Legionnaires' Disease and The Law

Your business has a duty to both understand and minimise risk. Your company has a legal obligation to mitigate the risk of Legionella under the Health and Safety at Work Act Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Technical guidance can be found in HSG274 relating to the control of Legionella in water systems. The Approved Code of Practice on Legionella control can be found in ACOP L8 and is designed to support duty holders to help them comply with their legal duties in relation to legionella.

As can be seen, the law and the guidance is technical and you may seek professional support to ensure full compliance. SAS Water will support you every step of the way to ensure your business is compliant and to minimise safety risks for your staff, customers and visitors.

You are required to provide:

A Legionella Risk Assessment which is an essential risk management process and comprises a detailed examination of the risks presented by man-made water systems, and seeks to identify and assess the risks associated with Legionnaires' Disease through exposure to Legionella bacteria.
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.
Have access to competent help and advice to apply Health and Safety legislation.
Evidence you have accessed competent help & advice.
Information, instruction and training to your employees.

SAS can take the stress out of your Legionella Control responsibilities. We provide a holistic Legionella Control Service or, either in tandem or as a one-off programme, we can train your team, contact SAS on 01335 347058.

Understanding Your Responsibilities

Your business has a duty to understand and monitor risk. While only a court of law can make a final ruling, local authority inspectors expect that all employers to follow the latest guidance on the prevention of Legionnaires’ Disease and to demonstrate compliance with the law.

The Health and Safety Executive states that you have a duty to source expert advice and SAS Water is available to provide that expert support.

Our independent Legionella audits are designed to give you confidence. We ensure that your business is fully compliant with all legal requirements and that your practices are up to date.

SAS Water can support your safety management, whether you need a comprehensive long-term solution or are facing a potential crisis. We ensure that you meet your legal responsibilities under Health and Safety Law to mitigate the risk of Legionella and your company is required to ensure that Legionella Risk Assessments are carried-out.

The first step involves developing and putting in place a comprehensive operating plan and then adding to your resilience by devising an emergency action plan which can be activated in the event of a problem.

Did you know

Legionnaires’ Disease got its name after veterans from the American Legion fell ill at their annual convention in Philadelphia. Up to 11 war veterans died after complaining of chest pains, congested lungs and a fever. The cause of death was traced to the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel where the convention had been held. The hotel closed for good in November 1976, just four months after the outbreak.

Legionella Regulations

We are here to help you to understand your responsibilities

SAS has the knowledge and experience to ensure you are up to date and compliant with all changes in regulations.

We ensure that you meet your legal responsibilities under Health and Safety Law with regard to carrying-out Legionella Risk Assessments, accurate record keeping, pool safety operating procedures, taking water samples and testing and monitoring. We can ensure that you have a comprehensive operating plan in place and an emergency action plan which can be activated in the event of a problem.