Tool Box
Authorising Engineer (AE)

Health Technical Memorandum (HTM 00) Policies and principles of healthcare engineering 2014 states that “The chief executive and board carry ultimate responsibility for a safe and secure healthcare environment. Aspects of that responsibility can be assigned or delegated to other senior executives but an independent audit system should be in place to assure them that the responsibilities are being discharged properly”. “Senior executives may not always have the required specialist knowledge to support all services; therefore it may be necessary to engage external support.”

“The AE will act as an independent professional adviser to the healthcare organisation. The AE should be appointed by the organisation with a brief to provide services in accordance with relevant HTMs”

L8MS could act as your AE (Water)

Sometimes an individual no matter how experienced needs a team with diverse skills, L8MS associates can:
  • Ensure Legionella policy is current and up to date.
  • Ensure Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place & meet current Legislation.
  • Audit the current Legionella risk assessments.
  • Conduct audits challenging and recording the key areas of compliance in line with L8 and HTM04-01. This could include an audit of the companies providing the monitoring and other services relating to water.
  • Develop tender plans and oversee service provider selection.
  • Chair and document Water Safety Group (WSG) meetings.
  • Assess the delivery of the scheme of control, monitoring and inspection results on all water services and report to the WSG.
  • Assist in the sourcing and operation of an electronic management system for the monitoring of the water services.
  • Advise on the course of action for any positive Legionella results and assist with solutions.
  • Investigate unusual results and advise on corrective actions.
  • Be available to provide ad hoc consultancy and advice relating to all water services.

Water Safety Plans (WSP) World Health Organization (WHO) Water Safety in Buildings 2011 States the purpose of the Water Safety Plan (WSP) as:-
“WSPs are the most effective means of consistently ensuring the safety of drinking-water supplies through a comprehensive risk-management approach that encompasses all steps, from source through treatment and distribution to consumers. The WSP approach is based on identifying all signifi cant risks to public health, ensuring that effective controls and barriers are applied to minimize these risks to acceptable levels, and monitoring the operation of the controls and barriers to ensure that safety is maintained”.

L8MS could help you write and implement your WSP.



The Approved Code of Practice, Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems (L8) states “Inadequate management, lack of training and poor communication have all been identified as contributory factors in outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. It is therefore important that those people involved in assessing risk and applying precautions are competent, trained and aware of their responsibilities.”

There are one day, nationally regulated Ofqual approved qualifications that are highly relevant when considering selection of training courses.
  • Level 2 RQF Award: Legionella Awareness (hot & cold water systems)
  • Level 3 RQF Award: Legionella Control for the Responsible Person

The level 2 is applicable to staff involved in the scheme of Legionella control and includes information specifically on hot and cold water systems.

The level 3 is applicable to staff involved in Legionella control management & decision making and includes risk assessment and record keeping requirements. (A qualification fact sheet and specifications is available).

These qualifications are managed by HABC (Awarding Body), on behalf of Ofqual, and are available via HABC Approved Centres (Hydroviron) and must be facilitated by occupationally competent qualified assessors.