Legionella is still a very hot topic because we tend to receive so many questions on a daily basis about legionella and legionella Risk assessment. People often ask us

• What is legionella?
• What is Legionnaires disease?
• Is Legionella Risk Assessment mandatory?
• How to get a legionella risk assessment?

Considering all your queries we decided to come up with a guide that explains everything that you need to know about legionella bacteria and legionella Risk assessment.

So, let’s just started

History of Legionella

Starting with its history, in 1976 during the conference of the American Legion that was held in Pennsylvania USA at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel. More than 220 attendees fell ill with the pneumonia-like disease and 34 people died due to that disease.

After the research, it has been proved that pneumonia is a fatal form of legionnaires disease that is caused by legionella bacteria. After that, many cases were reported from different areas. In 2010, NHS reported 359 legionnaires’ cases and 38 deaths in England and Wales.

What is Legionella Bacteria?

Legionella is a bacteria that is commonly found in water resources that can cause a serious type of lung infection or legionnaires disease. People usually catch legionnaires disease by inhaling aerosols that are usually formed through showers, taps, spa pools, and cooling towers. Common symptoms of legionnaires disease are coughing, high fever, headache, nausea, and shortness of breath.

Ways to Prevent Legionella

Although there are no such vaccines that can protect us from legionella disease

However, there are some ways through which we can prevent legionnaires disease from spreading and reduce the risk of its growth. The building owners and managers can do this by carrying out legionella risk assessments.

What are Legionella Risk Assessments?

Legionella risk assessment is a technical evaluation of water systems that every landlord, property manager, and employer needs to carry out in order to minimize the legionella-related risk factors in a property, workplace, or facility.

This assessment will cover all the water systems in a property including showerheads, sinks faucets, cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains, hot water tanks, and plumbing systems.

Is Legionella Risk Assessment mandatory?

Yes, according to section 3(2) HSE (Health and Safety Executive) act 1974 any property or building in which water is stored and recirculated as a part of a system requires a legionella risk assessment to be carried out. According to the act, it’s a strict order to all the property owners and landlords to carry out an assessment at places where water is used or stored.

Everyone needs to follow the code however you can use the alternative method but if anyone does not follow the relevant code will be found at fault by the court.

How to get a Legionella Risk Assessment?

If you want to carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA) of your building or property and looking for professional help you can contact us at support@firesafteyriskassessment.co.uk. We are one of the independent established company with 15 years of experience. Offering the best environmental and health safety services in the UK.

Our services include:

• Fire risk assessment
• Fire evacuation strategies
• Fire protection plan
• Health and safety assessments
• Legionella risk assessment
• Asbestos testing and surveys
• Electrical installation condition report
• Portable appliance testing

Call us today at 077 8003 0185 and book your appointment now.

FAQ’s

Q1. Is legionella risk assessments mandatory?

Ans. Yes, it’s a legal requirement according to the HSE act 194 that every landlord has to carry out a risk assessment of their property covering all the domestic hot and cold-water systems.

Q2. How can I trace the presence of legionella?

Ans. In order to detect the presence of legionella in your water system, you have to seek professional help to collect the water sample so that it can be tested in the laboratory.

Q3. Will I get legionella from a shower?

Ans. The answer is yes because legionella is a disease that tends to be found in water sources. There is a high chance that you will get legionella from a shower but depends on whether you are taking shower at your home, hostel, gym, or hospital because it’s a rare case that you will catch legionella from your home shower. However, it might be possible that you might get legionella if you are using a hospital or hostel shower because they are connected to the large domestic water system.

Q4. Will legionella can be controlled quickly?

Ans. Yes, there are some ways through which you can control legionella quickly like

• Through temperature control
• Through disinfection
• Manage Hydraulics
• Aerosol control
• By tightening the plumbing systems
• Use copper plumbing materials
• Limit the nutrients in the water

Q5. How fastly does legionella grow?

Ans. Legionella usually takes two to ten days to grow. The legionnaire’s symptoms will start to appear after the legionella bacteria exposure.

Conclusion

Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA) is a legal requirement by the law in order to ensure the safety of the people. Therefore, it’s the responsibility of every landlord, property owner, and manager to carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment of their property, building, and office every year. You can contact us at support@firesafteyriskassessment.co.uk or call us at 077 8003 0185 for professional help we offer a wide range of services including Legionella Risk Assessment (LRA), Asbestos Assessment, and Fire Risk Assessment.  

If you still have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment sections we will happy to help you. Thank you.