An employer's duty of care under Health and Safety law includes water systems safety. These must be properly installed, maintained and monitored to ensure water quality. Water systems include domestic and non-domestic water services, air conditioning and cooling towers.

Legionellosis - the risk

The presence of legionella bacteria in the water supply is a particular concern. Even if there isn't on outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease (legionellosis), employers can still be prosecuted if the bacteria are detected.

How to deal with the risk

A 'Responsible Person' should be appointed to manage the risk. The HSE Inspectorate, on investigating outbreaks of legionellosis, frequently finds that standards of technical competence are inadequate. Health and safety water systems training is essential.

How can Develop help?

As one of the country's leading training providers we have been successfully running courses on water systems safety for over 14 years. Our health and safety water systems courses include how to comply with legionella legislation, the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, CITB or Zurich registration on unvented hot water systems and safe operation of swimming pools. Some of our courses lead to a City & Guilds qualification.

CASE STUDIES

Haden Building Management Limited identified a need for their Contracts Managers to be trained to a recognised standard so they could act as Authorised Persons for Water Systems. The contracts managers attended a specially designed five day course on the management and maintenance of hot and cold water systems and evaporative cooling towers and all were successful in achieving City & Guilds Certificates.

Existing and new staff at Standard Life were required to be trained to a recognised standard to ensure maintenance and operation of water systems is carried out competently and in accordance with ACoP L8 Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems. Around 30 people took part in a range of events, some at their own premises and some at our training centre.

In order to have a clear understanding of the implications of the management of water systems a group of senior managers from Amey Business Services attended the course Legionellosis: The Role of the Responsible Person.