Legionella Written Scheme of Control
Turn your Legionella Risk Assessment findings into a clear, practical plan for managing water safety. Irrigonics prepares site-specific Written Schemes of Control that set out the measures, responsibilities and monitoring arrangements needed to manage identified risks.
Do you need a Legionella Written Scheme of Control?
A Legionella Risk Assessment identifies potential hazards and evaluates the risks associated with your water systems. Where the assessment identifies a reasonably foreseeable risk requiring control, the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L8 (ACOP L8) calls for a suitable written scheme to be prepared and implemented.
Your written scheme should reflect the water systems, operating conditions and risks at your premises. It provides a structured approach to managing Legionella risks and helps ensure that everyone involved understands the actions they need to take.
A risk assessment identifies the risks. A written scheme explains how to control them.
Completing a Legionella Risk Assessment is an important first step, but identifying risks alone does not control them.
A Written Scheme of Control translates the assessment findings into practical instructions. It explains what needs to be monitored, how frequently checks should take place, who is responsible and what corrective action is required when results fall outside acceptable limits.
A written scheme is not simply a document to keep on file. The control measures it specifies need to be implemented, recorded and reviewed to remain effective.
What should a Written Scheme of Control include?
The content will depend on your premises and water systems. In accordance with ACOP L8 and relevant HSG274 guidance, a suitable scheme should address the following areas where applicable.
Your water systems
A description or schematic of the relevant water systems, including their layout and key components.
People and responsibilities
Clearly defined responsibilities for managing, implementing and checking the control measures.
Control and monitoring
The control measures, monitoring methods, frequencies and acceptable operating limits relevant to your systems.
Corrective actions
Instructions for responding when monitoring identifies a problem or a control measure is not working effectively.
Records and reviews
Requirements for recording monitoring results, maintenance, corrective actions and reviews of the scheme.
Already had your Legionella Risk Assessment completed by Irrigonics?
Your risk assessment is the starting point. If you now require a Written Scheme of Control, we can help you take the next step.
Preferential pricing is available to customers who have completed their Legionella Risk Assessment with Irrigonics. Contact our team for a quotation tailored to your premises.
How Irrigonics can help
Prepare your scheme
Using your Legionella Risk Assessment findings and information about your water systems, we can prepare a site-specific Written Scheme of Control.
Review and update
Water systems and building use can change. We can support the review and updating of your scheme so it remains relevant to your premises.
Help implement controls
Our water hygiene team can support routine monitoring, sampling, maintenance and remedial actions identified within your scheme.
Our process
01
Review your Legionella Risk Assessment and discuss your premises and requirements.
02
Provide a quotation for preparing your Written Scheme of Control.
03
Prepare your site-specific scheme for review and approval.
04
Discuss implementation, ongoing monitoring and review support as required.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Written Scheme of Control the same as a Legionella Risk Assessment?
No. A Legionella Risk Assessment identifies and evaluates risks associated with your water systems. A Written Scheme of Control sets out how identified risks will be managed through control measures, monitoring, responsibilities and record keeping.
Does every premises need a written scheme?
Not necessarily. The requirement depends on the findings of the Legionella Risk Assessment. Where a reasonably foreseeable risk requires control, a suitable written scheme should be prepared and implemented.
Who is responsible for implementing the scheme?
The duty holder remains responsible for ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place to manage Legionella risks. Tasks can be allocated to competent people or specialist contractors, but responsibilities and oversight should remain clearly defined.
How often should a written scheme be reviewed?
The scheme should be kept up to date and reviewed when necessary, including following relevant changes to water systems, building use, operating conditions or risk assessment findings. Monitoring results may also identify a need for review.
Can Irrigonics help with the monitoring identified in the scheme?
Yes. Alongside preparing Written Schemes of Control, Irrigonics provides water hygiene monitoring, sampling and testing, and remedial services to support the management of your water systems.
Make sure your team understands its responsibilities
An effective Written Scheme of Control depends on the people responsible for putting it into practice. Irrigonics risk assessment customers can request 50% off our online Legionella Awareness and Duty Holder / Responsible Person courses.
Request a Written Scheme of Control Quotation
Whether you’ve recently completed a Legionella Risk Assessment or need to review an existing scheme, our team can discuss your requirements.
Every scheme is tailored to the premises and water systems. Preferential pricing is available to customers who have completed their Legionella Risk Assessment with Irrigonics.
Questions? Talk to our team
Call 0333 038 6286 or email admin@irrigonics.co.uk.