Legionella Risk Assessment

Legionella is a collective term for diseases caused by legionella bacteria including the most serious Legionnaire's disease, as well as other less serious conditions. Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia and everyone is susceptible to infection.

Domestic hot and cold water systems can provide an environment where Legionella bacteria can grow. This can cause inhalation of small droplets of contaminated water containing Legionella bacteria.

Employers or landlords must understand the health risks associated with legionella. By conducting a Legionella Risk Assessment, Marsh & Riddell can help you fulfil your duties.

The law is clear that if you are a landlord and rent out your property (or even a room within your own home) then you have legal responsibilities to ensure the health and safety of your tenant by keeping the property safe and free from health hazards.

In a legionella Risk Assessment Survey and Report, Marsh and Riddell include the following:

· Identify the Hazards
We identify any potential sources of risk within the property, and make a list of the systems in the property and how each of them could be a legionella hazard.

· Consider who may be at risk
We make a record of who is most likely to be affected by any potential legionella bacteria in the property. This can include employees, contractors, residents and visitors, and considers risk factors such as people in later life, children, those who smoke, or those with weak immune systems.

· Recommend Control Measures
Before implementing new legionella controls, we take a look at any controls that are already in place in the property and consider whether they are sufficient. Once new or existing controls are implemented, landlords can advise tenants of anything that they need to maintain, e.g. regularly cleaning showerheads  and informing the landlord of any problems that they discover.

· Keep records
it is recommended that risk assessments are reviewed annually, plus each time changes are made or new information comes to light.