The  Health & Safety Executives legionella control documents, the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8, “Legionnaires’ disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems”, offers practical advice and specific guidance on the control of legionella bacteria in water systems.

The ACOP L8 is supported by the Health & Safety Executive’s HSG274, “Legionnaires’ disease: Technical guidance” document which provides additional guidance covering the operation and management of the following risk systems, evaporative cooling systems, hot and cold water systems, and other risk systems. The Health & Safety Executives ACOP L8 offers practical advice and specific guidance on the control of legionella bacteria in engineered water systems.

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HSG274 Legionnaires’ Disease Technical Guidance

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HSG274 is split into three distinct parts as follows:

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• HSG274 Legionnaires’ disease: Technical guidance Part 1: The control of legionella bacteria in evaporative cooling systems.

• HSG274 Legionnaires’ disease: Technical guidance Part 2: The control of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems.

• HSG274 Legionnaires’ disease: Technical guidance Part 3: The control of legionella bacteria in other risk systems.

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These important documents incorporate the requirements of both the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002.

They also provide information on compliance with the relevant sections of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Learn more about legionella risk assessments

The Code of Practice and guidance document ACOP L8 has a special legal status.

It is important to understand that if you are prosecuted for breach of health and safety law, and it is proved that you did not follow the relevant provisions of the Code, you will need to show that you have complied with the law in some other way or a Court will find you at fault.