Legionella Risks in Your Workplace
Understanding legionella risks in your workplace is essential for protecting employees, visitors, and your business. Legionella bacteria, if unmanaged, can cause serious illness including Legionnaires’ disease and employers and landlords have a legal duty to control these risks. A proper legionella risk assessment is the starting point for compliance, safety, and peace of mind.
At Swiftclean, we know how important it is for organisations to understand and control these risks. We’ve put together this useful article to help explain what a legionella risk assessment involves, why it matters, and how professional support can help you stay compliant while protecting the health of everyone who uses your workplace.
What is Legionella?
Legionella bacteria are found naturally in rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water where they are generally harmless. However, they can become dangerous when they multiply in man-made systems such as hot and cold water tanks, cooling towers, and showers. Warm water temperatures and stagnant areas make these systems particularly vulnerable if they are not properly maintained.
When contaminated droplets are inhaled, they can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia. Outbreaks create not only health risks but also legal and reputational consequences, which is why legionella awareness across your business is so important.
What is a Legionella Risk Assessment?
A legionella risk assessment is a detailed inspection of your water systems to identify where bacteria could grow and spread. It covers system design, temperature checks, areas of stagnant water, and maintenance procedures.
In simple terms, a Legionnaires’ risk assessment helps you to:
- Pinpoint risks in your water system
- Put in place control measures
- Keep records for compliance
- Protect health and safety
Ultimately, a legionella risk assessment provides the legal and practical framework needed to keep your water systems safe, compliant, and under control.
Why Every Workplace Needs a Legionella Risk Assessment
UK regulations require employers, landlords, and duty holders to assess and control the risk of legionella in any premises where water is used or stored. This legal responsibility applies across all sectors, meaning that whether you manage an office, school, hospital, care home, retail site, or industrial facility, you must ensure your systems are maintained safely.
A commercial legionella risk assessment is especially important for larger or more complex water systems, where risks are greater and monitoring is more challenging. These assessments not only demonstrate compliance but also help to protect staff, visitors, and your business from potential outbreaks, costly investigations, and reputational damage. Taking a proactive approach ensures your workplace remains both safe and compliant.
Choosing the Right Legionella Risk Assessment Company
Working with a professional legionella risk assessment company gives you the expertise needed to remain both safe and compliant. Experienced specialists can identify risks that may be overlooked in day-to-day operations, provide clear and practical action plans, and ensure your documentation stands up to regulatory scrutiny. This expert guidance is invaluable, not only for meeting legal requirements but also for creating a safer environment for employees, visitors, and customers.
At Swiftclean, we provide trusted, independent assessments tailored to the specific needs of your building and its water systems. Our approach ensures that every potential risk is carefully reviewed and addressed, giving you complete confidence that your workplace is protected. However, completing a legionella risk assessment is only the beginning – true protection comes from ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and awareness, all of which we support as part of our comprehensive service.
