended in the air, containing the bacteria. These can be caused from the spray from taps and showers. Certain conditions increase the risk of legionella.

What does the law say I have to do?

The recent introduction of the Heath and Safety Executive guidelines (HSG274 part2) means that there is now a legal responsibility from Landlords, who provide residential accomodation, to ensure that the risk of exposure of tenants to Legionella is properly controlled and that Legionella Risk Assessments are carried out by a competent person.

Heavy fines and even imprisonment are able to be imposed - Landlords can be prosecuted even if there is an exposure to risk without anyone actually becoming ill or die.

 
 A competent person must

 
•    Carry out a risk assessment to identify and assess potential sources of exposure.
•    Introduce a course of action to prevent and control any risk you have identified.
•    Monitor and periodically review your control measures.
•    Keep records.
•    Instruct a competent person with sufficient authority and knowledge of the installation to help tackle the measures needed to comply with the law.

EPC Solutions (Kent) are fully Qualified Legionella Assessors and can ensure that you are compliant in this area when renting out your residential property.

Please contact us with your property details for a tailored quote.