HSG274 Part 2 – Legionella in Hot & Cold Water Systems, New HSE Rules Out Soon

HSG274 Part 2, legionella in hot and cold water systems The UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have recently updated the safety rules dealing with the control of legionella risks with an extensive overhaul of their Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8, together with a brand new guidance document covering the management of Legionnaires’ disease and the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems.

The formal system of legionella control now includes the updated ACOP L8 and a new, comprehensive guidance document, HSG274 which is split into three parts:

Part 1 – Part 1 – cooling water systems.
Part 2 – hot and cold water systems (to be updated 2014).
Part 3 – other risk systems.

HSG274 Parts 1 and 3 were published in late 2013, however Part 2 (Hot & Cold Water) is currently under review and will be published by the HSE shortly.

Hot and cold water systems, covered by HSG274 Part 2, are by far the most common form of water system presenting a legionella risk and so these forthcoming changes are likely to affect you, your staff and your organisation. It is therefore very important that you understand the changes and adjust your legionella risk management systems to remain fully compliant with the law.

Key Proposals in HSG274 Part 2

Our legionella experts have conducted a detailed review the HSE’s draft HSG274 Part 2 (Hot & Cold Water) and some key proposals are summarised here:

1. The guidance has been increased from 16 to 60 pages resulting in more clarity of requirements. Our detailed review has identified a clear approach to the required organisational compliance measures necessary.

2. Greater guidance on the approach required for shared premises. Roles, responsibilities and lines of communication need to be crystal clear to ensure nothing is missed.

3. Greater guidance on the approach to domestic rental property. Important for residential landlords, local authorities, housing associations and those with significant residential property holdings.

4. Increased focus and expansion of routine monitoring.

5. Provides improved clarification on “point of use” water heaters.

6. Increased information on water system design including the use of “solar systems” and accumulators. With increased adoption of such “green” technologies a clear approach to risk management is required.

7. Guidance on when a cold water storage tank needs cleaning.

8. Change in the guidance on actions required when legionella levels <100 cfu/ml detected in premises with vulnerable persons present. A clear understanding of actions to be employed is required.

9. Greater clarity on the use of thermostatic mixing valves.

10. More…

These are currently only draft proposals, once the full document is formally published by the HSE we will update our summary and email it to you. A more detailed precis will also be available from us.

Breakfast Briefings

To help health and safety managers, business owners and those responsible for the management of risk systems understand the changes and ensure their legionella risk management systems and procedures remain compliant with the law, Legionella Control International will be presenting a second series of concise breakfast briefings at a number of central locations…

Belfast
Birmingham
Bristol
Cardiff
Dublin
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Leeds
London
Manchester
Newcastle
Plymouth

We will announce dates and venues once HSG274 Part 2 has been formally published by the HSE which we anticipate will be sometime in April 2014.

Our breakfast briefings will cover the important changes to the HSE’s ACOP L8 and HSG274 Part 2 (Hot & Cold Water), what they mean for those responsible and what needs to be done to remain compliant with the law

To register your interest in our latest “Legionella Update Breakfast Briefings” please call us today on 0330 223 36 86 or get in touch here … contact us