Legionella Awareness Training Course – Hot & Cold Water Systems

Legionella awareness training course in session.

LCA 9000 is an entry-level City & Guilds accredited one day Legionella awareness training course designed specifically for people who require an introduction to Legionnaires’ disease, the control of Legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems, and the safety regulations that surround this process.

The course focuses on compliance with UK health and safety law and current guidance including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Health and Safety Executive ACOP L8 and HSG274, Department of Health guidance HTM04-01 and the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Ofsted.

It is run at convenient city centre locations throughout the UK including London, Manchester and Glasgow. It is also available live online using MS TEAMS, and can also be delivered exclusively for you and your teams at your premises.

What is Legionella awareness training?

Legionella awareness training is specialist technical training designed to educate people about Legionella bacteria and how to prevent Legionnaires’ disease, ensuring compliance with UK health and safety laws (e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, ACOP L8). This entry-level training is essential for anyone responsible for the safety of water systems in buildings, particularly landlords and business owners, those involved in facilities management, and health and safety professionals.

Overview of our Legionella awareness training

Our technical and management focussed Legionella courses help organisations and their staff meet the training and compliance requirements set by the UK’s safety regulators including the Health and Safety Executive, Department of Health, Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Ofsted.

This City & Guilds accredited one day awareness course also qualifies for 7 hours CPD in all associated subjects and this is recorded on the Certificate of Attainment issued following successful completion of the course.

LCA 9000, our most popular awareness course has been designed specifically for people with responsibility for the control of Legionella in the workplace including landlords, business owners and directors, health and safety specialists, property and facilities managers and maintenance technicians.

Why do you need Legionella training?

You might be surprised to learn that in the UK Legionella training is not a legal requirement, however you should read on as it’s not that simple.

The UK’s primary safety regulators expect people with responsibility for the management of health and safety in the workplace to be properly trained to a level that allows them to perform their duties safely and effectively.

This means that if you have ANY responsibility for the control of Legionella at work you MUST be competent to do your job… and this may require further, job specific training.

Who is this Legionella awareness course for?

Our ACOP L8 focussed Legionella awareness training course is ideal for candidates who require an introduction to Legionnaires’ disease and matters concerning the control of Legionella bacteria in hot and cold water services and other risk systems. The technical compliance aspects of the course follow the requirements and guidance provided in the Health and Safety Executive ACOP L8, and health and safety guidance HSG274 Parts 2 and 3.

If you require awareness training involving the management and control of Legionella in evaporative cooling systems, including cooling towers you should consider our specialist course LCA 9001.

Typical candidates taking this Legionella awareness training will be landlords and business owners, health and safety managers, property and facilities managers, maintenance and engineering contractors, and those with responsibility for the safe storage of water and safe operation of such water systems.

Is this awareness course suitable for the Legionella responsible person or duty holder?

This Legionella awareness course on its own is not sufficient for candidates who have been appointed as the responsible person or statutory duty holder. Both the responsible person and duty holder roles require a more in-depth understanding and appreciation of the management and control of Legionella and the regulatory requirements set out in law…  you should refer to our advanced courses LCA 9010 and LCA 9011, developed specifically of people taking on these important roles.

• Responsible person – hot and cold water
• Responsible person – evaporative cooling systems

What will you learn about the control of Legionella?

This Legionella awareness course will give candidates an overview of the current regulatory framework including the HSE ACOP L8 and HSG274 guidance, and those steps required to achieve compliance with the law.

The course will also help candidates identify the risks presented by Legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems and other risk systems (excluding cooling systems – refer to LCA 9001).

Additionally, candidates will develop an understanding of how to assess and manage those risks in accordance with the HSE ACOP L8, and the health and safety guidance documents HSG274 Parts 2 and 3.

Are there course pre-qualification requirements?

None, although prior knowledge of health and safety management, engineered water systems and issues dealing with the control of Legionella risks would be of benefit.

What we cover in our Legionella awareness course

• Introduction.
• Knowledge of the origins of Legionnaires’ disease, Legionella bacteria and the multiplication factors which allow it to proliferate in engineered water systems.
• Identification of the main conditions that are required for Legionella associated infection to take place and how this understanding may be used to manage and control risk more effectively.
• Awareness of current legal requirements, approved codes of practice and best practice guidance including Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, COSHH Regulations 2002, HSE ACOP L8 and HSG274 Parts 2 and 3.
• Basic design of water systems and their components.
• An overview of “other” risk systems.
• Implementation of a Legionella written scheme of control with suitable monitoring programmes and records as identified in the Health & Safety Executive technical guidance documents HSG274 Parts 2 and 3 dealing with the control of Legionella bacteria in both “hot and cold water systems” and “other risk systems“.
• Understanding the written scheme of control for Legionella.
• General awareness of the risk assessment processes as defined in BS 8580-1 for hot and cold water systems.
• Examination – assessment and end test of competence.
• Discussion and feedback.

Who delivers our Legionella courses?

All our Legionella training courses are delivered by fully qualified professionals with expertise in water safety, Legionella risk management, and UK health and safety law. Our expert trainers have extensive practical experience in the control of Legionella with backgrounds in risk assessment, water hygiene, water treatment, facilities management, and health and safety.

Training certification

On successful completion of this course candidates can receive a City & Guilds “Certificate of Attainment” for this Legionella awareness training course. Additionally, this includes formal recognition of 7 hours of CPD in associated subjects and this is included on the certificate.

This certificate should be retained as evidence of formal training in this subject.

Course duration

This course will last one day.

Course dates and venues for 2026

Our main training centres are located in London, Manchester and Glasgow, with additional venues in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Newcastle.

This course can also be delivered live online using MS TEAMS, and can also be delivered exclusively for you and your teams at your premises.

How long is this training valid for?

While there is no legal requirement for renewal, our recommendation is that retraining is completed every two years or whenever there are significant changes to the water systems under your control, or the regulations in place.

World-leading Legionella awareness training

We offer a full range of water safety and Legionella training solutions to support landlords, businesses and those responsible for the safety of engineered water systems in the workplace.

Our experienced experts help organisations and their staff meet the training and compliance requirements set by the UK’s safety regulators, the Health and Safety Executive and Care Quality Commission.

With offices in Manchester, London and Glasgow, supported by in-field consultants and technicians we offer world-class safety training and environmental risk management solutions to businesses throughout the UK and internationally.

To speak with one of our Legionella training specialists call us today on 0330 223 36 86 or contact us here …