Water Safety Policy

1. Introduction

1.1. This policy outlines how we will meet our duty of care to manage the risk of legionella within our assets.

1.2. This policy also outlines how we will protect our employees, contractors, visitors and residents as required by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), HSW Act, sections 2,3 and 4. The latter provides the framework to suitably assess, prevent and control the risks created from legionella.

2. Policy Statement

2.1. Our Chief Executive holds the legal responsibility of the Duty Holder. However, they have nominated the Operations Business Manager – Gas & Water Safety, as the person to oversee the implementation of compliance against this policy and any associated procedures. They will minimise the risk of legionella bacteria within the domestic and commercial water systems under our management and any subsequent consequences if there is a legionella outbreak.

2.2. We will use the Health and Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice and Guidance: L8 Legionnaires Disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems, as the foundation to manage legionella within all water systems within our control.

2.3. We will ensure that a competent contractor is procured to undertake all water risk assessments as outlined in HSG274 Legionnaires Disease: Part 2 The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Hot and Cold Water Systems.

2.4. We will replace any non-approved flexi-hoses, which are very low risk, during planned refurbishment works within the housing stock, or sooner if they fail.

2.5. We will replace any expansion vessels, throughout the housing stock, when the system is upgraded or if the current expansion vessel fails. If an expansion vessel is still required, these will be replaced with a flow through potable vessel which is approved by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS), or with a method to allow flushing.

2.6. We will undertake:

Annual tank inspections to all communal water tanks.
A suitable sampling strategy to confirm if the preventative measures in place are suitable in controlling legionella.
Water Risk Assessments to our housing stock where there is stored water. Closed water systems e.g. combination heating and hot water systems will not have a water risk assessment.
Inspections every two years for blocks deemed as high risk with shared services. This includes all Independent Living Schemes, commercial properties and those deemed, from the risk assessment, as high risk.
Inspections every ten years for homes which do not have a shared system, however, still have stored water.

2.7. We will ensure that little used outlets within our control are flushed every seven days or monitored to remove the risk. Our residents will be responsible for ensuring they flush any little used outlets within their homes.

3. Monitoring

3.1. This policy and its associated procedures will be reviewed annually and authorised by the Operations Business Manager – Gas & Water Safety. The policy is counter signed by our Chief Executive.

4. Impacts

Resident/Employee Implications —

We will communicate to all residents the importance of keeping outlets clean, ensuring hoses are not left attached and that outlets should be flushed if left unused for a period of time.

We will ensure that all relevant employees are suitably trained to allow them to safely undertake their duties relating to this policy and associated procedures.

We will have a suitable set of procedures to ensure all adhere to this policy.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion —

This Policy will conform to all Equality and Diversity Legislation and requirements as set out by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Value for Money —

We will use a desktop study to determine which properties are high, medium and low risk.

Properties which have a combi boiler will be treated as low risk as there is no stored water on site.

Data Protection —

A data sharing agreement is in place between us and our independent legionella contractor to enable them to communicate with residents to book appointments.

Accountability —

We will take on responsibility for the health and safety and maintenance of all water related equipment and ensure it complies with the necessary legal requirements and standards.

Quality —

We look to ensure that our residents are safe in their own home by supporting the provision of well-maintained homes which are in line with legislative and regulatory requirements.

When things go wrong —

Residents can communicate concerns through our formal channels: via telephone, email, our website or our social media channels.