Legionella awareness Toolbox Talk
Legionella bacteria can grow in poorly controlled water systems and infect people through inhaled aerosol. Work must follow the building’s water-management scheme and competent risk assessment.
Key points
- Identify the responsible person and current legionella risk assessment.
- Do not alter, isolate or recommission water systems without coordination.
- Avoid creating unnecessary aerosols.
- Maintain required temperatures, flow and cleaning arrangements.
- Flush little-used outlets under the written scheme without exposing people to spray.
- Report stagnation, scale, sludge, temperature failure or unused outlets.
- Use specialist sampling, disinfection and remediation where the scheme requires it.
Do
- Follow the written control scheme.
- Record checks accurately.
- Escalate failed limits.
Don't
- Do not improvise sampling or chemical dosing.
- Do not leave dead legs after alterations.
- Do not expose vulnerable people during flushing.
Questions to ask the group
- Who controls the water system?
- What task could create aerosol?
- Where are failures recorded and escalated?
References: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002; HSE HSG274 Part 2 The control of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems