Getting your Legionella risk assessment right is essential for your property’s compliance and the health and safety of the occupants in the property. As a building owner or the Responsible Person, maintaining the regulations and the legal requirements is your responsibility, and there are some things to consider before consulting with a provider for your legionella risk assessment.
This article outlines five critical questions to ask before choosing a provider to ensure compliance, transparency and value. It’ll help you understand assessor credentials, legal standards, the scope of assessment, reporting clarity and ongoing support options. By the time you’ve read it, you’ll be able to see why H2O Hygiene is the most reliable choice for your Legionella risk assessment.
1. Is the assessor qualified and experienced?
A Legionella risk assessment needs to be carried out by a qualified professional to ensure your building is compliant. Ask for the assessor’s training and whether they hold certifications from recognised bodies. For example, the City & Guilds Assured Legionella Awareness course or some of the courses accredited by the Legionella Control Association (LCA), which are more in-depth and cover practical aspects of risk assessment, control measures and record keeping. Qualifications ensure the assessor understands microbial risk and water system engineering.
Experience is also important. Have they worked in your sector before? Ask for case references or portfolios of similar properties. An assessor with a strong track record will deliver a thorough, legally defensible assessment and valuable insights tailored to your requirements.
2. Will the Legionella Risk Assessment comply with legal standards?
Here in the UK, a Legionella risk assessment must adhere to the legal guidelines of (Approved Code of Practice) ACoP L8 and HSG274 (Parts 1,2 & 3) laid out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). You should be sure that your assessor will follow the guidance of these regulations and that all the documents they produce satisfy your legal obligations under COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
You should ask whether the assessment will provide fully compliant documentation, so you’ll have evidence in case of an inspection or outbreak. Failing to meet these legal requirements and standards can lead to enforcement action, fines or legal suits if any legionella-related illnesses occur. Working with a provider such as H2O Hygiene, who can ensure full compliance, will protect your duty of care and reputation.
3. What will the Legionella Risk Assessment include?
Keep your expectations for your Legionella risk assessment transparent by clarifying the scope of the service your assessor will provide. A high-quality assessment should include:
- Physical inspection – checks of plant rooms, storage tanks, pipework, calorifiers, outlets and any aerosol-generating equipment.
- Identification of high risk areas – looking for dead legs, blind ends and any infrequently used tanks, tap outlets or showers.
- Water temperature checks – water should be checked at sentinel and representative outlets to ensure the cold water is below 20°C within two minutes of operation and that hot water is above 50°C within one minute of operation (within the healthcare environment its 55°C within one minute).
- Schematic diagram – the creation or updating of a schematic diagram to detail the layout of the water systems, flow routes and any recommended sampling points.
- Detailed written report – this needs to have risk grading and clear, practical recommendations for control measures.
Understanding the full scope of your Legionella risk assessment and what it should cover will ensure nothing is overlooked and can help you compare providers for the best service.
What’s excluded from the assessment?
Some providers can treat water sampling as optional extras, and it’s worth finding out if laboratory tests, system cleaning, disinfection and remedial actions are included or if they will incur an additional charge. Knowing what’s included in the basic package and any additional costs which may add to the cost of a Legionella risk assessment allows you to budget for full compliance and ensure that there’s no compromise on your water safety.
4. How will the assessment findings be reported?
Any report or assessment is only as useful as the communication that goes with it. You need to be sure that your assessor will offer:
- A clear report – jargon-free and easy for business managers and non-technical staff to understand.
- Photographic evidence – of any risky areas, dysfunctional components and system faults.
- Schematic diagrams – updated schematics identifying problematic zones and sentinel outlet points visually.
- Action plan – a prioritised plan with low, medium and high-risk assessment and short, medium and long-term targets.
- Follow up – a follow-up consultation to discuss the findings and answer any questions.
Clear reporting makes certain that your team knows exactly what to do in order to manage your water quality, fix any issues and maintain a safe environment for your building’s occupants. It eliminates guesswork and aligns operational tasks with legal requirements.
5. Are there any ongoing support options?
Preventing issues with legionella doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you have a clear roadmap and follow all necessary steps, it can be a hassle-free process. When considering a provider for a legionella risk assessment, you should ask whether they offer any ongoing support, such as:
- Review services – ongoing monitoring and reviews for continued compliance.
- Documentation – some providers offer online logbooks, portals or CRM systems to simplify ongoing maintenance tasks and the recording of them.
- Training – your team can be a great asset to your water system management if they are suitably trained. All H2O Hygiene employees are well trained on Legionella awareness and all aspects of Legionella management.
- Remedial work – ask if they advise on hot and cold water system upgrades or any best practices for maintenance, such as removing dead legs and replacing key failed system components.
Finding a provider who offers long-term support, such as H2O Hygiene, can not only help prevent risk and outbreaks but also keeps on top of any issues keeping you compliant and reduce the risk of any unexpected charges for problem fixes. Ongoing support and maintenance provide a great return on investment over time as well as peace of mind.
Looking for a reliable Legionella Risk Assessment provider? Contact H2O Hygiene today!
If you’re looking to get a Legionella risk assessment and want a provider you know you can rely on to deliver a top-quality service, then look no further! H2O Hygiene has years of experience in offering reliable legionella risk assessments and services up and down the UK in cities including London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Southampton to keep you compliant and protect your water systems and building’s occupants.
We offer qualified, experienced and certified assessors, full legal and regulatory compliance, comprehensive inspections, temperature checks, sampling, schematics and clear reporting. H2O Hygiene also provides ongoing support, training and online documentation systems; you’ll be completely covered!
Get in touch to book your Legionella risk assessment today. Call us on 01922 666108 or email [email protected] to meet your legal requirements and protect your property and people.
