Legionella Management within your buildings and water systems can cover an array of tasks, some of which can be utilising specialist testing equipment. Training is required to support individuals involved in the Legionella management and control process to ensure the organisation is managing their water systems safely. Therefore training and competence of those administering measures of control is important to ensure the safe operation. Training equips individuals with the practical understanding of their actions as well as the theory and knowledge behind those actions to ensure that they are carried out correctly or that when there is a deviance from the required parameters these can be quickly identified and reported.
Effective training is also a key part of adherence to the guidance for the management of Legionella in accordance with the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L8 (ACOP L8). The regulations require for accurate measurements and records to be undertaken as part of comprehensive control of Legionella. Training for individuals who will be required to monitor precautions set out by your legionella risk assessment as well as for those being responsible for overseeing and managing the implementation of the regime.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) credits most Legionnaires outbreaks to insufficient training and understanding amongst staff or responsible people involved in management. The HSE also stresses the importance of training and ‘competence’ in the successful control of Legionella. This is stated in ACOP L8:
‘Those specifically appointed to implement the control measures and strategies should be suitably informed, instructed and trained and their suitability assessed. They must be properly trained to a level that ensures tasks are carried out in a safe, technically competent manner; and receive regular refresher training.’
The who will be required to be training will be any individual who has some involvement in the management and control of legionella in order to fulfil their duties in a competent manner, no matter how small those area actions are.
audit checklistThis could include;
· cleaning staff who are asked to flush infrequently used outlets within a building, area of a building or across multiple buildings
· Site maintenance staff who are required to undertake temperatures checks on the domestic water system or even check the biocides levels within a public water feature.
· Those who are managing the regime to ensure they understand the importance any remediation of the system should the biocide or temperature controls fall outside of the required parameters, or so they would take appropriate action should legionella be detected within the buildings water services.
The type of training each individual will undergo will differ based on their roles.
Legionella Awareness Training is a key part of effective Legionella management.
Are you a…?
· Technician (cleaner, maintenance/care taker, systems operator, tradesperson)
· Manager (property manager, services manager)
· Duty Holder (Landlord, Facilities Manager)
· Responsible Person (As nominated by the duty holder) If so, you likely require legionella awareness training
The Legionella awareness training course will help to raise you or your employees’ awareness in order to prevent waterborne disease caused by Legionella bacteria. The course has been specifically designed to cover risks associated with hot and cold-water systems.
The course also aids understanding of the health risks associated with legionella bacteria and how to control them. It highlights how legislation and codes of practice can support the management of Legionella bacteria.
This half day course is ideal for anyone who works in an environment where legionella growth is a risk. It is particularly relevant to those who have responsibility for undertaking tasks associated with cleaning, servicing, modification or repair of water systems. This can include supervisors, maintenance personnel, trade persons and cleaners. It is particularly useful for those who have no previous training or those requiring a refresher.
Under general Health and Safety law, as an employer or person in control of a premises, you have health and safety duties and responsibilities. These include taking suitable precautions to prevent or control the risk of exposure to legionella.
The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems Approved Code of Practice (L8) specifically states that people involved in implementing precautionary measures should be adequately trained. Any water system that has the right environmental conditions could potentially be a source for Legionella bacteria growth.
No matter how big or small your premises; if you have water systems in your workplace then you have a legal obligation to eliminate or minimise the risk of legionella.
By attending the course, a clear understanding of where legionella bacteria comes from will be gained. It will also covers topics including how people develop Legionnaires’ disease and effects on health
Following completion of the course, you will have an awareness of the control measures that can be used to reduce the risks from Legionella. You will also have an understanding of the importance of continually monitoring, reviewing and updating the legionella control measures.
The Legionella Control for Responsible Persons course ensures that you or your employees understand the effects of legionella bacteria on the body and the impact an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease would have on a business.
The comprehensive full day course will cover all aspects regarding legionella control including:
How to identify and control the risks associated with legionella bacteria
How legislation and codes of practice can support Legionella control
This course is ideal for the ‘responsible person’ or ‘duty holder’. It is also useful for nominated deputies. The course equips individuals with the capacity and skill set for the confident management of legionella and water hygiene issues.This includes employers, self-employed individuals and anyone else in control of a premises, such as landlords and letting agents.
Under general Health and Safety law, as an employer or person in control of a premises, you have health and safety duties and responsibilities. These include taking suitable precautions to prevent or control the risk of exposure to legionella.
The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems Approved Code of Practice (L8) specifically states that people involved in implementing precautionary measures should be adequately trained.Any water system that has the right environmental conditions could potentially be a source for legionella bacteria growth.
No matter how big or small your premises, if you have water systems in your workplace then you have a legal obligation to eliminate or minimise the risk of legionella.
By attending the course, a clear understanding of where legionella bacteria comes from will be gained. It will also covers topics including how people develop Legionnaires’ disease and effects on health.
In addition, the course also covers legislation and codes of practice which can support the management of Legionella bacteria.
The course will enable an individual to write a written scheme of safe work and confidently implement it in relation to Legionella management. The course also focuses on the importance of record keeping and how to carry out regular reviews to ensure that the legionella control measures in place are suitable and compliant.
