Landlords have a legal duty to assess and control the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria in water systems under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and COSHH Regulations 2002.
HSE guidance (ACOP L8 and HSG274) provides detailed requirements. A legionella risk assessment should consider: water system layout, potential contamination sources, people at risk, and existing controls.
Key risk factors include: water stored between 20°C and 45°C, stagnant water, scale and sediment, and nutrients supporting bacterial growth.
Control measures include: maintaining hot water at 60°C+, cold water below 20°C, flushing low-use outlets, cleaning water tanks, and regular temperature monitoring.
Custodia automates legionella compliance with risk assessment tracking, temperature monitoring schedules, flushing regime management, and comprehensive record-keeping.