Archer & Stone Ltd services

Legionella Services

Legionella Risk Assessment Services

The key starting point to any legionella control programme is having legionella risk assessments carried out on premises. Under the Approved Code of Practice known as ACoP L8 it is a requirement to assess the risk in order to determine the next steps. It is in effect a legal obligation under various legislation, primarily the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) known as COSHH. There is plenty of information in ACoP L8 from page 5-8 paragraphs 23-37 and many commercial versions of legionella risk assessments. In essence it should be done by a competent person on ALL work premises on behalf of the person responsible for the site.

Legionella Testing Services

There is a perception that people have to take water samples and check for legionella bacteria. This is NOT the case. Microbiological monitoring is a method of monitoring the levels of microbiological activity in a sample of water. Routine monitoring is NOT necessary (see ACOP L8 pg46-47 paragraph 183-187) because it is known that legionella bacteria are found in mains water. Experience shows that legionella bacteria are present in about 13% of water samples i.e. 1 in 7 but this is NOT a control measure. It is known that legionella (and other bacteria) occur in perfectly fit to drink mains supplied water. So spending time and money on samples is missing the point. The key is to implement adequate control measures and a written scheme for reducing the risk.