About The Code

A RECOMMENDED CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

Background and history

Legislative requirements for the control of legionellosis put the responsibility for compliance clearly with the owner/operator of water systems. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations as regards risks from legionellosis, all owner and operators of such systems have a responsibility to ensure that the risk is controlled and kept to an acceptable level. The HSC's Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (L8) stresses that whilst the tasks required to be undertaken to control the risk may be contracted to an external specialist, the owner/operator must take all reasonable care to ensure the competence of the service provider to carry out the work on his behalf.

The two major organisations in the water management industry - The British Association for Chemical Specialities (BACS) and the Water Management Society (WMS) in full consultation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have formulated and launched a Recommended Code of Conduct for Service Providers. The Code of Conduct Association (CCA) was created in 1999, and in 2005 the name was changed to the Legionella Control Association (LCA); it is now completely independent both financially and in terms of management from its founding organisations.

Reference to the Code can be found in the document "Legionnaires' disease - The control of legionella bacteria in water systems - Approved Code of Practice and Guidance L8 " released by the HSE in January 2001.

The Code of Conduct represents a major initiative covering a wide spectrum of services and disciplines designed to assist the industry in its constant aim to improve standards and enhance public perception with respect to the minimisation of legionellosis. A Service Provider is any organisation, individual or sub-contractor who provides services associated with the control of legionellosis in industrial or commercial premises.

All companies registering under the Code of Conduct indicate their willingness to abide by the conditions of compliance and submit and acceptable Statement of Compliance showing the procedures in place to meet the commitments detailed in the registration document. These cover: allocation of responsibilities; training and competence of personnel; control measures; communication and management; record keeping and reviews. A Certificate of Registration is issued annually, all current certificates show an expiry date. Registered companies are expected to offer a copy of this certificate to all clients along with a Code of Conduct.

More than 50,000 of these Codes of Conduct have now been circulated to service provider companies and their clients.

Registration is renewed annually, and registered companies are monitored on a regular basis to confirm and their compliance with the Code.

This Code of Conduct is intended to give guidance alone, on the standard of service that a Client should expect from those Service Providers who agree to abide by the Code. The responsibility for the prevention and control of legionellosis lies with the Client and the Service Provider.

The guidelines outlined in this document have been designed to help owner/operators select a competent service provider by highlighting critical areas and detailing the commitment that the owner/operator should expect from prospective service providers when making the competence assessment.

In the event that the client believes that a service provider has not complied with the Code of Conduct, he may write, with full details, to: Legionella Control Association, Office 6, Sir Robert Peel Mill Building, Tolson's Enterprise Park, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffs, B78 3QD