As a social landlord, what responsibility do we have with regards to Legionella?

An employer or someone in control of premises, such as a landlord, has a duty to ensure that the right health and safety precautions are taken to manage and control the risks associated with Legionella, a common bacterium found in water systems.  

In short, they have a duty to identify and assess Legionella hazards; manage any risks which arise effectively by adopting appropriate measures; periodically monitor and review how well these are working, and keep appropriate records.  

These responsibilities arise from the general duties of employers that are in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA), their risk management duties as in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) and more specifically their duty to control harmful exposures as set out in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).  

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a range of guidance on how to manage the risks associated with Legionella. RoSPA advisers can help organisations to review and upgrade their policy, organisation and arrangements for tackling Legionella risks.