TRAINING SERVICES Question & Answers

We don’t just offer training – we provide Water Hygiene and Air Hygiene services across the sectors. We have offices throughout the UK and over 200 engineers. This means that we are experts in the field of Water Hygiene and Air Hygiene, and ideally placed to share this expertise with you.

To facilitate this, we have a team of industry-renowned tutors.  If you book with us, you will also benefit from having a Training Project Manager, who will work with you from your initial enquiry onwards.

Every industry needs to operate safely and within the law. So the simple answer is yes, compliance training is an important requirement for every sector. Read more about our expertise across the sectors here.

We offer two Level 2 courses:

• Level 2 Award in Legionella Awareness (Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers) (RQF)
• Level 2 Award in Legionella Awareness (Hot and Cold Water Systems) (RQF)

Each of these courses provides learners with the knowledge and understanding of the health effects of Legionnaires’ disease and the control measures that should be in place to prevent it, as well as the consequences for not complying with relevant legislation and codes of practice.

The course syllabus will be tailored to specific water systems, resulting in a specialist qualification from one of the following areas:

• Pathway 1 – Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers
• Pathway 2 – Hot and Cold Water Systems

The objective of each qualification is to support a role in the workplace. They are both aimed at learners who work in environments where Legionella growth is a risk. The Level 2 awards aim to raise awareness in order to prevent waterborne disease caused by Legionella bacteria.

Level 2 training is for operatives, maintenance team, plumbers and people who are working with the respective systems and require more knowledge of Legionella. Administration team members and other support staff often attend for information purposes.

We offer:

• Level 3 Award in Legionella Control for Responsible Persons (RQF)

This qualification provides learners with the knowledge and understanding in the effects of Legionella bacteria on the body and the impact an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease would have on a working site.

It includes training on how to identify and control the risks associated with Legionella bacteria and how legislation and codes of practice can support its control.

It is also designed to enforce the importance of the Responsible Person (RP) in respect of ensuring competence of all operatives on the site.

The objective of the qualification is to support those either in the role or aspiring to be in the role of Responsible Person relating specifically to control of Legionella on a site.

Level 3 training is aimed at the Site Duty Holder, Responsible Person or  Deputy Responsible Person.  This can often be the H&S Manager, the Head of Department or, in some cases, the Managing Director.

Our Rock Compliance Legionella Principles and Domestic Spa/Hot Tubs training covers the principles in Level 2 Awareness, then a guide to responsibilities for domestic spas/hot tubs, operation and maintenance of domestic spas/hot tubs, and microbiological monitoring of domestic spas/hot tubs.

Clients who commercially own and operate or maintain spa pools and hot tubs should attend this School of Rock training. These are often operated in hotels, country clubs, leisure centres, holiday parks. They can also be found in care facilities for vulnerable people.

Your responsibilities related to domestic spas/hot tubs are laid out inHSG 274, part 2, 2014, which says that individuals with responsibility for the management of water systems should be suitably informed, adequately trained and competent to complete their duties.This is required in order to comply with HSE – ACoP L8, 2013: Legionnaires’ disease – The control of legionella bacteria in water systems.

Yes, you do!

Following the initial training, the requirement for routine refresher training is stipulated within the following HSE documents:

• HSE – ACoP L8, 2013: Legionnaires’ disease – The control of legionella bacteria in water systems
• HSE – HSG 274, part 2, 2014: Legionnaires’ disease – The control of legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems
• HSE – HSG 65, 2013: Managing for Health and Safety

“Those specifically appointed to implement the control measures and strategies should be suitably informed, instructed and trained and their suitability assessed. They must be properly trained to a level that ensures tasks are carried out in a safe, technically competent manner; and receive regular refresher training. Keep records of all initial and refresher training.” (HSE – ACoP L8, 2013; paragraph 51)

“The responsible person appointed to implement the control measures and strategies should be suitably informed, instructed and trained and their suitability assessed. Regular refresher training should be given and the responsible person should have a clear understanding of their role and the overall health and safety management structure and policy in the organisation.” (HSE – HSG 274, 2014; paragraph 18)

“Remember that competence levels will drop if skills are not used on a regular basis – schedule refresher training at regular intervals.” (HSE – HSG 65, 2013)

Training and competence requirements should be regularly reviewed and refresher training carried out on a 2-3 times per year frequency, as per industry/best practice.

No. We’ll work with you to determine which level of training is required to match attendees responsibilities and capabilities. Some integral information is covered in both course levels.

The Level 3 course covers regulatory requirements and consequences of non-compliance in much more detail.

The Level 3 course briefly covers risk levels/regulatory requirements and operation of cooling towers. However, this is a course aimed predominantly at domestic systems and will not go into water chemistry or water treatment.

If you have cooling towers, the Level 2 Cooling Towers would be the best option, then followed by the Level 3 to understand the regulatory requirements.

At the moment, there are no CPD hours given for attending these courses.

We offer several options, so you can choose the one that suits you best: 

• Single client – face-to-face, onsite.
• Single client – via TEAMS
• Open courses around the country on set dates
• TEAMS open courses on set dates

If you are not sure, get it touch to discuss the options in more detail – whatever you need, we’ll be able to make it work!

A Duty Holder is the ultimate accountable person for the safe operation of a facility.

They can delegate tasks related to waterborne pathogen control, including Legionella.

The management pathway must be defined, and responsibilities accepted by all personnel involved.

Dutyholders have legal responsibilities for health and safety under various regulations.ACoP L8 and HSG274 provide guidelines for Legionella control, emphasising risk assessment, scheme preparation, precautions implementation, and record-keeping.

Responsibilities include identifying and assessing risk, appointing a managerially responsible person, preparing a control scheme, implementing precautions, and keeping records.

A Responsible Person implements the written scheme for Legionella control, covering testing, auditing, remedial works, and operational maintenance.

In their role, they must:

• Ensure there are adequate resources for scheme implementation
• Manage risks from existing water systems and potential risks from new property development
• Nominate and ensure training of a Deputy Responsible Person
• Act as the point of contact for all waterborne pathogen issues
• Ensure quality assurance and performance monitoring of external maintenance service providers
• Informs the Statutory Duty Holder of operational changes affecting water systems
• Carry out day-to-day implementation of the written scheme, including maintenance and risk control

The Responsible Person has legal responsibilities for health and safety under various regulations. ACoP L8 and HSG274 provide guidelines for Legionella control, emphasising risk assessment, scheme preparation, precautions implementation, and record-keeping.