Legionella guidance

In 2013 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) updated the current guidance regarding Legionella control, rewriting the existing Approved Code of Practice and producing several further guidance documents to provide practical advice on how to control Legionella bacteria.

Under this guidance all employers are required to take steps to identify and assess the risk of Legionella bacteria entering and growing within the water system, manage and control this risk and keep relevant records.

The purpose of this report is to act as a reminder to governors to ensure that their premises have all necessary measures in place to control Legionella and ensure compliance with current HSE guidance.

For more information:

Andrew Elsdon (Legionella Manager)

Telephone: 0191 561 2660
Email: andrew.elsdon@sunderland.gov.uk
 

The HSE's Approved Code of Practice; Legionnaires disease the control of legionella bacteria in water systems, and guidance documents HSG274 parts 2 and 3, clearly set out the duties placed on employers and landlords regarding legionella control. These include:

• ensuring that water systems have suitable and sufficient risk assessments completed
• ensuring that a suitable program of temperature monitoring, inspection, cleaning and sampling is in place and
• ensuring that individuals are appointed to manage this program and duties and responsibilities are clearly defined.

When all of this is in place it is equally important to ensure that if any problems arise from the risk assessment or monitoring activities they are acted upon to ensure the water quality within the building remains acceptable.

The Property Services Legionella SLA is available for schools and academies to sign up to and this will arrange all the necessary checks on the schools behalf as well as providing support and guidance to ensure that the risk of Legionella contamination is managed appropriately. If a school or academy opts out of this service is it paramount that the management fully understand their responsibilities, arrange for the required program to be implemented and procure suitable competent help to assist where required.