Legionella Risk Assessment
A Legionella risk assessment is the first step to help ensure a Legionella compliant property for its occupants and for those responsible to prove they have taken the necessary steps needed to keep people safe.
Legionella Risk Assessment for Businesses
At Swiftclean, we understand the potential dangers of Legionella and why it is so important that businesses and landlords comply with the necessary Legionella control regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
A Legionella risk assessment is the foundation of effective water hygiene management. It identifies where Legionella bacteria could grow, how people may be exposed, and what control measures are required to remain compliant with UK health and safety law.
We help companies when carrying out in depth Legionella risk assessments by identifying key areas for improvement to ensure their compliance with current Legionella control regulations. This process ensures that vital practices and effective protocols are put into place to control the risk and monitor conditions within the water system.
What is Legionella?
Legionella is a hazardous bacterium which can be found in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and ponds. Legionella can also be found in manmade water systems and become hazardous to human health.
What is a Legionella Risk Assessment?
A Legionella risk assessment (sometimes referred to as a Legionnaires’ risk assessment or L8 risk assessment) is a legal requirement for anyone responsible for premises where water systems are present.
Legionella risk assessments involve:
- Identifying potential sources of Legionella bacteria
- Assessing the level of risk to occupants, staff, or visitors
- Reviewing existing control measures
- Recommending proportionate actions to reduce or eliminate risk
What Happens at a Legionella Risk Assessment? Not sure what to expect when a surveyor visits? This guide walks you through the full process – from water temperature checks and pipework inspection to what happens if Legionella is found.
Legionella bacteria thrive in warm, stagnant water and can be inhaled through water aerosols such as showers, taps, cooling systems, and certain equipment. A suitable and sufficient water hygiene risk assessment ensures these risks are properly controlled.
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Why Choose Swiftclean for Legionella Risk Assessments?
- 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
Who Needs a Legionella Risk Assessment?
If you are responsible for a property with a water system, you are likely legally required to carry out a Legionella risk assessment. This applies to a wide range of duty holders, including:
- Landlords (residential, commercial and social housing)
- Employers and business owners
- Facilities managers and managing agents
- Duty holders responsible for health and safety compliance
Whether your building is occupied daily or only used occasionally, the responsibility remains the same. If water is stored, distributed or used within your premises, you must assess and control the risk of Legionella to protect occupants, staff and visitors.
Legal Requirements for Legionella Risk Assessments (ACOP L8)
Legionella risk assessments are a legal requirement under UK health and safety legislation. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on employers and those in control of premises to ensure the health and safety of others.
This is supported by ACOP L8 (Approved Code of Practice), which provides clear guidance on how to manage and control the risk of Legionella bacteria in water systems.
As a duty holder, you are responsible for:
- Identifying and assessing sources of risk
- Implementing appropriate control measures
- Appointing a Responsible Person to manage Legionella risks
- Monitoring and maintaining water systems
- Keeping accurate records to demonstrate compliance
Failure to meet these obligations can result in enforcement action, fines, and serious health risks.
How Often Should a Legionella Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?
A Legionella risk assessment should not be treated as a one-off document. As a general guide, it should be reviewed at least every two years to ensure it remains valid and effective.
However, a review should be carried out sooner if:
- There are changes to the water system
- The use or occupancy of the building changes
- Existing control measures fail or are no longer effective
- There are changes in key personnel or responsibilities
- A case or suspected case of Legionnaires’ disease is linked to the system
Regular reviews ensure that your risk assessment reflects current conditions and continues to provide effective protection against Legionella.
Check Your Legionella ComplianceWater Services Guide
To get a copy of our Water Services Guide, you can just fill out your details below. Once you submit the form, a PDF of the guide will be available for download.
Areas We Cover | Nationwide Coverage
We are positioned to deliver expert Legionella risk assessments across the UK, using our experienced, locally based teams. Count on us for a reliable, professional service you can trust.
Swiftclean has been supporting clients throughout the UK for over 40 years, working with Housing Associations, Councils, Hotels, Restaurants, Schools, Facilities Management companies, and M&E contractors to ensure compliance with water hygiene and Legionella safety standards.
Commercial Legionella Risk Assessment FAQs
What Is Legionnaires Disease?
Legionella can be dormant in the water system without causing any harm, but when the contaminated water is aerosolised into a spray through things such as Cooling Towers, Showers, Spa Pools or Hosepipes then it can be inhaled and cause ‘Legionnaires Disease’.
A potentially fatal type of pneumonia, Legionnaires disease is frequently misdiagnosed due to the earlier symptoms often presenting similar to that of flu or a cold. There are people that can be more susceptible to the disease including:
- People over 45 years old
- Those with chronic respiratory or kidney disease
- Heavy smokers and drinkers
- People with lung disease, heart disease and diabetes
- Individuals with compromised immune systems
Treatment with antibiotics is required as soon as possible in order to provide the best chance of a positive outcome as Legionnaires disease is fatal in around 12% of cases.
What Is a Legionella Risk Assessment?
A Legionella risk assessment is a vital process used to identify potential risk factors within buildings, premises and facilities, and determine the actions required to control them. It evaluates where Legionella bacteria could grow, how people may be exposed, and what interventions, systems and protocols need to be put in place to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease.
As well as being a practical tool for managing water hygiene, a Legionella risk assessment is also a legal requirement for employers and duty holders. This includes owners and operators of commercial buildings, social housing, healthcare environments, hotels and facilities management companies. All have a statutory duty to assess and control the risk of Legionella bacteria within their water systems.
Where an assessment identifies areas of concern, Swiftclean can support with the necessary remedial actions to reduce or eliminate the risk of Legionella growth and exposure, helping you maintain a safe and fully compliant environment.
Is a Legionella Risk Assessment a Legal Requirement?
Yes, a Legionella risk assessment is a legal requirement in the UK.
Landlords, employers, business owners and duty holders are required by law to assess and manage the risk of Legionella bacteria in any property with a water system. This applies across a wide range of settings, including commercial buildings, hotels, spas, schools and social housing.
A Legionella risk assessment should not be treated as a one-off task. It is a “living document” that must be reviewed regularly and updated whenever there is reason to believe it is no longer valid. This may include:
- Changes to the water system or how it is used
- Changes in building use or occupancy
- New information about risks or control measures
- Monitoring results showing existing controls are no longer effective
- Changes to responsible personnel
- A confirmed or suspected case of Legionnaires’ disease linked to the system
Failing to carry out or maintain an up-to-date Legionella risk assessment can lead to serious legal, financial and health consequences. Ensuring your assessment is current and compliant is a key part of your duty of care.
What Does a Legionella Risk Assessment Entail?
A Legionella risk assessment is the first step to help ensure a Legionella compliant property for its occupants and for those responsible to prove they have taken the necessary steps needed to keep people safe.
At Swiftclean our Legionella Risk Assessments include:
- Introduction and background information on Legionella
- Site details
- Legionella Management Documentation audit
- Condition survey reports of domestic water plant
- Temperature profiling
- Photographic evidence
- Asset register
- Identification of risks – this includes but is not limited to, dead leg pipework (if visually observed on exposed pipework) and little used outlets
- Recommendations for future legionella control and management
- Basic schematic of plant and distribution
Once completed we advise that all assessment reports are kept up to date and are reviewed regularly.
At Swiftclean, we understand the requirements of a Legionella risk assessment and regularly aid companies with the Legionella assessment process to ensure an effective management tool is in place to help control risk and monitor conditions within their water system.
As one of the leading Legionella assessment companies in the UK, we can help your business by identifying the factors which increase risk, so that you can see where you need to prioritise actions and what you need to do in order for your business to comply with the Legionella control regulations.
How To Do a Legionella Risk Assessment
In order to carry out a Legionella risk assessment successfully, those responsible must possess the knowledge and understanding required to do so safely and competently. They must fully comprehend what Legionella is, why it can be so dangerous to people and how to carry out a thorough risk assessment that will identify potential risks and subsequent control measures that need to be implemented.
This is not something that can be done half-heartedly or ineptly. If a Legionella outbreak were to occur within a property you are responsible for, then you will be to blame and held accountable if the risk assessment carried out was not sufficient.
Hiring a professional Legionella risk assessment company to carry out the work for you can be a much safer way to ensure that everything is handled as it should be. Experienced, knowledgeable professionals will help provide reassurance that the assessment and any complex requirements have been properly undertaken.
Understand what a professional assessment involves -identifying water systems, evaluating risk factors, recommending control measures, and staying compliant with HSE ACOP L8 guidance by reading our guide How to Conduct a Legionella Risk Assessment.
Legionella Risk Assessment Services
As one of the leading trade, business and commercial Legionella risk assessment companies in the UK, Swiftclean can help identify key areas and factors which increase risk, so that you can see where you need to prioritise actions and what you need to do in order for your business to comply with the Legionella control regulations.
If you would like to find out more about our Legionella risk assessment services then please do not hesitate to contact us and one of our knowledgeable team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, provide valuable advice and give you a free no obligation quote.
Legionella Guidance, Resources and Best Practice Advice
Legionella Training and Staff Awareness
Effective Legionella control relies on knowledgeable staff and clear procedures. Swiftclean offers professional Legionella training designed to help duty holders, facilities teams and responsible persons understand their legal responsibilities under ACOP L8. Our training covers risk awareness, monitoring routines, record keeping and practical control measures, giving your team the confidence to manage water hygiene safely and remain compliant.
Legionella UK Specialists
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, duty holders responsible for commercial premises have a legal obligation to assess and control the risk of Legionella bacteria within water systems. This applies across a wide range of sectors, including social housing, facilities management, hospitality, healthcare, education and large public venues.
Compliance requires a structured approach, including identifying potential sources of risk, carrying out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, implementing effective control measures, appointing a responsible person, and maintaining accurate records of all actions taken.
As experienced Legionella UK specialists, Swiftclean supports organisations in meeting these requirements with confidence. Our professional Legionella risk assessments provide a clear understanding of your current risk level, along with practical recommendations to help you achieve and maintain full compliance.
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:
- 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
Call for a FREE quote
Please call us or email info@swiftclean.co.uk for further advice and a free quote.
