The ACoP L8 (Revision 4) and Technical Guidance HSG 274
On 25
th
November 2013, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published Revision 4 of
the Approved Code of Practice
“
Legionnaires’ Disease: The control
of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8)”
.
This was the first step
in an attempt to provide
updated and more detailed guidance for employers in preventing Legionnaires’
disease.
O
n the 7th
April 2014, the HSE formally published the final part of their Technical
Guidance HSG274: Part 2
The control
of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems. This was the final
part in the three part series of Technical Guidance documents on the control of
legionella within water systems.
• ACoP L8 The control of legionella bacteria in water systems
(Fourth Edition).
• HSG 274 Part 1: The control of
legionella bacteria in evaporative cooling systems.
• HSG 274 Part 2: The control of
legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems
.
• HSG 274 Part 3: The control of
legionella bacteria in other risk systems.
The
ACoP, along with supporting Technical Guidance, provides sound practical advice
to employers on how to control the risk of legionella bacteria in water
systems.
With
a high fatality rate of 10% - 15% Legionnaires’ disease remains a major concern
for the HSE, which considers it a preventable disease, and the control of
Legionella bacteria has been a priority for both the HSE and Department of
Health for many years now. Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease often gain headline
status and over the last couple of years we have seen such outbreaks in
schools, hospitals and office blocks across the country.
Employers
have previously found it difficult to distinguish between requirements that
have ACoP (Approved Code of Practice) status and information that is purely for
guidance. The latest publications see a clearer distinction between the legal
requirements and guidance, which is reflected in the introduction of the
separate Technical Guidance document (HSG 274). This separation should help to
provide better clarity for employers.
The
changes included within the revised ACoP and supporting Technical Guidance
documents may not be dramatic but there are subtle differences that Duty
Holders need to be aware of. No matter how large or small the organisation, the
HSE ACoP is a document that duty holders
must
be compliant with.
Goodwater welcomes the
introduction of the revised ACoP and new guidance and believes that the
enhanced clarity they contain will help employers to better meet their
requirements under the Approved Code of Practice.
For further information please contact Frank Butterworth (Technical Director) at Goodwater.
Source reference: HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/
Note: Goodwater is not responsible for the content of external websites.
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