Legionella Awareness Training FAQs

When and how often do I need a risk assessment to test for legionella bacteria?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and in compliance with the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8, HSG 274), duty holders, including employers and those in control of premises, must ensure the health and safety of their employees or others who may be affected by their undertaking, this includes the risk of legionella. Legionnaires Disease is a form of pneumonia, which can be fatal and the main route of infection is through inhalation, by inhaling airborne water droplets that contain Legionella bacteria.

This also applies if you are a private Landlord and have rental properties which are occupied. Landlords need to carry out legionella bacteria prevention measures and regularly assess the sources of risk to their water systems. Health and safety law requires that landlords ensure the control of substances hazardous, and meet all legal responsibilities and take a water risk assessment in order to ensure legionnaires disease preventions are met.

This includes taking suitable precautions to prevent, manage and control the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria. You can control the risk of legionella by undertaking the following: carrying out a risk assessment on all risk systems, actioning all identified risks within the initial report with remedial works, sampling the water quality to confirm bacterial presence with water testing, and carrying out ongoing legionnaires disease record-keeping also known as monitoring.

Do I need testing, a legionella risk assessment or both?

​Legionella testing, water testing or sampling of risk systems is not to be confused with a legionella risk assessment. You are required by law to undertake a legionella risk assessment regularly under the Health and Safety Legislation at Work Act 1974, COSHH and a number of other regulations where you can show you are working to comply with the HSE’s HSG 274 legionella guidelines, and ensure the successful control of legionella bacteria within a risk system.

Testing or sampling risk systems whilst not a legal requirement on their own plays an important role in determining how efficient a water system is managed. Your risk suitable and sufficient assessment may identify that sampling is required due to existing risks or as a control and management precaution. In this instance sampling then becomes a requirement from your assessment. Without an L8 risk assessment of your risk systems, you will not know where and how many samples are required.

And without water testing/sampling you cannot determine how effective your harmful legionella bacteria control and management is. These two actions therefore should be undertaken together, not necessarily at the same time but in unison to effectively manage your risk from legionella bacteria. Another option for you to explore when it comes to controlling and managing legionella is to have a member of your staff undertake a legionella awareness training course.

Cold Water Systems testing services include Legionella, e-Coli, total viable count (TVC), Pseudomonas, hard water, chlorine-free, pH levels and more. Learn more about legionella testing. We only use UKAS approved code laboratories giving you peace of mind that the test will be of the highest quality possible.

How much does an L8 risk assessment cost?

All legionella risk assessments vary in prices depending on the number of cold water outlets, cold water storage tanks, hot water cylinders, combi boilers and other water assets that may be present. The number of assets within your water system will determine the time spent on-site and how long it will take to produce your report.

So how much does it cost? Across the industry, prices vary enormously often depending on the size of the company you use and their processes, the speed of works and professionalism. There are two types of assessments, the first is commercial and the second domestic, also referred to as residential rental properties or landlord risk assessments.

Commercial legionella risk assessments normally start from £250 to in excess of £750, however, our prices start from £99 depending on the size of the cold water systems and location.

Domestic risk assessments can range tremendously with a number of plumbers, gas engineers and other tradesmen offering these assessments without the specialist training, it’s important to check that your health and safety executive, assessor or engineer is properly qualified. Our prices start from £55 for multiple landlord properties to £95 for single landlord properties. Our prices for residential rental properties are based on the property being no more than 5 bedrooms. Our safety executive will assess the risk of legionella to your hot and cold water system. 

How Much is a Legionella Responsible Person Training Course?

Our legionella responsible person training course prices start at £35,00 plus VAT.

How long will legionella risk assessments take?

On average, the time our qualified assessor spends on site is 1 hour for every 10 outlets (sinks, showers, baths, etc). So an assessment can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 6 or 7 hours. It entirely depends on the size of your water system and the number of water assets you have such as cold water storage tanks, cylinders or combination boilers. Our safety executive will assess the risk of legionella to your hot and cold water system.

Our engineers will work closely with you to ensure minimal disruption to your business is caused while they assess the risks to your hot and cold water tanks and system. Clear and easy access to rooms and buildings will play a part in the time spent on-site at your premises.

Are uRisk qualified?

Yes, all of our assessors are fully qualified health and safety professionals and accredited by City & Guilds legionella control association and can help assist you in meeting legionnaires disease compliance today for HSE (ACoP L8), and provide landlords with guidance for hot and cold water low-risk systems. We are also Safe Contractor and Construction Online approved so you can rest assured that you are working with a trusted water hygiene service provider who put health and safety first.

All our engineers are DBS Checked to ensure suitable people are entering your premises and to safeguard vulnerable people. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards.

Do uRisk service my area?

Yes, our services are nationwide. Whether you have one or multiple cold water systems and one or multiple sites, we provide services across the country, with qualified engineers scattered throughout the UK and offices based in Hertfordshire which is a 30-minute train journey to London King’s Cross. Get in contact with us and book an appointment where we can carry out a legionella risk assessment. We will look at factors like your water temperature, redundant pipework, where your water is stored and test for bacteria in water systems.