Legionella Training

Legionella training helps to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease by improving awareness amongst management and duty holders, ensuring that water systems are well maintained and harmful bacteria is controlled. Considered as an essential aspect of any Legionella management programme, Legionella training provides an ideal opportunity for organisations to review current management processes and identify how they can be improved. Each of the Legionella training courses SOCOTEC provides have been developed to keep employees safe, prevent the growth of Legionella in the workplace and ensure that organisations remain compliant with relevant health and safety legislation.

Suitable and sufficient training of all staff involved in Legionella management is a key requirement of the ACOP L8 regulations. Indeed, a lack of Legionella training has been outlined as a key contributory factor in outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease, as well as inadequate management and poor communication. The legislation requires organisations to provide employees with access to competent health and safety advice, while also equipping them with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and Legionella training.

According to ACOP L8, Legionella training is targeted at individuals who have a responsibility for ensuring the prevention and control of Legionella bacterial growth within the workplace. This applies to duty holders – those who are in charge of a premises, including employers, landlords and letting agents – and responsible persons. It is a legal requirement under ACOP L8 for duty holders to appoint a Legionella responsible person within their organisation. This is defined as a competent individual who takes day-to-day responsibility for controlling the risks posed by Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease in the workplace, helping to safeguard the health of employees and the general public (which includes undertaking Legionella training).


Examples of responsible persons include facilities managers, health and safety specialists or those in a position of seniority, such as a director. The responsible person should also have a sound knowledge of the building’s water systems and have sufficient authority, competence and skills to ensure that all operational and control procedures are carried out in a timely and effective manner.

It is at the organisation’s discretion as to how often a Legionella course should be carried out, as Legionella training has no formally recognised period of validity. Nevertheless, refresher training is needed when there have been changes to the building’s water system, control measures or the responsible person/s, or in the event that there have been any developments in risk management technologies. It is also recommended that Legionella training is refreshed whenever there has been an update to relevant legislation or guidance.

Upon completion of their Legionella training, delegates will have an increased understanding of the health risks associated with harmful Legionella bacteria, as well as their legal responsibilities when it comes to risk management. They will also have an enhanced awareness of the importance of Legionella risk assessments and how they can implement control measures. Delegates will receive a Legionella certificate following successful completion of their Legionella training course as proof of their newly acquired knowledge and understanding.