HSE ACOP L8 Download Guidelines Controlling Legionella Water Systems

The Health & Safety Executives Approved Code of Practice ACOP L8 – “Legionnaires’ disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems” provides guidelines for those with responsibility for the control of legionella in water systems. This includes dutyholders, employers, those in control of premises including landlords, employers and those with health and safety responsibilities for others. If that describes you, or if you are involved with the control of legionella at your place of work then get up to speed by downloading your complimentary copy of the HSE’s ACOP L8 now – simply use the download button below.

What does the ACOP L8 cover?

The ACOP is written to help those with responsibility for the management of risks comply with their legal duties to control legionella in the workplace.

These duties include identifying and assessing sources of risk, preparing a programme to prevent or control those risks; implementing, managing and monitoring the precautions, keeping records of those precautions and appointing a competent manager (the responsible person) to be responsible for others.

The primary focus of ACOP L8 covers the following important areas:

Legionella risk assessment
The role of the appointed competent person, known as the “responsible person”
The control scheme for legionella risks
Reviewing control measures and record keeping
The duties and responsibilities of those involved in the supply of water systems

Is the HSE’s guidance compulsory?

The ACOP L8 gives practical advice and guidance on how to comply with UK health and safety law.

While the guidance provided is not compulsory (unless stated otherwise) you are free to take other action.

However, if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law.

If you follow the HSEs guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law.

L8 has a special legal status

It’s important to understand that the HSE’s ACOP L8 has a special legal status which means that if you’re prosecuted for a breach of health and safety law, and it’s shown that you didn’t follow the ACOP, you’ll need to prove that you have complied with the law in some other way, or you could be in trouble.

Remember that health and safety inspectors may use this ACOP to assess your compliance with the law.

UK health and safety law

The Approved Code of Practice L8 gives advice on the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) and applies to the risks from exposure to legionella bacteria in the workplace.

It also provides guidelines covering compliance with the relevant parts of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Download ACOP L8

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