Why have a Legionella Risk Assessment?

You have a legal duty to prevent exposure of employees and the general public to legionnaires’ disease. Failure to do so can result in prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and COSHH regulations 2002, even in situations where legionnaires’ disease was not contracted.

L8 requires a risk assessment to be carried out and to be reviewed regularly, or when it is no longer thought to be valid. You may elect to recommend a 2 year period, but the legislation does not specify a time interval. Additionally a review may be required if;

• There are changes to the water system or its use;
• Changes to the use of the building in which the water system is installed;
• The availability of new information about risks or control measures;
• Results of checks indicating that control measures are no longer effective;
• A case of Legionnaires’ disease/Legionellosis is associated with the system.