When Did You Last Review Your Workplace Water System?
For many facilities managers, property managers, and business owners, water systems are often taken for granted. As long as taps run, showers operate correctly, and hot and cold water are readily available, it is easy to assume everything is functioning as it should.
However, hidden within poorly managed water systems can be significant health risks that may go unnoticed without regular monitoring and maintenance.
One of the most serious of these risks is Legionella bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially serious and sometimes fatal form of pneumonia. Understanding how Legionella develops and implementing appropriate control measures is a key part of maintaining a safe, healthy, and legally compliant workplace.
The team at Nexus Hygiene can help you with your legionella compliance.
What Is Legionella?
Legionella is a naturally occurring bacterium that can grow and multiply in man-made water systems when conditions are favourable.
The risk is greatest where water is allowed to stagnate or where temperatures fall within the range that promotes bacterial growth. The presence of scale, sediment, rust, sludge, and biofilm can further encourage the development of Legionella, creating an environment where the bacteria can thrive.
People become exposed to Legionella primarily through the inhalation of tiny airborne water droplets, known as aerosols, that contain the bacteria. These aerosols can be produced by a wide range of water systems and outlets commonly found in commercial and residential buildings.
Potential sources include:
- Taps and water outlets
- Hot and cold water distribution systems
- Showers and shower heads
- Water storage tanks
- Cooling towers and cooling systems
- Any water system capable of generating aerosols
Although Legionella may be present in a water system without causing immediate issues, the potential consequences of exposure can be severe. By carrying out a suitable Legionella risk assessment and implementing effective control measures, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of infection while demonstrating compliance with their health and safety obligations.
Regular assessment and ongoing management of water systems are therefore essential to protecting building occupants, staff, visitors, and contractors from avoidable health risks.
Who Needs a Legionella Risk Assessment?
The responsibility for managing Legionella risks extends to a wide range of organisations and property owners. Anyone with responsibility for a building’s water systems, including employers, landlords, facilities managers, and duty holders, has a legal obligation to assess and control potential risks.
Importantly, Legionella management is not just an issue for large organisations or complex facilities. Any premises with a water system can be affected if the conditions allow bacteria to grow.
This includes:
- Offices and commercial buildings
- Hotels and hospitality venues
- Schools, colleges, and universities
- Healthcare and care home facilities
- Leisure centres and sports facilities
- Residential rental properties
- Industrial and manufacturing sites
The level of risk and the measures required will vary depending on the nature of the premises, the complexity of the water systems, and how they are used. This is why a suitable Legionella risk assessment is essential, providing a clear understanding of potential hazards and ensuring that appropriate control measures are in place to protect building occupants and maintain compliance with legal responsibilities.
The aim is simple:
Identify the risk. Understand the risk. Put the right controls in place.
A risk assessment can also provide businesses with a clearer understanding of their water systems and the actions required to manage them effectively.
Legionella management shouldn’t be a one-off exercise
One of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is treating a Legionella risk assessment as something that is completed once and then forgotten.
Buildings change. Water systems change. Areas of a building may be closed or become infrequently used. Equipment can be replaced, pipework modified and occupancy levels can change.
That’s why Legionella management needs to form part of an ongoing approach to water system safety.
Your risk assessment should be reviewed when significant changes occur and in line with the requirements of your risk management arrangements.
Why Is a Legionella Risk Assessment Important?
A Legionella risk assessment is carried out to identify potential sources of risk within a building’s water systems and determine the measures needed to control them effectively.
For businesses and organisations, it is far more than a regulatory requirement or administrative exercise. A comprehensive assessment helps ensure the health and safety of employees, visitors, and other building users by identifying conditions that could allow Legionella bacteria to develop and spread.
An effective assessment examines how water systems are designed, operated, and maintained, highlighting any factors that may increase the likelihood of bacterial growth. It also evaluates whether existing control measures are suitable and identifies any improvements that may be required.
Areas typically considered during a Legionella risk assessment include:
- Water temperatures throughout the system
- Locations where water may become stagnant
- The condition and cleanliness of tanks, pipework, and outlets
- The presence of scale, sediment, corrosion, or biofilm
- Infrequently used taps, showers, and other outlets
- Existing monitoring, maintenance, and management procedures
By identifying and addressing these risks, organisations can reduce the likelihood of Legionella exposure, protect building occupants, and demonstrate compliance with their health and safety responsibilities.
Water temperature
Water temperatures can play an important role in controlling Legionella growth. An assessment should consider whether water systems are operating and being maintained appropriately.
Stagnant water
Areas of infrequently used or unused pipework can allow water to remain stagnant, potentially increasing the risk of bacterial growth.
Scale and sediment
Build-up within water systems can create conditions that support bacterial growth and should be considered as part of the assessment.
Biofilms
Biofilms can develop within water systems and may provide an environment in which bacteria can survive and multiply.
System design and condition
Understanding how the water system is configured, including storage tanks, pipework, outlets and other components, is important when assessing potential risks.
What happens during a Legionella risk assessment?
A professional assessment involves examining the building’s water systems and identifying potential areas of concern.
At Nexus Hygiene, our Legionella Risk Assessments involve a comprehensive evaluation of the water systems within a premises.
The assessment considers factors including water temperatures, areas of stagnation, scale and biofilm, helping to establish where potential risks may exist and what control measures may be appropriate.
Don’t leave Legionella risk to chance
For facilities managers and business owners, there are already enough things to worry about without adding water system risks to the list.
A professional Legionella risk assessment provides a structured way to identify potential hazards, understand your responsibilities and put appropriate control measures in place.
At Nexus Hygiene, we provide Legionella Risk Assessment services for businesses across the North West of England, helping organisations understand and manage the risks associated with their water systems.
We’re an independent, family-run business with more than 18 years’ experience delivering commercial hygiene and facilities services across the region.
If you’re unsure whether your business needs a Legionella risk assessment, or it’s been some time since your water systems were assessed, talk to the Nexus team.
Call our friendly team on 01772 671 500 or email customercare@nexushygiene.co.uk to find out more.
