Health and Safety legislation places a duty on all employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees, and also others who may be affected by their undertaking. More specifically, the approved Code of Practice ‘L8: Legionnaires’ Disease – The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems’ requires actions to control the risks from legionella. The Code of Practice applies to all premises where water is used or stored and where there is a means of creating and transmitting water droplets which may be inhaled, such as in showers, taps and toilets etc.

As an employer or person having control of the business you must:

•Carry out a written risk assessment of the hot and cold water systems in your premises to identify and assess the risks

•Prepare a written scheme for preventing/controlling the risk which identifies the measures to be taken to control the risk

•Implement and manage the scheme, and appoint a person to be managerially responsible

•Keep records and check that what you are doing is effective

More information on the control of legionella can be found in the leaflet ‘Legionnaires’ disease: A guide for employers’ (IAC 27)