Risk Assessments in accordance with HSC ACOP L8 2001, the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems

Scope and Application

This approved code of practice applies to the control of Legionella bacteria in any undertaking involving a work activity and to premises controlled in connection with a trade. Businesses, or other undertakings where water is used or stored, ,and where there is a means of creating and transmitting water droplets which may be inhaled, thereby causing a reasonably foreseeable risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria.

The following systems are defined in the HSC ACOP and L8 2001 as presenting a risk of Legionellosis:-

(a) Water systems incorporating a cooling tower
(b) Water systems incorporating an evaporative condenser
(c) Hot and cold water systems; and
(d) other plant and systems containing water which is likely to exceed 20ºC and which may release a spray or aerosol (i.e. a cloud of droplets and/or droplet nuclei) during operation or when being maintained.

The purpose of the risk assessment is to identify and asses the level of risk in systems susceptible to colonisation by Legionella. Whilst assessing that risk we also take into account the requirements of Water Byelaw 30 regarding Cold Water Storage tanks because it is both relevant and important to controlling contamination of stored water.

As regards Legionellosis and HSC L8 2001 the assessment should take account of:-

(a) The potential for droplet formation
(b) The water temperature
(c) The likely risk to those who might inhale water droplets
(d) The potential means of preventing or controlling the risk

In assessing this risk particular attention should be paid to circumstances where there are a large proportion of people who are particularly susceptible, i.e. hospitals, nursing homes or sheltered housing for the aged. Equally, areas of very high density of population where the number of people at potential risk is high.

Essentially all premises which are affected by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 must asses the risks to health and follow the guidelines of the  HSC ACOP L8 2001 to minimise those risks. In order to comply with their legal duties (and the HSC ACOP) the responsible persons should:-

(a) Identify and assess the sources of risk
(b) Prepare a scheme for preventing or controlling the risks
(c) Implement and manage precautions
(d) Keep records of the precautions implemented
(e) Appoint a person to be managerially responsible

How can A&S help ?

A&S provide a full service for carrying out the inspection and writing a detailed risk assessment, presented to you in a bound folder for each property surveyed, which covers every aspect of the requirements. If you wish, the report can also be sent to you on a floppy disk, in most of the popular text formats, so that you can print as many copies as you need from your own computer.

Where necessary, diagrammatic drawings are provided with our reports to identify the particular items of plant concerned. This is particularly relevant when equipment is not labeled or identified on the premises. We can also produce diagrammatic drawings which are suitable for the necessary 'site log book'

The survey report will identify all relevant items and will give a detailed report on all areas of the requirements for each item. It will state what action (if any) is needed to correct a problem, it will give an 'assessment' of the risk considered applicable with regard to the potential for contamination by Legionella as a result of any problem and it will indicate the level of priority for the work to be done, against each recommendation for corrective action, on a scale from 0 - 4.

The service can include production of a 'Site Log Book' with all relevant detailed pages for the equipment installed on the particular site, and the routine inspections and water quality testing that are required under the Codes.

The client is under no obligation, of any kind, to put remedial works that we suggest or recommend with A&S. However, we do provide all the necessary facilities and skilled manpower and, we will be pleased to provide those services - should our prices be acceptable.

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