Legionella Awareness
Pivotal University
£29.00
Enrol now — £29.00
FOR TEAMS
Train your whole team
Buy seats, invite your people, and track everyone’s progress from one place.
Instant access · Learn at your own pace
44 lessons
11h 19m total
Lifetime access
A comprehensive Legionella Awareness course for anyone with a duty for, or who works around, water systems — including landlords and letting agents, facilities and maintenance staff, building and site managers, care home and hospitality staff, healthcare premises, plumbers, leisure-centre and spa operators, and anyone appointed as the responsible person or duty holder for a building. Builds the knowledge to understand the risk Legionella bacteria pose, recognise where they grow, meet the legal duties, and apply practical controls that protect occupants, tenants and the public.
Across in-depth modules you'll learn what Legionella bacteria are and the diseases they cause (including Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever), the legal framework — HSWA 1974, COSHH 2002, ACOP L8 and HSG274 — and who the duty holder and responsible person are, the conditions and systems where Legionella multiplies (temperature, stagnation, nutrients, aerosol), how to approach a Legionella risk assessment and written scheme of control, the temperature rules for hot and cold water systems and practical everyday controls such as flushing and descaling, the monitoring and records every duty holder must maintain, when to use specialists, and how the controls apply in real settings from rented flats to care homes to leisure centres — brought to life with branded diagrams, realistic UK scenarios, a knowledge check after every module, and a downloadable Quick Reference to keep.
Finish with a scenario-based final assessment (80% to pass, unlimited attempts, every answer fully explained) and earn your Certificate of Completion.
Please note: this is an awareness-level course. It builds essential Legionella knowledge and supports you in meeting your legal duties as a responsible person or duty holder. It does not make you a competent person to carry out a Legionella risk assessment or design a written scheme of control — those activities require additional specialist training, knowledge and experience. Your site's own risk assessment, written scheme of control and competent persons or specialists always apply on top of this course.
Across in-depth modules you'll learn what Legionella bacteria are and the diseases they cause (including Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever), the legal framework — HSWA 1974, COSHH 2002, ACOP L8 and HSG274 — and who the duty holder and responsible person are, the conditions and systems where Legionella multiplies (temperature, stagnation, nutrients, aerosol), how to approach a Legionella risk assessment and written scheme of control, the temperature rules for hot and cold water systems and practical everyday controls such as flushing and descaling, the monitoring and records every duty holder must maintain, when to use specialists, and how the controls apply in real settings from rented flats to care homes to leisure centres — brought to life with branded diagrams, realistic UK scenarios, a knowledge check after every module, and a downloadable Quick Reference to keep.
Finish with a scenario-based final assessment (80% to pass, unlimited attempts, every answer fully explained) and earn your Certificate of Completion.
Please note: this is an awareness-level course. It builds essential Legionella knowledge and supports you in meeting your legal duties as a responsible person or duty holder. It does not make you a competent person to carry out a Legionella risk assessment or design a written scheme of control — those activities require additional specialist training, knowledge and experience. Your site's own risk assessment, written scheme of control and competent persons or specialists always apply on top of this course.
Course Curriculum
10 sections · 44 lessons · 11h 19m
What Legionella Is and the Diseases It Causes
Legionnaires' Disease, Pontiac Fever and Lochgoilhead Fever
20 min
How Legionella Infects People: The Aerosol Route
20 min
Who Is Most at Risk: Vulnerable Populations
15 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
The Law and Your Legal Responsibilities
The Legal Foundation: HSWA 1974 and COSHH 2002
20 min
ACOP L8 and HSG274: The Standards You Must Meet
25 min
Duty Holders, Responsible Persons and the Chain of Accountability
20 min
Landlord Duties: Legionella in Rented Properties
20 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
Where Legionella Grows: Conditions and Systems
The Four Growth Conditions: Temperature, Stagnation, Nutrients, Aerosols
25 min
Higher-Risk Systems: From Cooling Towers to Showers
25 min
Dead Legs, Blind Ends and Infrequently-Used Outlets
20 min
Little-Used Buildings and Outlets: The Hidden Risk
15 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
The Legionella Risk Assessment
The Purpose and Scope of a Legionella Risk Assessment
20 min
Who Is Competent to Do It? The Competent Person
15 min
The Written Scheme of Control
20 min
Keeping the Risk Assessment Live: Triggers for Review
15 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
Controlling the Risk
Temperature Control: The Primary Defence
25 min
Avoiding Stagnation: Flushing and Designing Out Dead Legs
20 min
Cleaning and Descaling Showers, Taps and Fittings
15 min
System Design, Maintenance and Water Treatment
20 min
Frontline Actions: What Staff Can Do Every Day
15 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
Monitoring, Sampling and Record-Keeping
Temperature Monitoring and Sentinel Outlets
20 min
Flushing Regimes and Inspections
15 min
Sampling for Legionella: When and Why
15 min
Records, Compliance and Review Frequency
15 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
The Responsible Person, Competence and Communication
Appointing the Responsible Person
15 min
Training, Competence and Continuing Development
15 min
When to Use Specialists and Contractors
15 min
Communication Across the Team
15 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
Legionella Control in Practice: Real UK Settings
Landlords and Rented Properties in Depth
20 min
Care Homes and Healthcare Premises
20 min
Hospitality, Leisure and Spa Operations
20 min
Course Synthesis: Your Legionella Action Plan
20 min
Knowledge Check
3 min
Resources & Glossary
Quick Reference & Glossary
5 min
Final Assessment & Certification
Final Assessment
25 min
Frequently asked questions
How long is the certificate valid, and should I refresh it?
There is no fixed expiry, but Legionella awareness is commonly refreshed every two years, or sooner if your duties, water systems or guidance change. Always follow your own organisation's refresher policy.
Who is this course for?
It suits anyone with a duty for, or who works around, water systems: landlords and letting agents, facilities and maintenance staff, building and site managers, care home, hospitality and healthcare staff, plumbers, leisure and spa operators, and anyone appointed as the responsible person or duty holder.
Is this course accredited or recognised?
No. Pivotal University has no external accreditation, so this is not a regulated qualification. It is CPD-aligned, awareness-level training that supports you in meeting your legal duties, with a certificate of completion at the end.
How long does the course take?
There is around 11 hours and 19 minutes of content across 44 lessons. Because it is self-paced, you can work through it in one go or spread it over several sessions, and your progress is saved as you go.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you complete the modules and pass the final assessment (80% to pass, with unlimited attempts and every answer explained), you earn a Certificate of Completion. You can download it and add it to your CV or LinkedIn profile.
Is it self-paced, and are there any prerequisites?
Yes. Every course is fully online and self-paced with lifetime access, so you can start anytime and learn at your own pace on any device. There are no prerequisites unless the course says otherwise.
£29.00
Enrol now — £29.00
FOR TEAMS
Train your whole team
Buy seats, invite your people, and track everyone’s progress from one place.
Instant access · Learn at your own pace
44 lessons
11h 19m total
Lifetime access