The Bison at-a-glance guide to keeping your premises safe and compliant. This week: the deadly disease that can lurk undiscovered in your pipework

1. Legionnaire’s disease is a dangerous lung infection that kills many thousands of people worldwide every year.

2. It’s caused by the Legionella bacterium, which can breed in the water in your premises without careful regular checks. People are infected by breathing in fine contaminated water droplets.

3. Anyone who operates premises has a legal responsibility to make sure their staff, visitors and customers are protected from Legionella.

4. The disease first made headlines in the 1970s when 34 people sadly died, out of 234 infected at a conference.

5. You must test water temperatures monthly and record the results. Legionella thrives between 20C to 45C, and to be considered safe, your hot temperatures must be above 50C (55C for healthcare premises).

6. Legionella risk assessments must be carried out annually by professionals such as Bison’s experts.

7. Choosing experts registered with the rigorous Legionella Control Association is the best idea.

8. HMP Lincoln was fined £600,000 in 2024 after a prisoner died from Legionella. The Health & Safety Executive found recommendations from a risk assessment hadn’t been

9. People most at risk from the disease include the elderly, those with low immune systems, and those who drink alcohol or smoke.

10. You can schedule your Legionella risk assessment in advance with Bison, and it can be carried out at the same time as other assessments for fire, disability access and health & safety: find out about multi-service discounts.

Discover more: How safe is the water in your workplace?