A Legionella Risk Assessment is more than just a compliance document; it’s a vital tool for understanding your water systems, identifying risks and ensuring effective controls are in place. But not all Legionella Risk Assessments are the same, writes Sarah Morley of the Water Hygiene Centre
Legionella Risk Assessments are a fundamental part of managing water safety, helping organisations understand and control the risks associated with legionella bacteria within their water systems.
However, a risk assessment is not simply a document to file away and forget. A good Legionella Risk Assessment provides a clear understanding of where risks exist, what controls are required and whether your current water management arrangements are effective.
Why do you need a Legionella Risk Assessment?
Legionella bacteria can naturally occur in water systems but under the right conditions — such as water temperatures that allow growth, areas of stagnation, inadequate maintenance or poor system design — they can multiply and create a risk of exposure.
When contaminated water droplets are inhaled, legionella can cause serious illness, including Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
UK health and safety guidance, including the Health & Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice L8 (ACoP L8), places a legal duty on organisations to identify and manage the risks associated with legionella. A suitable and sufficient Legionella Risk Assessment is the starting point for demonstrating that these risks are being properly controlled.
A quality risk assessment should help you to:
- Identify potential sources of legionella risk within your water systems.
- Understand how your systems operate and whether they are adequately controlled while factoring in the susceptibility of the user.
- Highlight areas requiring improvement or further investigation.
- Ensure your written scheme and control measures are appropriate.
- Provide assurance to those responsible for water safety.
- Highlight possible requirements or gaps for training needs.
- Detail information on hierarchy of control.
- Give you the information needed to update current control documents.
- Understand the water system visually using accurate schematics.
Protecting people and managing water safety risk
A Legionella Risk Assessment is more than a compliance exercise. It is an important part of understanding how water systems are designed, operated and maintained, and identifying where conditions could allow legionella to grow and spread.
A thorough assessment should consider the building, its water systems, how they are used and maintained, and the people who may be exposed. It should identify areas of risk and provide practical recommendations that can be incorporated into an organisation’s wider water safety arrangements.
What to consider when arranging a Legionella Risk Assessment
Choosing a suitably qualified and competent risk assessor is an important part of the process. Organisations should consider the assessor’s experience, competence, independence and, where appropriate, whether they hold relevant accreditation.
The assessment should be proportionate to the complexity of the building and its water systems rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. A good assessment should provide a clear understanding of the risks identified, explain what action may be needed and help those responsible for managing the building prioritise their next steps.
It is also important to remember that a risk assessment is not a one-off exercise. Water systems, buildings and their use can change over time so assessments should be reviewed when significant changes occur and in line with the organisation’s wider water safety management arrangements.
Not all Legionella Risk Assessments are the same
While many organisations offer Legionella Risk Assessments, the quality, depth and expertise behind them can vary significantly.
A risk assessment should go beyond simply ticking boxes. It requires technical understanding of water systems, legislation, guidance and the practical challenges faced by those responsible for managing buildings.
An effective assessment should consider factors such as:
- System design and configuration.
- Hot and cold water storage and distribution.
- Associated systems.
- Primary or secondary control measures such as temperatures or biocide.
- Areas of stagnation or low use.
- Management and training responsibilities.
- Maintenance and monitoring arrangements.
- Building occupancy and vulnerability of users.
- Historical issues and future changes to the building.
The outcome should be clear, practical advice that helps you reduce risk – not just a report that identifies problems without providing solutions.
UKAS-accredited Legionella Risk Assessments
When selecting a provider, accreditation can be one factor to consider when assessing competence and quality.
UKAS accreditation for Legionella Risk Assessment demonstrates that an organisation’s relevant assessment activities, technical competence and quality management systems have been independently assessed against recognised standards.
There are currently only a small number of organisations in the UK holding UKAS accreditation specifically for Legionella Risk Assessments. For those commissioning an assessment, checking the scope of a provider’s accreditation can help establish what activities have been assessed and accredited.
Accreditation should be considered alongside other factors, including relevant experience, assessor competence, independence and the ability to provide clear, practical and proportionate recommendations.
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