how to audit your legionella control programme
If you are involved in the legionella risk control programme for your organisation, especially if you are the duty holder or responsible person, you need to know that you have everything in place to comply with HSE guidance and Health & Safety Legislation.
One way to approach this is to complete the HSE’s audit checklist
Control of legionella bacteria in water systems
Audit checklist
You can download the checklist here https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ck02.htm
WHO ARE THE CHECKLISTS FOR?
These checklists are for the health and safety responsible person to use, to audit arrangements in premises, to control legionella in water systems. They audit the risk assessment process and take the responsible person through the recommended measures in the Approved Code of Practice and guidance. There are three checklists:
Checklist 1: The risk assessment
Checklist 2: Cooling towers
Checklist 3: Hot and cold water services
IS THIS THE LAW?
This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory, unless specifically stated, and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance.
WHAT ARE THE CHECKLISTS FOR?
These checklists are designed to help you, as the responsible person, audit the arrangements in place to control legionella in the water systems in your premises. This is a check on your knowledge of the system. It also checks the knowledge of those who play a role in controlling the risks from the system, for example water treatment contractors. There would be no value in asking a third party to complete this audit. As the responsible person, you should have been appointed because you have ‘sufficient authority, competence and knowledge’ of the systems in your workplace.
Read more about legionella guidance documents here
