How to conduct a legionella risk assessment for water systems

To comply with UK health and safety laws, every salon owner or person in control of premises must carry out a Legionella risk assessment to identify and manage the risk of Legionnaires' disease. This involves identifying potential sources of risk in your water systems (like wash basins and showers), implementing measures to prevent bacteria growth, and keeping a written record of your findings if you have five or more employees.

What is Legionella?

Legionella are bacteria that can grow in man-made water systems. If people breathe in tiny droplets of water (aerosols) contaminated with the bacteria, they can contract Legionnaires' disease, a serious type of pneumonia. In a salon environment, the risk usually comes from water being stored or recirculated at temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, which is the "danger zone" where the bacteria thrive.

Step 1: Identify the risks in your salon

You don't necessarily need to hire a professional consultant to do this; many small business owners can carry out the assessment themselves if they feel competent to do so. Start by walking around your premises and identifying where water droplets could be created and inhaled:

• Wash basins and backwash units: The most common water outlets in a salon.
• Showers: If you have staff showers or treatment rooms with shower facilities.
• Infrequently used taps: Any tap that isn't used at least once a week (e.g., in a staff toilet or a spare treatment room).
• Water heaters and tanks: Where water is stored before use.
• Air conditioning: Specifically systems that use water for cooling.

Step 2: Implement a monitoring regime

Once you've identified the outlets, you need to manage the risk. The goal is to keep the water moving and at the right temperature. Bacteria cannot survive in very hot water and stay dormant in cold water.

Action	Frequency	Why?
Temperature checks	Monthly	Ensure hot water is stored at 60°C and reaches taps at 50°C+; cold water should be below 20°C.
Flushing outlets	Weekly	Run infrequently used taps or showers for several minutes to prevent water stagnation.
Cleaning & Descaling	Quarterly	Clean and descale showerheads and tap inserts to remove scale and biofilm which "feed" bacteria.
Visual inspection	Annually	Check water storage tanks (if you have them) for debris or signs of corrosion.

Step 3: Best practices for salon water safety

Keeping your water system safe doesn't have to be complicated. Follow these simple tips to maintain a healthy environment for your clients and staff:

• Keep it hot, keep it cold: Set your water heater (calorifier) to at least 60°C. Be careful with thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) at the basins—these should be regularly serviced to ensure they prevent scalding while still allowing hot water to reach the pipework.
• Remove "Dead Legs": If you renovate your salon and remove a sink, ensure the pipework is cut back right to the main branch. A "dead leg" is a pipe leading to nowhere where water can sit and rot.
• Flush after holidays: If the salon is closed for a week or more, flush all outlets (taps and showers) for several minutes before reopening.

Step 4: Record your findings

If you have five or more employees, you are legally required to record the significant findings of your risk assessment. Even if you have fewer than five, it is highly recommended to keep a simple logbook. This provides "proof of care" for insurance purposes and health inspectors.

Example log entry: "12th Oct - All backwash basins flushed for 2 mins. Temperature at Staff Kitchen tap: 52°C. Showerhead in treatment room 1 descaled. Signed: [Your Name]."

When to review your assessment

Your Legionella risk assessment isn't a "one and done" task. You should review it every two years, or sooner if there is a significant change to your plumbing system, such as adding new wash basins or changing your water heating method.