Course Overview
This training provides essential awareness for understanding the risks, responsibilities, and safe working practices associated with the prevention and control of Legionella in the workplace. The course is designed to help participants understand how Legionella management forms part of workplace health and safety management, and how effective control measures can help prevent illness, water system contamination, and harm to employees, visitors, and members of the public.
Participants will gain awareness of employer and employee responsibilities, water system risk assessment, control measures, monitoring and testing, and the importance of following company procedures when managing water systems on behalf of the organisation.
Key Topics Covered
What is Legionella? Understanding what is meant by Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease, including how Legionella bacteria grow and spread in water systems, the conditions that increase risk, and the potential health effects of exposure.
Legal and Safety Responsibilities Overview of relevant workplace safety responsibilities under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated regulations, including the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) Code of Practice for the Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems, and the need for safe systems of work, competent persons, and suitable risk assessments.
Employer and Employee Duties Understanding the responsibilities of employers, managers, supervisors, and employees in managing Legionella risks, including cooperation, reporting concerns, following company policies, and the appointment of a responsible person to oversee water hygiene.
Water System Risk Assessment Awareness of the importance of carrying out and reviewing Legionella risk assessments, identifying water systems on site, evaluating risk factors such as water temperature, stagnation, and system design, and implementing appropriate control measures.
Control Measures and Water Hygiene Understanding the importance of maintaining correct water temperatures, avoiding stagnation, flushing infrequently used outlets, descaling and disinfecting fittings, cleaning and maintaining tanks, cooling towers, and calorifiers, and keeping water systems in a safe and hygienic condition.
Monitoring, Testing and Record Keeping Awareness of the importance of routine monitoring, temperature checks, water sampling, maintaining accurate logbooks and records, and reviewing control measures to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness.
Hazard Awareness in the Workplace Recognising common Legionella-related hazards, including infrequently used outlets, showers and spray taps, cooling towers, hot and cold water storage systems, spa pools, and other water systems capable of creating a fine spray or aerosol.
Incident and Emergency Awareness Understanding the importance of reporting suspected contamination, system defects, unusual test results, and suspected cases of illness, and following company procedures in the event of a positive Legionella result or suspected outbreak.
Communication and Reporting Promoting effective communication between employees, supervisors, managers, facilities personnel, and the appointed responsible person to ensure water system risks are identified, reported, reviewed, and controlled.
Who Should Attend?
- Employees who carry out water system checks, monitoring, or maintenance as part of their work duties.
- Managers, supervisors, and team leaders responsible for staff managing water hygiene.
- Facilities teams, maintenance staff, responsible persons, and others involved in managing Legionella control activities.
- Anyone working in an environment where water systems, Legionella risk assessment, or control responsibilities need to be effectively managed.
Course Benefits
Compliance: Supports awareness of workplace health and safety duties, HSA Code of Practice requirements, safe systems of work, water hygiene standards, and company Legionella control procedures.
Safety and Risk Reduction: Improves understanding of how effective control measures, monitoring, and record keeping can help reduce the risk of Legionella growth and exposure.
Practical Awareness: Provides participants with practical knowledge of Legionella hazards, water system responsibilities, monitoring and testing procedures, incident reporting, and escalation of safety concerns.
Certification
Participants receive a Certificate of Training upon successful completion of the Legionella Awareness & Control Training course.
