Your Legal Duty to Manage Legionella Risk

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and guided by the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (L8) and HSG274 Parts 1–3, all employers, landlords, and those in control of premises have a legal duty to manage Legionella risks in their water systems.

What Does That Mean for You?

If you are responsible for a building (such as a factory, office, school, or rental property), you must:

✅ Identify and assess the risk

• Carry out a Legionella risk assessment to identify potential sources of exposure to Legionella bacteria.

• Keep the assessment up to date, especially if your system changes.

✅ Implement a control scheme

• Establish a written scheme of control detailing how you will manage the identified risks.

• This includes temperature monitoring, flushing infrequently used outlets, and cleaning tanks and calorifiers.

✅ Appoint a responsible person

• Designate a competent individual (or company, like McAndrew Legionella Services) to manage compliance tasks and documentation.

✅ Keep records

• Maintain written records of risk assessments, monitoring, cleaning, and any corrective actions taken.

• Required for employers with five or more employees.

✅ Review and update

• Review the risk assessment regularly or when changes occur (e.g., renovations, new water systems, or changes in building use).

Our Role in Helping You Stay Compliant

At McAndrew Legionella Services, we:

• Conduct thorough, HSG274-compliant Legionella risk assessments

• Provide bespoke written control schemes

• Carry out regular monitoring

• Deliver full documentation and audit trails

• Offer ongoing support and reviews

We make compliance simple, affordable, and stress-free—so you can focus on running your business, not worrying about regulations.

✅ Need help understanding your duties? Get in touch today for a free consultation.