Legionella risk assessment
Work through the legionella risk factors and the L8 control measures for a hot & cold water system — temperatures, flushing, descaling and the...
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Check the detail here, then carry it into the RAMS
This tool helps with one part of the paperwork. The builder brings the task, method, hazards, evidence prompts and sign-off together in the full RAMS draft.
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Use free tools →What a legionella risk assessment is, and how this tool is built
Legionella bacteria grow in building water systems and cause Legionnaires' disease — a potentially fatal pneumonia — when someone breathes in contaminated water droplets from a shower, spray tap or cooling tower. Legionella is classed as a hazardous substance under COSHH, and every business or landlord that controls premises has a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to assess and control the risk. The framework is the HSE Approved Code of Practice L8 (legal duties) with the technical detail in HSG274 (Part 2 covers hot & cold water systems).
The dutyholder's five duties
Under L8 the dutyholder must:
- Identify and assess the sources of risk;
- Prepare a written scheme to prevent or control the risk;
- Implement, manage and monitor the precautions;
- Keep records; and
- Appoint a competent responsible person to manage it.
The controls that matter most
For a typical hot & cold water system the core controls are about temperature and movement: keep hot water hot (stored at ≥ 60°C and reaching the outlet at ≥ 50°C), keep cold water cold (below 20°C), and stop water stagnating — flush little-used outlets weekly, descale and clean shower heads, inspect tanks and calorifiers, and remove dead legs. Legionella multiplies fastest between 20°C and 45°C, so the assessment is really about keeping water out of that band and moving.
When you need a specialist
This tool drafts a record for a simple hot & cold water system. Cooling towers and evaporative condensers are higher-risk, must be notified to the local authority, and need a competent water-treatment specialist (HSG274 Part 1). Spa pools (HSG282) and healthcare premises (NHS Health Technical Memoranda) also need specialist assessment. The tool flags these and is not a substitute for competent help.
This is a self-help planning aid that drafts a record for a simple water system — it is not a completed, suitable and sufficient legionella risk assessment, nor a substitute for a competent water-safety adviser where one is required. The dutyholder remains accountable.
RamsDocs helps draft structured RAMS from your job details. It does not replace competent-person review, site-specific judgement or your legal duties.
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