United Kingdom
Republic of Ireland

The Approved Code of Practice & Guidance: Legionnaires’ disease (L8)

L8 applies to the risk of legionellosis and was first approved in 1991 by the Health & Safety Commission under the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The ACoP&G has been revised for 2001, and although failure to comply with any provision of this Code is not in itself an offence, failure to do so may be taken by a Court in criminal proceedings as proof that a person has contravened the legal requirement to which the provision relates. However, it will be necessary for that person to satisfy a Court that they have complied with the requirement in some other way.

Due to the nature of the risk from legionellosis and the diversity of its sources, it is incumbent on the owner of a building, or employer, to assess all potential risk situations and adopt precautionary measures that will prevent or minimise the risk from exposure to legionella. These measures must be supported by a suitable management regime and adequate record keeping, which must be retained for a minimum period of five years.

To comply with their legal duties, employers and property owners are required to:

• Identify and assess all sources of risk.
• Propose a protocol for preventing or controlling the risk.
• Implement and manage precautions.
• Keep records of the precautions.
• Appoint a designated person to be managerially responsible for all of these actions.

L8 applies to any work activity and to premises associated with the workplace, or other undertaking where water is used or stored, and where there is a means of creating and transmitting aerosols (droplets) which may be inhaled and so cause a reasonably foreseeable risk of legionellosis. The Approved Code of Practice is supported by technical guidance, which identifies potential risk areas and suggests ways in which these may be controlled.

For further details always consult:

The Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.uk

The Management of Legionnaires’ Disease in Ireland

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published The Management of Legionnaires’ Disease in Ireland , which should be read with particular reference to the following documents:

• Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L8): Legionnaires’ disease (see above)
• European Guidelines for Control and Prevention of Travel associated Legionnaires’ Disease , European Working Group for Legionella Infections (www.ewgli.org)

When compared with other European countries Ireland’s notification rates are noticeably lower, particularly so in comparison with Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales who share similar ecological factors including climate, geography and water quality. This would suggest that a major degree of under diagnosis and under reporting of Legionnaires’ disease currently exists in Ireland . The objectives of these guidelines are to enhance the care of patients with suspected or diagnosed Legionnaires’ disease, improve the notification of such cases, and to safeguard the health of the general public by reducing the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria.

For further details always consult:

Health and Safety Authority www.hsa.ie
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre www.hpsc.ie
European Working Group for Legionella Infections www.ewgli.org