The next step

http www hse gov uk pubns books l8 htm

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http www hse gov uk pubns indg376 pdf

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Legionella control for accommodation providers

Legionnaire’s Disease

Legionella bacteria are commonly found in hot and cold water systems within buildings. The bacteria can cause pneumonia-like illnesses, the most serious of which is known as Legionnaire’s Disease. This can be fatal, particularly for those over 45, smokers and those with existing medical conditions.The arrangements for controlling legionella bacteria are set out within the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP), L8,Legionnaire’s Disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems (see The next step). This applies to all non-domestic premises no matter how small, although it has to be said that it heavily over-complicates what’s needed for a small water system.

Who’s affected?

The HSE has produced a leaflet entitled, Essential information for providers of residential accommodation (see The next step). It states that all those who provide residential accommodation need to take action to control legionella, i.e. local authorities, universities, housing associations, hostels, hoteliers and guest house operators, caravan and camp site operators, and even landlords in the private rented sector.

Note. In our view the HSE has gone too far here. It implies that the ACoP applies to all of the above groups, which is untrue. A landlord who doesn’t employ any staff and only provides domestic premises, won’t fall within these formal requirements, though they will still have a general duty of care to their tenants under common law.

What to do?

Don’t get too wrapped up in the ACoP if you only have very small scale systems such as those within a single dwelling or guest house. Instead focus on implementing some common sense actions to avoid water stagnating at warm temperatures and to keep systems clean.

Tip 1. Apply these basic precautions:

• keep water cisterns covered and insulated around the sides and on top
• about once a year, check that the inside of the water cistern is clean, e.g. no dead birds etc.
• insulate hot and cold pipework
• set thermostats and hot water cylinders to 60°C
• if the thermostat is of the old type which can be set lower than 60°C and it’s in a tenanted property, have it replaced
• clean shower heads regularly (or if the property is let on a long term basis, tell the tenants to do so)
• run showers and other less used outlets about once per week (advise tenants where applicable)
• have redundant pipework removed
• replace rusty water cisterns with plastic ones.

Tip 2. To prevent the growth of the bacteria you need to avoid stagnation, so the system needs to be properly designed in line with water regulations.

For a copy of L8 (HS 10.16.07A) and the HSE’s leaflet (HS 10.16.07B), visit http://healthandsafety.indicator.co.uk.