Step 1: Identify the Hazards
The first step of a legionella risk assessment Edinburgh is to notice any potential sources of danger within the property. Make a list of the water systems in the property and create a note of how each of them could be a legionella hazard. The Health, State, and Environment state that legionella testing in Edinburgh needs to identify whether:
- Water is re-circulated or stored as part of your system.
- Conditions are present to encourage bacteria to multiply.
- All components of the system are between 20–45 °C.
- There are sources of nutrients such as organic matters, sludge, rust, and scale.
Sources of risk can be identified by consulting or by sighting the property’s showing the main diagram, which shows the layout of all water systems within the property.
Step 2: Consider Who May be At Risk
This step involves making a report of who is most likely to be at risk by any potential legionella bacteria in the property. This stage is important to show that landlords have considered who may be at risk.
Create a list of everyone who may be present in the property, including resident, visitors, workers, and contractor, and then consider whether anyone may be more at risk than others, such as those with existing illnesses, children, people in later life, those with weak immune systems or those who smoke.
Step 3: Implement Control Measures
Before carrying out new legionella, controls take a look at any controls that are already in place in the property and consider whether these need updating or are sufficient. Suitable control measures include:
- Monitoring water temperatures.
- Pipework by unauthorized people and preventing access to the water tank.
- Carrying out regular inspection and maintenance procedures.
- Removing any redundant pipework
- Regularly cleaning parts of the water system, such as baths.
Water testing and monitoring bacteria levels should be carried out by a specialist service such as consultant, water Treatment Company, and are usually not required by domestic properties due to their low level of risk. Landlords should not try to monitor bacteria levels or test the water unless they are properly supervised.
Step 4: Keep Records
The findings of the legionella testing in Edinburgh should be typed up or written down into a document to act as evidence that landlords are complying with their duties.
A record should be kept of all control measures and their identified hazards, plus a description of the water system present and details of who the duty holder is. At least two years, these records should be retained. Records of any legionella testing in Edinburgh, monitoring, inspections should be documented for at least five years.
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