HSE ACOP L8 Compliant Legionella Risk Assessments, Testing, Training and more
Do customers, tenants, service users, the public or employees have access to a property that you control? Can other people be affected by what you are doing? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, then you need to act to control & prevent Legionella bacteria. These requirements are found in the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act (COSHH) 2002 & The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Failure to do so can lead to unlimited fines with a starting point of £10,000, prosecution and even imprisonment, the Crown Prosecution Service have also previously authorised charges of corporate manslaughter for deaths related to Legionella failures. In support of these legal requirements the Health & Safety Executive have released the 4th edition of the Approved Code of Practice for the Control of Legionella Bacteria commonly called ACOP L8.
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Legionella Risk Assessments
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The HSE's Approved Code of Practice for the Control of Legionella Bacteria ACOP L8 & the Department of Health's Technical Memorandum HTM 04-01
In November 2013 the Health & Safety Executive released the 4th edition of the Approved Code of Practice for the Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems commonly called ACOP L8. The code of practice has been released by the HSE with the consent of the Secretary of State. It gives practical advice on how to comply with the law. If you follow its advice you will be doing enough to comply with the law in respect of those specific matters on which the code gives advice.
The code of practice has a special legal status. If you are prosecuted for a breach of health and safety law, and it is proved that you did not follow the relevant provisions of the code of practice, you will need to show that you have complied with the law in some other way or a court may find you at fault.
The Health & Safety Executive have also released technical guidance documents
HSG 274 Part 1 The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Evaporative Cooling Systems
HSG 274 Part 2 The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Hot & Cold Water Systems
HSG 274 Part 3 The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Other Risk Systems
HSG 282 The Control of Legionella & Other Infectious Agents in Spa-Pool Systems
The Department of Health and Social Care have also released Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 04-01: Safe Water in Healthcare Premises which has been developed into four guidance documents, parts A, B, C and specification D 08 for Thermostatic Mixing Valves.
HTM 04-01 is a requirement for all health and care environments, it does not replace the HSE's ACOP L8 or HSG 274. HTM 04-01 is designed to work along side them and concentrates on the increased performance criteria required to address the potential increased risk of Legionella bacteria in health and care environments. Failure to meet these enhanced requirements could result in enforcement action.
What is Legionella Bacteria & What Do You Need To Do?
Legionella is a naturally occurring bacteria, it is normally only found in low quantities which presents little risk. However, in hot & cold-water systems, air conditioning and even in soils & composts the bacteria can multiply and in larger quantities the various strains of Legionella bacteria can present a risk to life. The bacteria thrive in temperatures of between 20c and 45c. If inhaled Legionella bacteria can cause one of several diseases all of which can be fatal including Legionnaires Disease. The potential of this bacteria is so serious that the HSE publishes a monthly legionella report. In recent years we have seen a mortality rate of around 8% but as high as 40% in more susceptible groups, that is a higher mortality rate than some cancers.
The first step in meeting the requirements of the ACOP L8 is to have a Legionella Risk Assessment carried out by someone who is competent to determine the potential risk of Legionella bacteria. Legionella testing may also be recommended or required. A Control Scheme needs to be established and training needs resolved. Control and prevention measures then need to be implemented and regularly reviewed.
Why Choose Water Wise Services
"Your Passion, Integrity and Knowledge clearly shows"
is how one of our customers described us.
As a duty holder or person in charge of a property it is your responsibility to ensure that anyone who undertakes work on your behalf is competent to do so. Failing to ensure competency can still leave you liable to fines and prosecution even when nothing goes wrong. Water Wise Services started providing Legionella services in 2008 and are recognised as specialist contractors, experts and professionals in our field. We have also achieved recognition and membership of several governing and trade bodies due to our high standards of quality, technical competence and experience. Our service team are all qualified professionals including risk assessors, energy assessors, consultants & engineers. We are approved service providers for several large organisations including the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, the Peak District National Park, several care home groups, business's and work with customers large or small.
All our service team are as a minimum City & Guilds qualified to deliver our Legionella services. City & Guilds qualifications specifically cover Legionella Risk Assessments & Management Control Procedures, the Control of Legionella in Hot & Cold Water Systems and the Control of Legionella in Cooling Water Systems. Our service team also includes City & Guilds and NVQ Level 2 & 3 qualified plumbers who hold "Approved Contractor" status under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 which is recognised by DEFRA and the Secretary of State.
Trust Mark Certified Legionella Services Provider. Trust Mark is the only Government Endorsed Technical Competence Scheme in the UK and operates under a Government Licence from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Trust Mark also operate a code of conduct for service providers as recommended by the HSE's ACOP L8.
Stroma Certified Legionella Risk Assessors. Stroma is a Government approved provider of certification and training services for assessors and one of the UK's foremost certification bodies. Members are regularly audited and subject to an annual assessment to ensure compliance.
Our service team includes Water Safe Registered engineers. Using a Water Safe Registered engineer is a requirement of NHS Estates and HTM 04-01. Water Safe is funded by the water industry and is supported by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Our service team includes members of the Charted Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering. Founded in 1906 the CIPHE is the professional and technical body for the UK's plumbing and heating industry. Membership is made up of practitioners, consultants, specifiers, designers, public health engineers, lecturers, trainers and trainees. The CIPHE is a member of the Construction Industry Council and a licensed member of the Engineering Council.
Our service team includes members of the Water Management Society. The WMS is a not for profit membership organisation that has been providing practical and technical training for over 40 years.
Our service team includes members of the Engineering Council which is the UK's regulatory body for the engineering profession. The Engineering Council sets and maintains internationally recognised standards of professional competence.
The WIAPS scheme is funded by 16 of the countries water suppliers and is dedicated to the protection of public health by preventing contamination of water supplies.
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