Legionella Responsible Person Training is designed for people who have been appointed to manage Legionella risks and water hygiene controls within a workplace, building or organisation.

This practical course goes beyond basic Legionella awareness.

It helps Responsible Persons and Duty Holders understand what needs to be done after a Legionella risk assessment, how routine control measures should be managed, what records should be kept and what action may be needed when monitoring results fall outside expected limits.

Training is delivered by Paul, a City & Guilds qualified Legionella Risk Assessor who holds the Award in Education and Training (AET).

The course is workplace-focused and can be delivered onsite, allowing the training to relate directly to the water systems, responsibilities and monitoring arrangements at your premises.

What Is Legionella Responsible Person Training?

Legionella Responsible Person training is intended for people who have responsibility for helping to control the risk from Legionella bacteria in water systems.

The Responsible Person may be required to organise or oversee routine monitoring, understand the findings of a Legionella risk assessment, ensure control measures are carried out, maintain records and recognise when further action or specialist advice is required.

The course explains these responsibilities in practical terms and helps delegates understand how the control measures identified within a Legionella risk assessment are put into practice.

If you would like more information about the role itself, see our guide to the role of the Responsible Person for Legionella control.

Not Sure Which Legionella Training You Need?

Many people are simply told by an employer, manager, auditor or risk assessor that they need “Legionella training”. They may not know whether they require basic awareness training or more detailed Responsible Person training.

If you have been appointed to manage Legionella controls, oversee monitoring, keep records, act on the findings of a Legionella risk assessment or take responsibility for a written control scheme, Legionella Responsible Person training is likely to be the more appropriate level of training.

Basic awareness training is useful for staff who need to understand what Legionella is and why control measures matter. Responsible Person training goes further by concentrating on the practical management of those control measures.

You can also view our wider range of Legionella training courses.

Who Is Legionella Responsible Person Training For?

The course is suitable for people who have been given responsibility for Legionella control within a workplace or organisation, including:

• Responsible Persons
• Deputy Responsible Persons
• Duty Holders
• Facilities Managers
• Building and Estates Managers
• Health and Safety Managers
• Caretakers and Site Managers
• Maintenance staff
• Landlords and property managers
• Managers within schools, nurseries and care settings

The training is particularly useful where an organisation has already had a Legionella risk assessment and staff now need to understand the control measures, monitoring duties and record-keeping requirements identified within it.

What Does the Legionella Responsible Person Course Cover?

The training concentrates on the practical knowledge needed to manage routine Legionella controls and understand the responsibilities associated with the role.

Understanding Legionella

• What Legionella bacteria are
• How Legionella can multiply within water systems
• How exposure can occur
• Why certain people may be at greater risk
• Common factors that can increase Legionella risk

Legal Responsibilities and HSE Guidance

• The role of the Duty Holder
• The role of the Responsible Person
• The importance of appointing competent people
• Understanding the purpose of a Legionella risk assessment
• HSE Approved Code of Practice L8
• Relevant HSG274 technical guidance

Understanding a Legionella Risk Assessment

Delegates are shown how a Legionella risk assessment relates to the ongoing management of a building’s water systems.

• Understanding identified risks
• Recognising recommended control measures
• Understanding monitoring requirements
• Prioritising remedial actions
• Knowing when specialist advice may be required

Practical Legionella Monitoring and Control

A major part of the course is understanding how routine control measures are carried out and why they are important.

Depending on the premises and water system, this can include:

• Hot and cold water temperature monitoring
• Sentinel outlet checks
• Understanding expected hot and cold water temperatures
• Flushing little-used outlets
• Identifying outlets or areas requiring additional attention
• Understanding monitoring frequencies
• Recording results correctly
• Recognising results that require investigation or action

Understanding Hot and Cold Water Systems

The Responsible Person does not need to become a plumber or water-treatment specialist, but they do need enough understanding of the water system to recognise how the Legionella control measures relate to it.

The course can include discussion of hot water generation and storage, cold water storage, distribution pipework, outlets, little-used areas and other features relevant to the premises.

This practical approach helps delegates understand why monitoring is being carried out rather than simply following a checklist without understanding its purpose.

Legionella Logbooks, Records and the Written Control Scheme

Keeping suitable records is an important part of Legionella management.

The course explains the purpose of monitoring records and how they fit within the organisation’s wider Legionella control arrangements.

Topics include:

• Temperature-monitoring records
• Flushing records
• Remedial-action records
• Recording unusual or out-of-range results
• Maintaining appropriate Legionella documentation
• Understanding the purpose of a written control scheme
• Knowing who is responsible for different control activities

What Happens When a Result Is Outside the Expected Range?

Responsible Person training should not simply teach someone how to obtain and record a temperature reading. Delegates also need to understand that an unexpected result may require further investigation or action.

The course therefore considers what to do when routine monitoring suggests that a control measure may not be operating as intended, including recording the finding, reporting it appropriately and ensuring that suitable follow-up action is considered.

The precise response will depend upon the water system, the risk assessment, the written control scheme and the circumstances at the premises.

Practical Onsite Legionella Responsible Person Training

Where training is delivered at your premises, the course can be related to the actual water systems and Legionella controls that delegates are responsible for.

This can be particularly valuable because delegates are able to connect the principles covered during training with the systems, outlets, monitoring arrangements and documentation they will encounter in their normal role.

Rather than learning the subject entirely in the abstract, onsite training can help answer practical questions such as:

• Which outlets need monitoring?
• Where should temperatures be taken?
• Why are certain outlets flushed?
• What should be entered into the Legionella logbook?
• What does a recommendation in the risk assessment actually mean?
• Who should be told when something is wrong?

Legionella Responsible Person Training for Different Organisations

Responsible Person duties arise in many different types of premises. The underlying principles of Legionella control remain important, but the way they are applied will depend upon the building, its water systems and the people using it.

We provide training for a range of organisations, including commercial premises, schools, care settings, nurseries and other workplaces.

For more specific information, see:

• Legionella training for schools and care settings
• Legionella training for nurseries and businesses

Legionella Responsible Person Training in Doncaster and Yorkshire

Training is based in Doncaster and is available to organisations across South Yorkshire and throughout Yorkshire.

This includes organisations that want private workplace training for staff who have been appointed as Responsible Persons, Duty Holders or managers with responsibility for water hygiene controls.

Onsite delivery is particularly useful where the organisation wants the course to relate to its own premises, water systems, Legionella risk assessment and routine monitoring requirements.

Online Legionella Responsible Person Training

For organisations and individuals who prefer the flexibility of online learning, we are also developing a dedicated Online Legionella Responsible Person Training course.

The online course is designed to provide structured, practical training for people who have responsibility for managing Legionella controls. Learners can work through the training at their own pace, covering the Responsible Person role, Legionella risks, hot and cold water systems, risk assessments, routine monitoring, temperature checks, little-used outlets, record keeping and the actions that may be required when something is not as expected.

Unlike basic Legionella awareness training, the course concentrates on the practical knowledge needed by people who are responsible for helping to manage Legionella controls within a workplace or organisation.

Online enrolment will be opening shortly. You can already view full details of the course on our Online Legionella Responsible Person Training page.

Putting Responsible Person Training Into Practice

Effective Responsible Person training should help learners understand how Legionella control measures apply in practice, rather than simply giving them information to remember.

The course develops an understanding of how a Legionella risk assessment relates to ongoing water-system management, including monitoring, record keeping, little-used outlets, temperature control and the actions that may be required when an issue is identified.

For clients who also use our commercial Legionella risk assessment service, the training can become even more practical. The nominated Responsible Person can complete the online course before the assessment visit and then accompany the assessor while the building’s water systems are inspected.

This allows the learner to see many of the principles covered during their training applied to their own premises, helping to connect the course with the control measures they may subsequently be responsible for managing.

The online course is a complete Responsible Person training course in its own right. Accompanying the assessor is an additional opportunity for our assessment clients to reinforce that learning using their own building and water systems.

Why Choose This Legionella Responsible Person Course?

• Practical rather than purely theoretical – training focuses on the responsibilities delegates are likely to encounter in the workplace.
• Delivered by a practising Legionella Risk Assessor – allowing course content to be related to real-world water systems and risk assessments.
• 8 CPD hours – the onsite course is CPD certified.
• HSE guidance – training refers to the principles contained within L8 and HSG274.
• Private onsite delivery – training can relate directly to your organisation’s premises and responsibilities.
• Online training option – a self-paced online Responsible Person course is being prepared for learners across the UK.
• Clear, practical language – the aim is for delegates to understand what needs doing and why.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Responsible Persons need Legionella training?

A person appointed to help manage Legionella controls must have sufficient knowledge, understanding and competence to carry out the responsibilities assigned to them. Appropriate training can form an important part of developing and demonstrating that competence.

What is the difference between Legionella awareness training and Responsible Person training?

Legionella awareness training generally provides an introduction to Legionella and the reasons for controlling the risk. Responsible Person training is more detailed and focuses on managing control measures, interpreting risk assessments, monitoring water systems, keeping records and responding to problems.

How long is the Legionella Responsible Person course?

The onsite course is an 8-hour training course and is certified for 8 CPD hours.

Can the training be delivered at our workplace?

Yes. The course is designed for private onsite delivery and can be related to the water systems and control arrangements at your premises.

Does the course cover temperature monitoring?

Yes. Practical monitoring is an important part of the training and includes understanding hot and cold water temperature checks, monitoring records and what to do when results are outside expected ranges.

Will I receive a certificate?

A certificate of completion is available following the training.

Does this course qualify me to carry out Legionella risk assessments?

No. Responsible Person training is designed to help someone manage Legionella controls within an organisation. It is not a Legionella risk assessor qualification.

Is online Legionella Responsible Person training available?

Read more about our Online Legionella Responsible Person Training course available to learners across the UK. You can view the full course information now.

HSE Legionella Guidance

The training refers to the principles contained within the Health and Safety Executive guidance for the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems.

Relevant guidance includes:

• HSE Approved Code of Practice L8 – Legionnaires’ disease
• HSG274 – Legionnaires’ disease technical guidance