Plumbing, Cold Water & Hygiene
Legionella Training
Legionella risk is not something to take lightly. If you own, or are occupying a commercial property then you have a legal obligation to ensure that your workplace is totally safe, and this includes water monitoring, testing, and potentially Legionella training for your employees.
Our experienced team can provide Legionella consultation and training, helping to raise awareness of the potential problems of Legionella and show your employees how to keep your water systems as safe as possible.
Legionella Risks
There are Legionella risks in any water system where water is stored or distributed, including air conditioning systems, cooling towers, hot and cold water systems, and showers.
If Legionella bacteria are present in these systems they can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.
People can become infected with Legionella bacteria if they breathe in small droplets of water (aerosols) contaminated with the bacteria.
This can happen when Legionella bacteria grow and multiply in purpose-built systems, such as cooling towers or evaporative condensers, where water is re-circulated.
The Legionella bacteria can also spread through domestic hot and cold water systems, and can be found in showerheads, taps, and other fittings.
People can also become infected if they inhale Legionella bacteria from contaminated soil or water droplets that contain the bacteria.
Benefits of Legionella Training
Legionella training will help your employees to identify the Legionella risks in your workplace in line with HSE’s guidelines, and take appropriate action to control them.
The training will also help your employees to understand the importance of Legionella risk assessment and water testing, and how to carry out these activities effectively.
Training helps delegates to competently manage the following aspects of Legionella control, including:
- Managing basic Legionella risk assessments.
- Planning maintenance and water system management, including contractor programmes.
- Maintain water systems by carrying out very basic maintenance like flushing the system.
- Carrying out a weekly or monthly maintenance schedule between planned preventative maintenance.
- Fulfilling the legal role of “Responsible Person”. Our Legionella responsible person training is perfect for delegating one specific member of staff to handle maintenance.
If your Yorkshire-based business is looking to learn more about Legionella, we can offer Legionella control training to help your team to maintain the system, as well as Legionella awareness training, helping to teach your team about the potential risks and seriousness of the bacteria and potential disease.
What May Be Covered in Legionella Training?
Though legionella training can be tailored specifically to your needs, there are certain aspects that will always be included. The purpose of the training is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of Legionella, how it grows and spreads, and the measures that can be taken to control the risks associated with legionella, and this may include:
- Biology and epidemiology of Legionella: This covers the biology of the bacterium, how it is transmitted, and the factors that can contribute to its growth and spread in water systems.
- Regulations and guidelines: Participants will learn about the regulations and guidelines in the UK related to Legionella, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and the Approved Code of Practice L8.
- Water systems and conditions suitable for Legionella growth: Participants will learn about the different types of water systems and the conditions that can contribute to Legionella growth, such as water temperature, stagnation, and the presence of biofilms.
- Risk assessment: Participants will learn how to conduct a Legionella risk assessment, including how to identify water systems, assess water temperature, evaluate storage and distribution systems, and identify populations that may be at risk.
- Control measures: Participants will learn about the various control measures that can be implemented to control Legionella risks, such as regular water temperature monitoring, improved cleaning and maintenance practices, and the implementation of water treatment methods.
- Record-keeping: Participants will learn about the importance of record-keeping in managing Legionella risks, including how to maintain accurate records of water temperature, maintenance and cleaning schedules, water quality testing, and staff training.
Legal Obligations Regarding Water Safety
If you are in control of the business premises then you have legal obligations regarding the control of Legionella.
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) extends to Legionella and water systems, and a water regulations course can help you to keep your employees up to standard and allow them to help with the management of your premises.
The Approved Code of Practice: Legionnaires’ disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8) gives you a framework and a lot of practical advice.
Taking part in Legionella training online or in person is not always enough to ensure that your team can carry out compliant risk assessments, and it is best to get the help of a professional. Yorkshire-based businesses can turn to Robinsons Facilities Services to help you with water sampling, assist you in creating a maintenance schedule, and a risk assessment for your premises.
How Robinsons Facilities Services Can Help
We can provide you with regular help and planned maintenance for your water systems, including water sampling, giving you peace of mind and legal compliance. We can also help with Legionella awareness and staff training across the north of England.
Working across Yorkshire, we cover North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and offer a fast, efficient response time to all breakdowns and repairs. Contact us today for all planned, reactive maintenance or emergency call out. Call 01423 226578 or get in touch to see how Robinsons Facilities Services can help.
Why Choose Robinsons Facilities Services?
- Adaptable prices
- 24/7/365 availability
- Highly trained experts
- Years of experience
Our customers love us! Read our testimonials.
Legionella Training FAQs
Legionella training involves growing the understanding of legionella and helping staff who may be monitoring and managing cooling towers, condensers, or other water systems that may be susceptible to legionella.
If you have water systems within your workplace then it is a good idea to provide some form of legionella awareness training, and anyone who will be involved in using the water systems should understand the risks.
This varies depending on the course, whether you are doing online training, and who the trainer is. Many of the courses can be completed in a matter of a few hours.
There aren’t specific regulations on how often to refresh the training, but every 2-3 years is a good idea for most employees. If you are in a strategic role dealing with the water system then you may need more frequent refresher training.
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