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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The HSE's Approved Code of Practice for the Control of Legionella Bacteria ACOP L8
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
Why Choose Water Wise Services
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.