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Legionella
Risk Assessment & Control
ACOP L8 · HSG274 · COSHH Regulations · Water Safety Compliance
Legionella risk assessments, water hygiene management, and compliance support under ACOP L8 and HSG274. Expert legionella control for cooling towers, hot and cold water systems, and evaporative condensers.
Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
Legionella Risk Assessment, Water Hygiene & Legal Compliance
Legionella bacteria pose a serious and well-recognised health risk in man-made water systems. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), and the HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8 (ACOP L8), employers, landlords, and dutyholders must assess and control the risk of legionella exposure in all premises with water systems.
Arinite provides professional legionella risk assessments, water hygiene management, legionella control schemes, and legionella awareness training — helping organisations meet their legal obligations, protect building occupants, and maintain safe water systems compliant with ACOP L8 and HSG274.
What Is Legionella?
Legionella is a genus of bacteria found naturally in freshwater environments — rivers, lakes, and soil.
While generally present at low, harmless levels in nature, legionella becomes a significant health risk when it:
- Enters and colonises man-made water systems
- Multiplies under favourable conditions (typically 20°C–45°C)
- Is dispersed in fine water droplets (aerosols) that can be inhaled
Key characteristics of legionella bacteria:
- Survive at low temperatures (below 20°C) in a dormant state
- Thrive and multiply rapidly between 20°C and 45°C — the danger zone
- Are killed at temperatures above 60°C
- Multiply where nutrients are present — including rust, sludge, scale, algae, and biofilm
- Over 50 species identified — Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 causes most human infections
What Is Legionnaires' Disease?
Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets (aerosols) contaminated with Legionella bacteria. It has a fatality rate of approximately 10–15% and can be higher in vulnerable populations.
It is the most serious illness within a group of diseases collectively known as legionellosis, which also includes:
- Pontiac fever — a milder, self-limiting flu-like illness
- Lochgoilhead fever — similar to Pontiac fever
Key facts about Legionnaires' disease:
- Not spread from person to person
- Contracted by breathing in contaminated water aerosols
- Incubation period is typically 2–10 days
- Can lead to severe pneumonia, organ failure, and death if untreated
- Around 200–500 cases are reported annually in England and Wales
Who Is Most at Risk from Legionella?
Anyone can contract Legionnaires' disease, but higher-risk groups include:
People aged 45 and over (risk increases with age)
Smokers and heavy drinkers
Individuals with chronic respiratory or kidney disease
People with weakened or suppressed immune systems
Those with underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease
Because legionella can affect anyone, controlling the risk is treated as a public health priority — not just an occupational health issue.
Employer & Dutyholder Legal Responsibilities for Legionella
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, COSHH, and the HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8 (ACOP L8), employers and dutyholders with control of premises must assess and manage legionella risks in all relevant water systems. Dutyholders include:
Employers — for their own premises and employees
Landlords — for rental properties and shared water systems
Facilities managers and building managers
Building owners and managing agents
Anyone in control of water systems in non-domestic premises
Your Legal Duties Under ACOP L8
The HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8 (Legionnaires' disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems) sets out the specific duties. Dutyholders must:
Identify and Assess the Risk
- Identify all water systems that could create a legionella risk
- Carry out a legionella risk assessment — or arrange for a competent person to do so
- Assess the risk from each system based on type, temperature, condition, and use
Prepare a Written Control Scheme
- Develop a written scheme for preventing or controlling the risk of legionella exposure
- Define control measures, monitoring procedures, and remedial actions
- Align with HSG274 Part 2 (hot and cold water systems) or Part 1 (cooling towers)
Implement, Manage, and Monitor Controls
- Appoint a competent Responsible Person to manage legionella controls on a day-to-day basis
- Ensure all control measures are implemented and maintained — including temperature monitoring, flushing, and disinfection
- Carry out regular water sampling and testing where required
Keep Records
- Maintain records of risk assessments, control schemes, monitoring results, and remedial actions
- Records should be kept for a minimum of 5 years
- Ensure records are available for inspection by the HSE or local authority
Notify Authorities (Where Required)
- Notify the local authority if cooling towers or evaporative condensers are present on site
- Report any confirmed case of Legionnaires' disease to the HSE and Public Health England
Failure to comply with ACOP L8 and legionella legislation can result in HSE enforcement action, unlimited fines, civil claims from affected individuals, and criminal prosecution of individuals including directors and building managers.
Water Systems at Greatest Legionella Risk
Certain water systems present a higher risk of legionella colonisation and aerosol generation:
Cooling Towers & Evaporative Condensers
- Associated with the largest documented outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease
- Require strict monitoring, water treatment, and notification to local authority
- Must comply with HSG274 Part 1
Hot & Cold Water Systems
- The most common source of legionella exposure in offices, hotels, and residential buildings
- Risk increases where water temperature falls within the growth range (20°C–45°C)
- Dead legs, stagnant water, and infrequently used outlets significantly increase risk
- Must comply with HSG274 Part 2
Spa Pools & Hot Tubs
- Generate fine aerosols and operate at temperatures favourable to legionella growth
- Require enhanced water treatment, monitoring, and maintenance
- Must comply with HSG274 Part 3
Other Systems at Risk
- Humidifiers, misting systems, and air washers
- Fire sprinkler systems and emergency showers (where water stagnates)
- Decorative water features and fountains
- Vehicle wash systems and industrial process water
When Legionella Becomes a Risk
Legionella risk increases when:
Water temperature is maintained between 20°C and 45°C (the danger zone)
Water is stored or recirculated rather than flowing continuously
Water systems are poorly maintained or seldom serviced
Dead legs, blind ends, or little-used outlets allow stagnation
Biofilm, scale, rust, sludge, or organic matter accumulate in the system
Systems are not properly treated or disinfected
This is why proactive legionella risk assessment and active, ongoing management are essential — not just a one-off assessment.
Legionella Control Services from Arinite
Arinite provides end-to-end legionella compliance support, proportionate to your premises and water systems:
Legionella Risk Assessments
Comprehensive risk assessments of all relevant water systems
Identification of legionella risks, control gaps, and remedial actions
Clear recommendations fully aligned with ACOP L8 and HSG274
Legionella Control Schemes
Development of written legionella control schemes
Monitoring regimes, responsibilities, and remedial action procedures defined
Integration with existing health and safety management systems
Responsible Person Training & Support
Legionella awareness training for appointed Responsible Persons
Understanding of ACOP L8 duties, monitoring requirements, and record-keeping
Ongoing technical support and competence development
Water Testing & Sampling
Regular water sampling programmes and legionella testing
UKAS-accredited laboratory analysis
Interpretation of results and guidance on corrective actions
Temperature Monitoring & System Review
Hot and cold water temperature monitoring regimes
Verification of control measure effectiveness
System condition reviews and deficiency identification
Record Keeping & Compliance Documentation
Legionella logbook management and maintenance records
Audit-ready documentation for HSE and local authority inspections
Ongoing compliance monitoring and review scheduling
Who Needs Legionella Risk Management?
Legionella duties apply to all premises with water systems, including:
Offices and commercial buildings
Residential buildings with shared or communal water systems
Rental properties — landlord legionella duties apply
Healthcare facilities, hospitals, and care homes
Hotels, guest houses, and leisure facilities
Schools, colleges, and universities
Industrial and manufacturing premises
Any premises with cooling towers, spa pools, or complex water systems
If your premises have a water system that stores, heats, or recirculates water, legionella legislation applies to you.
Why Choose Arinite for Legionella Compliance?
IOSH Chartered Health & Safety professionals
Practical, proportionate legionella advice — not over-engineered solutions
Clear documentation fully aligned with ACOP L8 and HSG274
UKAS-accredited water testing through trusted laboratory partners
Ongoing support beyond the initial risk assessment
Experience across offices, healthcare, education, hospitality, and industrial sectors
We focus on practical legionella control and genuine compliance — not just paperwork.
Start With a Free Legionella Compliance Review
Not sure if your legionella controls meet the requirements of ACOP L8? Start with a professional legionella gap analysis from our IOSH Chartered consultants.
Legionella compliance review valued at £750+
The Arinite Transformation™
From Reactive Firefighting to Proactive Health & Safety Compliance
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
The Arinite Difference:
Other consultants get you to Stage 2 (Compliant) and disappear.
We get you to Stage 3 (Proactive) and keep you there.
That's why we call it transformation, not just compliance.
"We work with you to deliver peace of mind. We tailor our service provision to your business to provide proactive, pragmatic health and safety advice and that helps reduce costs by ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation."
Robert Winsloe
Managing Director
From Hidden Gaps to Compliance
Our proven 3-step system has helped over 1,000 businesses eliminate enforcement risk, pass inspections, and protect directors from personal liability.
No guesswork. No generic templates. No box-ticking.
Free Health and Safety Gap Analysis Call
Identify what's missing before an inspector does.
A focused 30-minute health and safety assessment to expose weaknesses in your current arrangements.
What you get:
→ You leave knowing exactly where you're exposed and what to do about it.
Health and Safety Audit
Turn risk into documented compliance, fast.
We conduct a comprehensive health and safety audit of your workplace and ensure everything inspectors expect to see is in place. This covers risk assessments, workplace safety inspections, health and safety policy documentation, and every gap identified in Step 1.
What's included:
→ You move from exposed to defensible with evidence to prove it.
Outsource Your Health & Safety - The Arinite Partnership
We become your health and safety department. Your competent person. Your compliance team.
No chasing updates. No need to worry about changes in health and safety laws. No need to wonder if you've missed something. You focus on your core day-to-day business, Arinite handle the rest.
What we take ownership of:
→ Compliance handled. Risk controlled. Directors protected.
Why This Works
Most enforcement actions arise from systems being assumed rather than proven.
We don't advise. We don't hand over templates.
We build, implement, and maintain end-to-end health and safety compliance, and when we identify an action item, we proactively pursue and resolve it. That's the difference.
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Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
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