What is Legionella?
The water-borne legionella bacterium is found in natural environments including ponds, rivers and lakes. However, if conditions are ‘right’, legionella can also establish itself in the mains water supply, where it can be distributed in the form of airborne droplets (aerosols), putting people at risk. The danger to humans is that if the legionella bacteria is inhaled, it can develop into the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease.
Risks from the legionella bacteria, therefore, need to be closely managed, and if you are in control of premises, you must be aware of the risks that it poses. There are a number of conditions that allow for the growth of the bacteria, including:
- Water temperatures between 20°C and 50°C
- Available nutrients (including sediment, biofilm, algae, scale, rust, material, etc.)
- Presence of biofilm on surfaces of water
- Poor or inadequate management or maintenance caused by lack of training and awareness
A water risk assessment will reduce the likelihood of the legionella bacteria spreading.
Legionnaires Disease
Legionnaires’ disease, which is also known as legionellosis, is a type of pneumonia. For those in the main risk groups, it can potentially be fatal – those most at risk are the elderly, people with suppressed immune systems, people over the age of 55, smokers, heavy drinkers or those suffering from diabetes, as well as those with chronic respiratory, heart or kidney disease.
The legionella bacteria can also cause other, less harmful illnesses such as Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever, which can affect anyone.
Water Risk Assessment Service Provider
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 using their facilities or visiting their premises, including protecting them from the risk of legionella with regular legionella risk assessments.
As a water hygiene service and water risk assessment provider, uRisk carries out a full range of control measures and risk systems services including:
- Initial water risk assessment
- Any remedial works needed
- Legionella Testing
- Ongoing Monitoring
- Water tank cleaning
- Training around this troublesome bacterium and your health and safety duties.
We are your one-stop shop for cold water systems legionella safety.
Your water risk assessment will be carried out by one of our qualified and DBS-checked assessors. We will undertake a complete survey of the premises as a part of our water risk assessments process. For factors such as non-WRAS approved fittings and poor cold-water tank or hot-water cylinder conditions, as well as temperature profiling and accessibility to all areas that require legionella risk assessment monitoring and maintenance by law.
Contact us to book your water risk assessment today.
Legionella and Landlords
The Legionella control association states that if you are a landlord and rent out a property you own, or a room within the home, then you have legal responsibilities to protect your tenants and keep them safe from water systems health hazards. Do not take this responsibility lightly. Failing to comply with the law around water risk assessments and legionella can result in fines and, in some extreme cases, prosecution if convicted of a health and safety offence.
Tenants should be informed by their estate agents or the landlord directly of any measures that are in place at the property and anything that needs to be maintained while at the property. Legionella risk assessment record-keeping is not a legal requirement for landlords, but it is certainly advisable to maintain and keep records of any legionella risk assessments and advisories or any ongoing remedial works at your properties to show that you are doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of your tenants.
To help prevent Legionnaires’ disease, uRisk provides a water systems Legionella Risk Assessment for single property landlords, multiple property landlords, estate agents, letting agents and property management companies.
Get In Touch Today for your own risk assessment quote!
What's included in the legionella risk assessment?
You will receive a fully comprehensive assessment helping you meet compliance.
Site Report
Details of report
Engineer Report
Notes from visit
Risk Ratings
Breakdown of risk ratings
Control and Management
Control measures checked
Survey of Assets
All assets assessed in full
Survey of Schematic
Review of current schematic
Scope of Works
Agreed works
Remedial Report
Details of works undertaken
Site Description
Site information
Water Logbook
Records checked
Survey in Detail
Risks, materials, and design assessed
Support
30 minute report walk through
Health and Safety
Initial site safety checks
Executive Summary
Overall risk rating
Management Structure
Legionella managment
Water System Overview
Asset register
Survey Photos
Photos of entire water system
Glossary
Terminology explained
Additional fees apply for legionella samples, water logbooks and schematics. If you have had a previous legionella risk assessment you may not need these items.
Service Process
Get a Quote
Get a quote today by phone, email, or complete our contact form to receive a quotation within 24 hours.
Booking
Our coordinator will be in touch to confirm a Date That Suits You, along with estimated time of arrival.
Your Appointment
On the day of your appointment, you will receive a 30 min Curtesy Call from an engineer to confirm they're on route.
Report
Your report is then Quality Checked and emailed in PDF Format, with Next Day Delivery.
Support Call
Our support team will be in touch to arrange your free 30 min Support Call to help explain your report.
All payments are due prior to booking completion unless agreed in writing for 30 days from the date of invoice. We will hold your booking time for 24 hours whilst we await payment. Reports are typically next day delivery, but please allow for up to 5 working days delivery.
Your Dedicated Safety Team
Jack
Customer Service
Neil
Operations
Matthew
Support
Shaun
Technical
Water Risk Assessment FAQs
When and how often do I need a water risk assessment?
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 with a risk assessment. Having a regular and sufficient risk assessment applies if you are a private Landlord and have rental properties which are occupied.
How much does a water risk assessment cost?
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 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 system and location.
How long will the water risk assessment 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 cold water system and the number of water assets you have such as cold water storage tanks, cylinders or combination boilers.
Our engineers will work closely with you to ensure minimal disruption to your business is caused. Clear and easy access to rooms and buildings will play a part in the time spent on-site at your premises.
When will I receive your findings?
Your report is Quality Checked and emailed to you in PDF format, typically with Next Day Delivery but you should allow for 5 working days.
Are uRisk qualified?
Yes, all of our assessors are fully qualified and accredited by City & Guilds and can help assist you in meeting compliance today for HSE (ACoP L8). 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 of health regulations and reducing your water risk.
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.
Why choose uRisk?
Over 25 years of water hygiene and legionella control experience.
Friendly and simple advice by phone, email & online at your convenience.
All staff are trained water hygiene consultants and engineers.
With engineers located all across the UK, we're never too far away.
Our labs are UKAS approved providing you with quality assurance.
Your one stop shop for Legionella control, no need to go elsewhere.
