Recommissioning Hot and Cold Water Systems in SMEs
Legionella Assessment Post COVID-19 Lockdown

Risk Assessment Review Checklist for Businesses

As an employer, or a person in control of the premises, you are responsible for health and safety and need to take the right precautions to reduce the risks of exposure to Legionella (Reference: https://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/what-you-must-do.htm).  During lockdown premises and businesses may well have been closed for weeks or months and water systems have been unused or little used during that time: this will have allowed bacteria, including Legionella bacteria, to proliferate in the system.  As part of your recommissioning  programme you will need to consider the risk of Legionella in your water system.  
This is an example template risk assessment to assist for recommissioning a hot and cold water system in a small or medium-sized business, such as a hair salon or local retail outlet.  It does not include complex water systems such as spa pools, cooling towers and recirculating air conditioning systems.  Every premises will be different so it is important to understand your system and ensure the risk assessment covers all aspects of the water system in your premises.
Where significant/urgent issues are identified, these must be addressed before re-opening.  It is likely you will need the services of a suitably qualified plumber or water contractor.
Further guidance: https://www.cieh.org/media/4208/legionella-guidance-covid-19.pdf

Risk Assessment carried out by : ………………………………………………………………………………….

                                                date: ………………………………………
	
Item to check	Yes	No	Comment/Action	
1.	Assessment of the ability of premises personnel to control risk	
Is there a person or persons appointed for Legionella control?  Who is the responsible person?
State names and positions

				
Is this person(s) trained in the control of Legionella in hot and cold water systems and able to demonstrate they understand the system, risk factors and control measures required to ensure the water system is safe after lockdown?				
Can the water system be assured safe without the help and advice of a suitable external company or contractor?				
If required, is the external company sourced for help and advice competent and able to demonstrate they understand the risk factors associated with hot and cold water systems during lockdown?				
2.	Assessment of the current surveillance and monitoring practices and associated documents	
Is there a current (pre COVID-19) risk assessment or water safety plan for the water system(s)?				
Does the current risk assessment: 
•	Include an up-to-date schematic diagram?
•	List all the components of the water system (number and type of outlets, water heater, storage tanks, pressure vessels, temperature gauges, TMVs, etc.)?
•	Include a maintenance schedule for all elements of the system?				
Has this programme of maintenance been followed throughout lockdown?				
Is the programme of maintenance suitable and sufficient to manage the risk from Legionella throughout lockdown?				
Are there records of the critical monitoring activities throughout the lockdown period: flushing; temperature records; biocide levels (if used)?				
Have appropriate actions been taken where target ranges have not been met for the above records?				
Have the actions taken above been reviewed by the responsible person?				
3.	Assessment of water supply	
Is the water supply from mains supply?
				
If the water is not from mains supply, is suitable treatment in place to ensure supply meets potable water quality?				
Is there pipework with intermittent or no water flow (dead-legs or blind ends) in any part of the system? 
Include redundant or little used showers, wash hand basins, etc. that are not used at least weekly.				
Is there any visible sediment, biofilm/slime, dirt, corrosion or scale evident in any part of the system?				
4.	Assessment of components of the hot and cold water system	
Is pipework lagged appropriately to limit loss of heat from hot pipes and heat gain by cold pipes?				
If there is a cold water storage tank, has this been inspected and found to be in sound condition with an appropriate covering?				
If there is a cold water storage tank and where the system not been flushed on a weekly basis so that the tank water has been fully replaced with fresh water, has the tank been cleaned and disinfected?				
Has the hot water heater (calorifier) been serviced in the last 12 months?				
Has the hot water heater (calorifier) been on and at a temperature of at least 60oC throughout lockdown and is there evidence of this (records)?
If the calorifier has been switched off, cleaning and disinfections will be required.				
If there is stored hot water (tanks/holding vessels or expansion vessels), have these storage vessels been inspected? Where stored water has not been exposed to hot water of at least 60oC throughout lockdown, have the tanks/vessels been cleaned and disinfected?				
If there is a water softening plant. Has this been maintained according to the frequency defined in the maintenance schedule and disinfected if required?				
If thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) are present, have these been cleaned, descaled and disinfected according to the frequency defined in the maintenance schedule?				
Have all showerheads, flexible hoses, tap filters, aerators, etc. been cleaned, descaled and disinfected?				
Have any other complex features of the water system been cleaned and disinfected as per the manufacturer’s instructions, for example, spa baths?				
5.	Assessment of the control measures used during lockdown (flushing and water temperatures)	
Is there evidence that all taps, showers and any other points of water use in all parts of the building(s) are flushed weekly for 2 minutes or longer: for sufficient time to remove any stagnant water in the system?				
Is there evidence (temperature records) that the hot water through the entire hot water system is between 50 and 60oC and has been so throughout lock down?				
Is there evidence (temperature records) that the cold water through the entire cold water system is below 20oC and has been so throughout lock down?				
If any other water treatment systems are in place (other than temperature), have they been maintained throughout lockdown?				
6.	Equipment associated with the hot and cold water system	
Have any hoses and jet washers been drained, cleaned and disinfected (or replaced)?				
Have wet floor cleaners been drained, cleaned and disinfected (or replaced)?				
Have any foot/wellington washers been cleaned and disinfected?				
Have any spray bottles been drained (including the nozzle), cleaned and disinfected (or replaced)?				
Have any humidifiers been drained, cleaned and disinfected?				
Have any misting systems been drained, cleaned and disinfected?				
Are there any indoor or outdoor water features and have these been considered with regard to Legionella control?				
Action List: list actions below and grade risk. If unsure of the level of risk, seek advice from a suitably qualified contractor or your local authority.
	
Risk rating:           RED – high risk/immediate;  
                               AMBER – medium risk/medium term; 
                               GREEN – low risk/long term	
Actions required
	Risk rating	Comment when complete	

			

Actions required
	Risk rating	Comment when complete