Legionella

Legionella Risk Assessment

CMSE Consultancy is a leading provider of Legionella Risk Assessments to our clients all over Ireland. Our specialists provide practical advice, training and practical solutions to Legionnaires Disease problems in the workplace.

Exposure to Legionella can be fatal and many deaths have been caused to employees and to people who were exposed to the bacteria while in close proximity to workplaces eg. in hotels, hospitals, etc.

CMSE Consultancy Services

CMSE Consultancy carries out detailed Legionella Risk Assessments that both identify and assess the risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria in your workplace. The assessment will identify the work activities and locations of the exposures and will of course list precisely any necessary precautionary control measures both interim and long term.

The Legionella Risk Assessment includes such specific items as follows:

Identifying and assessing likely sources of risk
Recommending schemes to help control the risk
Suggesting a suitable routine monitoring program
Clarifying lines of responsibility
Identifying training deficiencies
Providing recommendations

The following areas may be inspected during the assessment:

Visual inspection of plant to identify sources of contamination or physical deficiencies.
Temperature measurements
Review of current control measures.

Applicable Irish Legislation

The principal occupational health and safety legislation in controlling Legionnaires’ disease include:

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No.10 of 2005)
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No.299 of 2007)
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013 and 2020 (S.I. No.572 of 2013 and S.I. 539 of 2020)
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations, 2001-2015 (S.I. No.619 of 2001 and S.I. 623 of 2015)

Under Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers and those who control workplaces are required to carry out risk assessments. This would cover the assessment and control of the risks associated with Legionella in water systems.

Chris Mee groups Legionella Risk Assessment programme has been developed in accordance with:

Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), National Guidelines for the Control of Legionellosis in Ireland, 2009
UK HSE ‘Legionnaires’ Disease – The control of legionella bacteria in water systems – Approved
Code of Practice & guidance’ (L8).
UK HSE ‘Legionnaires’ Disease – Technical Guidance’ (HSG 274 Parts 1 – 3)