Who we are.
Black Sheep Compliance specialise in innovative and practical Legionella compliance via innovative and cost effective Legionella management solutions. As a result, our customers are subjected to a friendly experience safe in the knowledge their legal duties are achieved and more importantly managed.
15 Years' Experience...
With 15 years’ experience, our aim is to implement and maintain simple Compliance Management Systems for your business to ensure that you retain your legal stature.
We develop all required processes, procedures, forms, records and work with you to produce the required evidence in line with the Health and Safety Executives Guidance.
Black Sheep Compliance are UKAS ISO 9001:2015 approved for the provision of Legionella Compliance Services including, risk assessment, management systems, awareness training, compliance audits and water sampling through the BSI; certificate number FS 681374.How Can Black Sheep Compliance Help?
Black Sheep Compliance was founded with the purpose of providing innovative and practical Legionella compliance services and guidance in line with the HSE guidelines. Ensuring employers comply with the HSAWA 1974 and COSHH 2015, and minimise the risks generated from the bacteria in the workplace.
Black Sheep Compliance specialise in helping employers and duty holders control these risks by:
- Identifying the risks associated with Legionella bacteria via a risk assessment
- Providing guidance and advice on the findings of the risk assessment
- Help control the irremovable risks in the form of Legionella management systems
- Provide Legionella awareness training to achieve competency
- Assisting the employer in ensuring their Legionella Management System remains compliant
What is Legionnaires’ disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression, smoking, etc. It is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria. Legionella bacteria can also cause less serious illnesses which are not fatal or permanently debilitating. The collective term used to cover the group of diseases caused by Legionella bacteria is Legionellosis.
On average there are approximately 300-500 reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease each year in the United Kingdom (UK). It is thought, however, that the total number of cases of the disease may be generally underestimated. About half of cases are associated with travel abroad. Infections which originate in the UK are often sporadic, for which no source of infection is traced. However, clusters of cases also occur and outbreaks have been associated with cooling tower systems and hot and cold water systems in factories, hotels, hospitals and other establishments.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) provides a framework of actions designed to control the risk from a range of hazardous substances including biological agents.
The Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L8: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems sets out further requirements for dealing with this risk.
To comply with their legal duties, employers and those with responsibilities for the control of premises should:
- Identify and assess sources of risk - this includes checking whether conditions are present which will encourage bacteria to multiply, e.g. is the water temperature between 20-45°C; there is a means of creating and disseminating breathable droplets, e.g. the aerosol created by a shower or cooling tower; and if there are susceptible people who may be exposed to the contaminated aerosols.
- Prepare a scheme for preventing or controlling the risk.
- Implement, manage and monitor precautions - if control measures are to remain effective, then regular monitoring of the systems and the control measures is essential. Monitoring of general bacterial numbers can indicate whether microbiological control is being achieved. Sampling for legionella is another means of checking that a system is under control.
- Keep records of the precautions.
- Appoint a person to be managerially responsible.
Further information can be found on the HSE website alternatively please do not hesitate in contacting a member of our team.
