Q: Cleaning & Disinfection of water system

Is it necessary to clean and disinfect my water system? It is important to maintain the cleanliness of your water system. The mechanisms and frequency for doing this will depend on the system you have and whether cleaning or disinfecting is being done routinely or because of a problem identified during monitoring. The frequency and method of routine cleaning and disinfecting should be identified within your risk assessment. This will take account of factors such as whether the system is open or closed, the type and level of contamination, and the population that could be exposed.

Q: Appointing a responsible person

Who can be appointed as the 'responsible' person? The responsible person will take day-to-day responsibility for managing the control of any identified risk from legionella bacteria. Anyone can be appointed as the responsible person as long as they have sufficient authority, competence, skills and knowledge about the installation to ensure that all operational procedures are carried out in a timely and effective manner and implement the control measures and strategies, ie they are suitably informed, instructed, trained and assessed. They should be able to ensure that tasks are carried out in a safe, technically competent manner. If a dutyholder is self-employed or a member of a partnership, and is competent, they may appoint themselves. The responsible person should be suitably informed, instructed and trained and their suitability assessed. They should also have a clear understanding of their duties and the overall health and safety management structure, and policy in the organisation.

Q: What is automated temperature monitoring systems?

An automated temperature monitoring system is a digital solution that continuously tracks water temperatures in real time using sensors. It replaces manual checks with accurate, automated data collection to help maintain compliance and reduce risks such as Legionella.

Q: Prices for our Legionella Risk Assessments

Residential Properties & Similar:Where the system is relatively simple, the assessment itself won't take very long to complete. We still need to process and quality check the document before sending it to you.Individual cost from £125 + VATMultiple properties (i.e. more than 5) from £75 + VAT Per Property.Commercial Properties, Offices, Doctors/Dental Surgeries & Similar:These systems that are slight more complex in that there are more water outlets and areas to assess will take more time on site to complete.Estimated Cost £325 + VAT - please contact us if you have multiple sites as our costs per premises will be less.Schools, Colleges, Universities, Hospitals and Other Healthcare Premises:These bigger and more complex sites require an individual estimate being supplied due to the range in sizes and numbers of buildings. Please contact us via phone or our contact form to receive a quotation.Please contact us using our number or contact form to get an accurate quote.

Question 1

Legionella Risk Assessments

Accepted Answer

Your risk assessment should include: management responsibilities, including the name of competent person and a description of your system; potential sources of risk; any controls in place to control risks; monitoring, inspection and maintenance procedures; records of the monitoring results, inspections and checks carried out; arrangements to review the risk assessment regularly  If you decide that the risks are insignificant, your assessment is complete. You may not need take any further action at this stage but you should review the assessment regularly in case anything changes in your system. If I am not storing hot or cold water in my system, do I need to carry out a risk assessment? Yes. There may be other factors within your system that increase the risks of legionellosis, eg deadlegs, showerheads and/or long runs of pipe work containing warm water. A risk assessment should also consider anyone who could be potentially exposed to any legionella bacteria in your system, and particularly groups that are at a higher risk of contracting legionellosis. However, once you have completed your risk assessment you may decide that the risks are insignificant. If you do, you need take no further action other than to review the assessment regularly in case anything changes in your system.

Question 2

Controlling Legionella

Accepted Answer

How do I control the risks from legionella in my water system? The key point is to design, maintain and operate your water services under conditions that will either prevent or adequately control the risk from legionella bacteria. It is important that you either have, or have access to, competent help to fulfil these obligations.If you identify a risk that you are unable to prevent, you must introduce appropriate controls. You should introduce a course of action that will help you to control any risks from legionella by describing:  your system and its component parts eg developing a schematic diagramwho is responsible for carrying out the assessment and managing its implementationthe safe and correct operation of your systemwhat control methods and other precautions you will be usingwhat checks will be carried out to ensure risks are being managed and how oftenYou should where appropriate:  ensure that the release of water spray is properly controlledavoid water temperatures and conditions that favour the growth of legionella and other micro-organismsensure water cannot stagnate anywhere in the system by keeping pipe lengths as short as possible or by removing redundant pipe workavoid materials that encourage the growth of legionella (The Water Fittings and Materials Directory references fittings, materials, and appliances approved for use on the UK Water Supply System by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme)keep the system and the water in it cleantreat water to either control the growth of legionella (and other microorganisms) or limit their ability to growFind out more about what is Legionnaires' Disease is.

Question 3

Legionella Testing, Sampling & Analysis

Accepted Answer

Who can be appointed to test or monitor legionella? Testing of water quality must be carried out by a qualified specialist, such as a Bespoke Compliance Solutions. The type of test required will depend  on the nature of the water of the system. HSG274 Legionnaires' disease Technical guidance  provides further details for both evaporative cooling systems and hot and cold water systems.    How do I test or monitor legionella from my water system? Where monitoring for legionella is considered appropriate, the sampling method should be carried out in accordance with BS7592 and the biocide, if used, neutralised where possible. Water samples should be tested by a UKAS-accredited laboratory that takes part in a water microbiology proficiency testing scheme such as that run by Public Health England. The laboratory should also apply a minimum theoretical mathematical detection limit of <= 100 legionella bacteria per litre of sample for culture-based methods. How often should I test water for Legionella? It depends on the system that you have and the outcome of your risk assessment. For open systems, such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers and spa pools etc, routine testing should be carried out at least quarterly. However, there may be circumstances were more frequent sampling may be required.  For hot and cold water systems, which are generally enclosed, ie not open to the elements and significant contamination in the same way as cooling towers, microbiological monitoring is not usually required. But there may be circumstances where testing for legionella is necessary eg where there is doubt about the efficacy of the control regime or where recommended temperatures or disinfection concentrations are not being consistently achieved. Further guidance is available in HSG274 Part 2 (PDF) How do I interpret legionella test results? Consider what the results mean in the context of your water system. Your subsequent specific actions will depend on your risk assessment. Further information about what action to take when certain levels of legionella are identified can be found in HSG274 Part 1 (paras 1.114 – 1.129 and table 1.10) for evaporative cooling systems (PDF) ; and HSG274 Part 2 (paras 2.119 – 2.125 and table 2.2) for hot and cold water systems (PDF) .

Question 4

Cleaning & Disinfection of water system

Accepted Answer

Is it necessary to clean and disinfect my water system? It is important to maintain the cleanliness of your water system. The mechanisms and frequency for doing this will depend on the system you have and whether cleaning or disinfecting is being done routinely or because of a problem identified during monitoring. The frequency and method of routine cleaning and disinfecting should be identified within your risk assessment. This will take account of factors such as whether the system is open or closed, the type and level of contamination, and the population that could be exposed.

Question 5

Appointing a responsible person

Accepted Answer

Who can be appointed as the 'responsible' person?
 
The responsible person will take day-to-day responsibility for managing the control of any identified risk from legionella bacteria.  Anyone can be appointed as the responsible person as long as they have sufficient authority, competence, skills and knowledge about the installation to ensure that all operational procedures are carried out in a timely and effective manner and implement the control measures and strategies, ie they are suitably informed, instructed, trained and assessed.
 
They should be able to ensure that tasks are carried out in a safe, technically competent manner. If a dutyholder is self-employed or a member of a partnership, and is competent, they may appoint themselves. The responsible person should be suitably informed, instructed and trained and their suitability assessed. They should also have a clear understanding of their duties and the overall health and safety management structure, and policy in the organisation.

Question 6

What is automated temperature monitoring systems?

Accepted Answer

An automated temperature monitoring system is a digital solution that continuously tracks water temperatures in real time using sensors. It replaces manual checks with accurate, automated data collection to help maintain compliance and reduce risks such as Legionella.

Question 7

Prices for our Legionella Risk Assessments

Accepted Answer

Residential Properties & Similar:Where the system is relatively simple, the assessment itself won't take very long to complete. We still need to process and quality check the document before sending it to you.Individual cost from £125 + VATMultiple properties (i.e. more than 5) from £75 + VAT Per Property.Commercial Properties, Offices, Doctors/Dental Surgeries & Similar:These systems that are slight more complex in that there are more water outlets and areas to assess will take more time on site to complete.Estimated Cost £325 + VAT - please contact us if you have multiple sites as our costs per premises will be less.Schools, Colleges, Universities, Hospitals and Other Healthcare Premises:These bigger and more complex sites require an individual estimate being supplied due to the range in sizes and numbers of buildings. Please contact us via phone or our contact form to receive a quotation.Please contact us using our number or contact form to get an accurate quote.

Legionella Risk Assessments