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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.

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.

The bacteria itself requires 3 things within a water system for it to thrive:

  1. Temperature

Below 20°C Legionella will remain dormant, it is still present but is not able to grow or spread. Temperatures above 50°C will kill the bacteria completely within about 2 hours. Temperatures above 60°C will kill the bacteria completely within about 2 minutes.

  1. Nutrients

As all living things require a source of food or nutrients in order to thrive, so does Legionella. It relies on materials such as scale, rust, sludge and Biofilms (collectives of microorganisms) to support its growth.

  1. Stagnation

Infrequently used outlets or areas of redundant pipework can create the perfect environment for Legionella by supporting loss of temperature , settlement of particulates in the water system such as scale, rust and sludge as well as Biofilms (collectives of microorganisms).

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    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 used to help identify potential risk factors within buildings, premises and facilities. The findings are then used to pinpoint what interventions are required and the protocols and systems that need putting in place in order to establish robust Legionella risk controls.

    Is a Legionella Risk Assessment a Legal Requirement?

    Under UK Health and Safety law – landlords, business owners, employers and property managers are legally required to assess, mitigate and consider the risk of Legionella within their business or property.

    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.

    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.

    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:

    • 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

    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

    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.

    Swiftclean commitment:

    • 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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    Call for a FREE quote

    Please call us or email info@swiftclean.co.uk for further advice and a free quote.

    CALL 0800 243 471