Legionella Awareness Training

This online Legionella Awareness training course provides those who maintain water management systems/are responsible for protecting employees against a potential Legionella outbreak in the workplace with the appropriate information and training. 

As a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by the inhalation of Legionella bacteria, Legionnaire’s disease is prevalent to all when Legionella risk is not sufficiently managed and controlled, particularly those with such health conditions as diabetes, lung/heart/chronic respiratory and kidney diseases and impaired immune systems. Commonly found in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, Legionella bacteria can also be found in purpose-built, manmade water systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems and spa pools.

Accordingly, those who are responsible for maintaining water systems within their organisation must be aware of the risks posed by Legionella and the associated symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease, using this knowledge to ensure that the systems are safe to use, regularly maintained and free from harmful bacteria.

Legionella Awareness Training – key points

• Suitability: Employees who carry out water management tasks/monitor an organisation’s water management system, as well as duty holders in charge of the premises
• Experience: Delegates should have experience in managing, controlling or monitoring Legionella risk via exposure
• Duration: 40 minutes
• Number of modules: Five
• Assessment: Final online test
• Teaching method: Online

Legionella Awareness Training – aims/objectives

As they progress through the Legionella Awareness training course, delegates will be equipped with the confidence to recognise the presence of Legionella bacteria in their water systems, as well as any associated health symptoms from Legionnaire’s disease. The e-learning course aims to cover the following objectives:

• What is Legionella?
• What is Legionnaire’s disease? How can you get Legionnaire’s disease?
• What are the locations and conditions that encourage Legionella bacteria growth? How long does Legionella take to develop?
• What is the reasoning for some of the actions I have been asked to carry out as part of maintaining an organisation’s water system?
• When do I seek advice and medical help?

Legionella Awareness Training – course structure

As well as a general overview as to what Legionella and Legionnaire’s disease actually is and how it was first discovered, the Legionella Awareness training course identifies the various conditions that encourage the growth of Legionella bacteria, as well as where it can be found. Written in line with ACOP L8 guidance, it explains the importance of maintaining an effective water management system, as well as the role that employees play in safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of employees and the general public, including the importance of regular risk assessments to identify and manage Legionella risk and implement control measures accordingly.

Once they have completed all five modules, delegates must take a final test comprising 10 questions. By successfully passing this test, a certificate demonstrating successful completion will be available for immediate download.

Legionella Awareness Training – course outcomes

By the end of the Legionella Awareness training course, delegates will be competent in recognising where Legionella comes from and the symptoms associated with Legionnaire’s disease, while also understanding the extent of their legal responsibilities for preventing, monitoring and controlling the risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria. Delegates will have gained an understanding of the importance of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) in relation to Legionnaire’s disease, as this must be reported if an employee who works on an air conditioning or hot and cold water system that may potentially be contaminated has been diagnosed by a doctor.

Relatively, delegates will also gain an understanding that, when controlling exposure to Legionella bacteria, the duty holder can appoint competent people from within and outside their organisation to help with the identification of Legionella risk and corresponding control measures. They will understand how to carry out a suitable risk assessment, developing a heightened awareness of the control measures that can be used to reduce Legionella risk.

Legionella Awareness Training – who is it suitable for?

The Legionella Awareness training course is well suited to those who manage, control or monitor the risk of exposure to Legionnaire’s bacteria, as well as employees who are responsible for carrying out water management tasks within their organisation.

Legionella Awareness Training – course overview

Split into five modules in total, the Legionella Awareness training course covers the following, followed by a final assessment:

• Overview
• History
• Water Systems
• Hot & Cold Water
• Evaporative & Other
• Final Test

If you would like to participate in Legionella Awareness e-learning training for more than 20 people, simply fill in the form below and we will be in touch.