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Training for the control of Legionnaires' Disease

Over 12 courses can be selected, the most popular are in the LINKS adjacent. Training at your venue can be arranged, even 1 to 1. Training is now so popular we use local venues such as the Teignbridge Business Centre and the Race Course at Newton Abbot and we can bring it to your venue.

Training

One of the four most important aspects of Legionella Control.

In the ACoP L8, the document is split into two parts, Part 1 being the Regulations and Part 2 the guidance. One must not lose, sight of the facts that on several occasions the information in Part 2 has been used to demonstrate non compliance in courts of law and becomes as important as the regulations, however, Part 1 concentrates on four aspects very important to Legionella Control, those being:

We all realise that a good risk assessment will be the foundation of ultimate control which must include the control scheme and schematics, but without background knowledge, this becomes useless to most who read it. It is for that reason and to understand what we have to do in the control of Legionella that training is so important.

For many years I have found, without fail, that if individuals are trained in the correct way, cooperation in carrying out control measures are enhanced by over 90%, thus achieving good control. This means as shown in the ACoP L8 (see at the foot of this page), all those involved in Legionella Control (from the Flushing Person right up to the Responsible Person) MUST be trained. I have found myself training Health and Safety Inspectors, Environmental Health Inspectors, Registration Officers and even my own Doctor! It must never be taken for granted that we all know all of the subject of Legionella especially those in higher authority. I myself continue on a daily basis to learn more as time does not stand still and our thirst for more knowledge is relentless. This is why we should all continually feed from each other, attending seminars and partake in refresher training which is so important.

Many times I have taken training for companies and councils and found that the responsible person has volunteered others into their place on the course and as a result have had to rely on that person to return to their place of work to inform them of what there duties are and what to do which never works well. Bad communication and lack of training have been highlighted in reports of every outbreak of Legionella.

Quality of training is also very important and death by power point comes to mind. HSE frown upon certificates of training that state “Attended Course” which means they could have been asleep on the day or worse turned up at 3pm and signed the attendance sheet!

What makes a good trainer and a good training course?

Well the following is incredibly important to ensure maximum knowledge is retained and understood:

  1. The tutor is experienced in the subject, has good communication skills and is able to connect with the pupils
  2. The learning process is presented in a way that brings the subject to life and that can be related in the pupils own day to day activities
  3. That the learning experience is not only fun but interesting
  4. To experience a graded assessment/exam to enhance the achievements recorded on a graded certificate. This is what gives weight to the proof of knowledge attained

Ask yourself this -

  1. How can I be responsible if I don\'t know what I am responsible for?
  2. How can I do the correct monitoring and maintenance if I do not have the knowledge to perform in a manner to control legionella and report defects?
  3. How efficient will I be in flushing and able to identify when, where and why to flush?

The answer is simple, TRAINING.

Another few points that are very important -

  1. Is the training adequate for the task required?
  2. Is it accredited, supported with evidence of retained knowledge?

It is important to me that every pupil goes way with a clear understanding of Legionella relative to their requirements, from those who carry out simple flushing to those responsible for multi complex buildings in the health sector. Having trained thousand of pupils since 2000, many have returned for training on several occasions. Come and join with me to make this place we live in a safer place to live. Experience my passion for the subject and a great course to experience. Once a pupil always a pupil.

The following is the legal element of why you should be trained. Excerpts taken from ACoP L8, the absolute book of Legionella

This Approved Code of Practice gives practical advice on the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc Act 1974 (HSWA)  and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH) concerning the risk from exposure to legionella bacteria.  In particular it gives guidance on sections 2,3,4 and 6 (as amended by the Consumer Protection Act 1987) of HSWA and regulations 6,7,8,9 and 12 of COSHH. The Code also gives guidance on compliance with the relevant parts of the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 (MHSWR).

Managing the risk: management responsibilities, training and competence

Control of Substances Hazardous to health Regulations 1999, Regulations 8 and 12

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Sections 2,3 and 4

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 5

 Para 40 Persons who carry out the assessment and who draw up and implement precautionary measures should have such ability, experience, instruction, information, training and resources to enable them to carry out their tasks competently and safely. 

Para43 Inadequate management, lack of training and poor communication have all been identified as contributory factors in outbreaks of Legionnaires\' disease.  It is therefore important that those people involved in assessing risk and applying precautions are competent, trained and aware of their responsibilities.

Para 44 The duty holder (see paragraph 23) should appoint a person to take day-to-day responsibility for controlling any identified risk from legionella bacteria.  The appointed ‘responsible person\' should be a manager, director, or have similar status and sufficient authority, competence and knowledge of the installation to ensure that all operational procedures are carried out in a timely and effective manner. 

Para 45 Those who are appointed to carry out the control measures and strategies should be suitably informed, instructed and trained and their suitability assessed.  They should be properly trained to a standard which ensures that tasks are carried out in a safe, technically competent manner.  Regular refresher training should be given and records of all initial and refresher training need to be maintained.

This is why I ensure that all courses have a suitable assessment paper on completion of the course to comply with L8 Page 9 paragraph 45.

Competence is also defined as having experience, knowledge, ability and other qualities needed to undertake legionella control but the most important part of that is TRAINING.

Please see links in this section at the top right hand side of the page for courses that are available with exam papers and supported CPD units included on the certificates. Bespoke courses are available, please contact me for more information.