LEGIONELLA - World Health Organization

Regulations should describe responses when specified requirements are not complied with.
Where testing is prescribed, regulations should identify targets and responses to detection. In
addition to any immediate remedial action that is deemed necessary, detection of Legionella
should always lead to a review of risk management procedures. However, failure to detect
Legionella should not lead to any relaxation in the application of these procedures.
Written procedures for decontamination of devices should be available at the time of commissioning
a system, to deal with an outbreak of illness or with other conditions that constitute a substantial
risk to public health.
10.4.4 Documentation of management plans and record keeping
All management plans and procedures need to be documented, including those to be followed
during normal operation and during incidents and emergencies. The scope and nature of records
and documentation should be identified, as should minimum retention times. Requirements
for documentation and record keeping should be considered in drafting regulations. Records
that could be required include:
• details of building assessments
• plans of water systems
• details of system assessments
• monitoring plans
• results of monitoring, verification, inspections, investigations and any associated remedial action
• the identities of contacts, including managers and/or operators
• results of audits.
10.4.5 Surveillance and audit
Mechanisms for ensuring that appropriate risk management strategies have been implemented
should be considered. Similarly, procedures for independent verification and auditing should
be considered; these may take the form of regular or random inspections of facilities, devices,
documentation and records, and may include testing.
Surveillance agencies should have the authority to enter premises, undertake inspections,
review WSPs and results of sampling, and require specific remedial action. Surveillance agencies
can include government departments of health, environmental health departments of local
government, or agencies with responsibilities for occupational health and safety.
LEGIONELLA AND THE PREVENTION OF LEGIONELLOSIS