Professional Legionella Risk Assessment Tunbridge Wells

We carry out our Legionella Risk Assessments in Tunbridge Wells in accordance with ACoP L8.

An Introduction to Legionella

Legionella bacteria is known to cause a string of pneumonia-like illnesses including legionnaires’ disease. This disease can be fatal and has the potential to affect anyone. Some conditions increase the risk of contracting the disease:

• people over 45 years old
• heavy drinkers and smokers
• people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases
• people who have kidney illnesses
• people with compromised immune systems

Low numbers of Legionella pneumophila can be found in natural water systems like rivers, lakes and reservoirs. In some cases, they can also be found in purpose-built systems like cooling towers, whirlpool spas and evaporative condensers.

The risk of legionnaires’ disease increases when conditions are favorable for the bacteria. To mitigate this risk, measures outlined in Legionnaires’ disease – The Control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8) should be followed.

Cleanair UK Legionella Risk Control Services

• Annual Cold-Water Storage Tank Cleaning
• Monthly Temperature Monitoring
• 3 Monthly Shower Head Descale

Important Questions to Answer

What You Must Do

• If you are in charge of premises, you must understand the dangers posed by legionella and the importance of legionella risk assessments.The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 all recommend risk assessments and other preventative measures.
  • identify and assess sources of risk
  • manage and control any risks
  • keep accurate records

Where does it come from?

• Although legionella has populations in natural water systems, people seldom contract the disease from these sources. The disease can usually be traced from the bacteria thriving in purpose-built systems where conditions like temperature are ideal for growth. This includes systems like spa pools, cooling towers and evaporative condensers.

How do people get it?

• Legionella enters the human body through inhaled contaminated water droplets in the air. The following increase this risk.

• breathable droplets of water production like aerosol created by cooling towers
• water with temperatures maintained between 20–45 °C
• presence of sludge, scale or fouling
• stored or re-circulated water

What are the symptoms?

• The symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are similar to the flu. People can experience fever, chills, muscle pains, headaches, pneumonia, diarrhea, or even mental confusion. The disease is not known to be contagious from person to person.