Legionella Risk Assessment in Harlow
Our professional Legionella risk assessments follow a systematic approach designed to thoroughly evaluate water systems and mitigate potential health risks.
Legionella risk assessments are not merely a regulatory checkbox – they are a critical safeguard for public health, working to proactively manage, control and prevent the contamination of water systems that can lead to Legionnaires’ disease.
At Swiftclean, our team of specialists is experienced at providing Legionella risk assessments for buildings, properties and premises of various types, sizes and complexities, including high-risk environments such as healthcare facilities and industrial sites. Our comprehensive Legionella control services are tailored to your exact needs to ensure your property is safe and complies with the necessary laws and regulations.
What is Legionella and Why is it Dangerous?
Legionella is a type of bacteria commonly found in water, including both natural bodies of water and manmade water systems. If not properly monitored, these bacteria can reach dangerous levels of contamination and under certain conditions where the water becomes aerosolised, the droplets can be inhaled, causing Legionnaires’ disease.
This potentially fatal form of pneumonia can be extremely dangerous and result in serious illness, ongoing medical complications and even death. It is particularly harmful for vulnerable people, including those over 50, current or former smokers and individuals with compromised immune systems. With an average fatality rate of around 7-12%, it is something that should be taken very seriously.
The Legionella bacteria thrive specifically under these conditions:
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- Water temperatures between 20-45°C
- Presence of impurities like rust, algae, and limescale
- Stagnant water in tanks and branched pipes
- Systems that produce water droplets or aerosols
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HSE guidelines mandate that Legionella risk assessments be conducted every two years at a minimum. Additionally, all businesses with five or more employees must appoint a person responsible for Legionella control. For landlords and property managers in Harlow, regular assessment isn’t just good practice – it’s a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
The consequences of failing to manage these risks properly can be severe, including legal liability, financial penalties, and most critically, risks to human health. This is where our experts can help, with reliable and cost-effective Legionella risk assessment services that ensure your property is safe and compliant.
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Swiftclean commitment:
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- FREE quotation/technical advice – Nationwide – call 0800 243 471
- Works carried out in accordance with the Legionella Control Association (LCA) code of conduct
- Risk Assessments and control schemes carried out to L8, BSRIA and CIBSE guidelines
- All works fully certified and legionella control log books provided
- Fully trained and directly employed staff
- Method Statements and Risk Assessments provided site specific as required
- Training for your own staff following risk assessment
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What is the Legionella Risk Assessment Process?
Our professional Legionella risk assessments follow a systematic approach designed to thoroughly evaluate water systems and mitigate potential health risks. Here is a step-by-step guide showing what a typical risk assessment for Legionella might entail.
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- The process usually begins with one of our qualified assessors conducting a complete premises survey to identify all the property’s water systems and potential risk factors.
- Initially, the assessors will map out the entire water network, including hot and cold-water systems, cooling towers, spa pools, and other water features. This critical first step helps understand how these systems operate, including water flow, temperature variations, and storage conditions.
- Following this, the assessment moves to risk identification, where assessors look for specific danger signs, such as:
- Areas where water might stagnate, including “dead legs” in pipework
- Systems operating between 20-45°C (the ideal temperature range for Legionella growth)
- Presence of deposits, biofilm, or other nutrients for bacterial growth
- Points where aerosols might form, such as showers or cooling towers
- Temperature profiling forms a core component of the assessment. Cold water should measure below 20°C, whilst hot water needs to maintain temperatures above 50°C to prevent Legionella proliferation.
- Following this, assessors evaluate exposure likelihood by determining who might be at risk and assessing their vulnerability. The overall level of risk is then calculated based on both the probability of exposure and the potential severity of harm.
On average, an assessment requires approximately one hour for every ten outlets (sinks, showers, baths), typically ranging from 30 minutes to 6-7 hours depending on system complexity.
Once completed, comprehensive reports are produced outlining identified risks within water systems and required actions to comply with HSE’s HSG 274 guidelines. These typically include:
- Control measures and management evaluation
- Asset surveys and condition assessments
- Site description and water logbook review
- Executive summary with overall risk rating
- Detailed action plans prioritising remedial work
Water sampling may also be conducted during the assessment when deemed necessary and is then analysed at UKAS-accredited laboratories that participate in water microbiology proficiency testing schemes.
Choosing the Right Legionella Risk Assessment Service
Selecting a qualified provider for Legionella risk assessment in Harlow requires careful consideration of several crucial factors.
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- Independence – Our assessors are completely objective and able to identify mistakes, issues, or risks that may have been overlooked.
- Accreditation – This serves as a fundamental indicator of competence, and our organisation demonstrates this with our many UKAS accreditations that prove our technical competence, professional codes of conduct, quality management systems and environmental awareness.
- Specialists – Although water treatment companies or consultants may conduct testing, they must be properly trained and supervised. Working with specialists who have specific experience, training and knowledge of water safety ensures a singular focus in identifying and mitigating Legionella risks.
- Comprehensive service – Our team delivers detailed reports containing:
- Control measure evaluations
- Complete asset surveys
- Executive summaries with risk ratings
- Actionable recommendations
- Photographic documentation
- Management structure guidance
If you have any questions or would like to know more about our Harlow Legionella risk assessments, please do not hesitate to contact us, and one of our knowledgeable advisors will be happy to help.
More resources and best practice
What is a Legionella Risk Assesment?
A Legionella risk assessment is a tool used to identify the risk factors in a facility and determine interventions to help control the risks of Legionnaires’ disease.
Legionella assessment helps to evaluate and mitigate the risks and is also a legal requirement for employers; this includes the owners and operators of commercial buildings including social housing, facilities management, healthcare, hotels and many others. Owners and operators have a statutory duty to control the risk of legionella bacteria in water systems.
If the assessment suggests that remedial action is required, Swiftclean are able to undertake these tasks to help remove / reduce the risk of Legionella proliferation and exposure.
What is Legionella and What Causes It?
Legionnaires disease is a severe form of pneumonia – a lung inflammation caused by infection. The disease is normally contracted by inhalation, either in tiny droplets of water (aerosols), or in droplet nuclei (the particles left after the water has evaporated) contaminated with Legionella bacteria, direct into the lungs.
Legionella bacteria is widespread within natural water sources such as river, lakes and reservoirs. The bacteria may also be found in purpose-built water systems such as cooling towers, hot and cold water systems and spa pools. People can contract the illness by inhaling small droplets of water in the air containing the bacteria.
Outbreaks of Legionnaires disease often occur from exposure to the Legionella bacteria growing in purpose-built water systems where poor water condition allows for the proliferation of the legionella bacteria to dangerous levels. The disease cannot be spread from person to person – only by contaminated water being inhaled.
Legionella UK Specialists
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, owners and operators of all commercial premises (including: Social Housing, Facilities Management, Hotels & Stadiums, Healthcare, Education and many others) have a statutory duty to control the risk of legionella bacteria in water systems. This includes: identifying and assessing the sources of risk, preparing a scheme for preventing or controlling the risk, appointing a person to be managerially responsible, implementing and managing precautions and keeping records of the precautions implemented.
Swiftclean can conduct a Legionella Risk Assessment, which will identify the level of risk within your property.
Is It A Legal Requirement to Have A Legionella Risk Assessment?
There is a legal duty in place to assess and control the risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria, especially for commercial businesses, including hotels, spas, schools and social housing.
This assessment should be considered a ‘living document’ and reviewed regularly and/or whenever there is reason to believe that the original assessment may no longer be valid. This may be because of:
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- changes to the water system or its use;
- changes to the use of the building in which the system is installed;
- the availability of new information about risks or control measures;
- the results of checks indicate that control measures are no longer effective.
- changes to key personnel
- a case of legionnaires disease associated with the system
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Legionella Risk Assessment for Landlords
Landlords are under a duty to ensure that the risk of exposure to tenants, residents and visitors to Legionella is properly assessed and controlled. Health and safety legislation requires Landlords to carry out risk assessments and maintain control measures to minimise the risk.
Property managers or individuals responsible for the control of Legionella bacteria should ensure a safe and disease-free environment. 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 that the property is kept safe from health hazards. The requirement stems from the COSHH Regulations, which require the control of substances hazardous to health, bacteria being included; Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety Work Act 1974 to make provisions for the legislation to apply to landlords of both business and domestic premises.
Landlord Risk Assessment Details
A Landlord’s risk assessment provided by Swiftclean will include the following details:
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- Potential sources of risk
- Any controls in place to control risks
- Procedures for monitoring, inspecting and maintaining
- Records of the monitored results, inspections and checks carried out
- Arrangements to review the risk assessment regularly
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Why Choose Swiftclean?
If you manage a water system within a building and you require a risk assessment with control measures in place – Swiftclean are here to help.
We are known for being hassle-free, reliable and competitively priced. With a Legionella risk assessment from Swiftclean, you can help to prevent the deadly disease and rest easy knowing that professional measures are in place to help keep your business safe.
Our team of engineers will carry out comprehensive Legionella testing, tailor an action plan to your business and provide a written review to ensure that your business is compliant to the industry standards.
Whatever your needs, get in touch with Swiftclean today. We’re here to provide advice and cost-effective Legionella risk assessments and management to companies of all sizes in the UK.
What is Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires’ disease can be a potentially fatal disease, caused by the inhalation of small droplets of contaminated water containing the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria. Man-made hot and cold water systems are likely, if conditions deteriorate, to provide an environment where Legionella can grow, so it’s important to ensure your water systems are safe and not at risk of developing this fatal bacteria.
How much does a risk assessment cost?
The price of a risk assessment will differ depending on the size of the premises, how many water systems there are and whether it’s for domestic or commercial use. Contact us today for your FREE, no obligation quote.
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Please call us or email info@swiftclean.co.uk for further advice and a free quote.
