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Legionella control - monitoring and inspection programmes
Do I need a monitoring and inspection programme?
- A key part of ACoP L8 is that following a Legionella risk assessment you should prepare a written monitoring plan to control the identified risks of Legionella.
- This plan should identify the chosen control measure e.g. avoiding water temperatures between 20ºC and 45ºC and how this will be achieved.
- This plan should then be implemented, regularly managed and monitored.
- A detailed record of all precautions should then be kept in a dedicated site log book, critical evidence for any health and safety inspection.
"If the risk assessment shows that there is a reasonably foreseeable risk and it is reasonably practicable to prevent exposure or control the risk from exposure, the person on whom the statutory duty falls should appoint a person or persons to take a managerial responsibility and to provide supervision for the implementation of precautions"
ACoP L8, paragraph39.
What is involved in a monitoring and inspection programme?
Monitoring and inspection programmes start in the office, reviewing your current Legionella risk assessment and any other historic records relating to your water system.
A control regime is designed in full consultation with you, understanding the risks and the most optimum methods for managing these. Consideration is given to the available resources you may have in-house and responsibilities are assigned accordingly.
Example control scheme:
| Weekly | Monthly | Quarterly | 6-Monthly | Annually | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flushing of little used outlets | CLIENT | ||||
| Descaling taps | CLIENT | W.E.T | |||
| Temperature monitoring (inc. Sentinel points) | W.E.T | ||||
| Records audit | W.E.T | ||||
| Service TMV(s) and intergrated filters | W.E.T | ||||
| Showerhead clean and descale | W.E.T | ||||
| Water tank inspection | W.E.T | ||||
| Water tank temperatures (6-monthly) | W.E.T | ||||
| Potable water tank TVC & Legionella sampling | W.E.T | ||||
| Calorifier inspection and blowdown | W.E.T | ||||
| Calorifier flow & return temps | W.E.T |
Record Keeping
Perhaps the single most important aspect of any Legionella management programme is keeping a record of monitoring results and findings.
Each site is issued with a hard copy or electronic log book depending on your requirements. These log books contain standard documentation and site specific information which fully complies with the requirements of ACoP L8.
The key sections of this user-friendly operating and record keeping manual are:
- Lines of communication and appointed personnel.
- Significant findings from the Legionella risk assessment.
- Written control scheme.
- Monitoring and inspection results.
- Monitoring and inspection templates (when site is undertaking actions).
- Remedial and attendance logs.
Why choose W.E.T for your monitoring and inspection programme?
By appointing W.E.T on a contracted basis, facility managers are relieved from the operational management of Legionella control and are offered peace of mind that they are meeting the latest required guidelines of maintaining safe water.
Equally, W.E.T have 20 years experience working alongside facility managers and their teams to reduce costs by supporting and providing training to complete many tasks in-house.
- Strictly compliant:
Our monitoring and inspection programmes are designed in strict accordance with ACoP L8 to keep you compliant. - Dedicated account management team:
Each monitoring contract is assigned an account manager who is responsible for planning all works and liaising with you at all times, providing you a single point of contact. - Regular reviews:
In addition to the account manager, you can rely upon an operational management team qualified in Microbiology, who undertake regular reviews and audits of your service contract. - Best of both - planned and reactive services:
In addition to planned maintenance, our experience as a tank manufacturer and trained plumbers enable us to identify and provide reactive works (see tank refurbishment and remedial works) efficiently and cost effectively to an extremely high service standard. - Calibrated test equipment:
All testing is undertaken using equipment which has been pre-calibrated, in accordance with UKAS accredited test methods and managed under our quality standard ISO 9001:2015 to ensure your results are recorded accurately, every time. - Accredited by the Legionella Control Association:
Services are carried out under internal procedures which have been accredited by the Legionella Control Association to ensure year round compliance and quality of service to our clients. - National Water Hygiene Card Holder:
All W.E.T engineers are National Water Hygiene Card holders, which is recognised by all UK water companies and is a pre-requisite for any work on the water distribution network.