Effective Fume and Dust Extraction Solutions
Ensuring Workplace and product safety with the vital role of local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
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Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is an essential system which has been designed to remove harmful airborne contaminants directly at their source. This ensures the workplace and product safety and compliance with regulations. Found in a massive range of settings from factories to laboratories, LEV serves a critical role in safeguarding employee health by minimising the exposure to pollutants and reducing the risk of respiratory illnesses (which could save many potential lawsuits). LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation) is indispensable for protecting working while upholding occupational health and safety standards.
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What is Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)?
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Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) refers to a vital system used to control airborne contaminants in the workplace. It consists of equipment designed to capture and remove pollutants at their source, this prevents them from spreading into the surrounding environment. Please view the video below for further information.
Why is LEV Important?
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In the United Kingdom, LEV testing is mandatory under the health and safety regulations to safeguard workers from exposure to hazardous substances. Testing should be carried out on a 14 monthly cycle. Properly functioning LEV systems ensure that harmful fumes, dust, and gases are effectively extracted, this reduces the risk of respiratory issues and long-term health problems.
How Often Should You Test an LEV System?
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Under HSE’s Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) testing is a legal requirement in the UK. Your LEV equipment must be thoroughly examined and tested by a competent person at least every 14 months to ensure your employees are safe.
If it’s been over a year since your last LEV test, we strongly suggest you book us in to test your LEV systems, and ensure your premises remain safe for your employees.
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Why is LEV Testing Important?
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According to HSE’s Occupational Lung Disease in Great Britain (2018), 12,000 workers in the UK die each year from past exposure to airborne contaminants at work. LEV systems are designed to prevent the inhalation of these harmful substances, reducing risks in the workplace.
Not only is it the law, and you could receive a hefty fine for not keeping on top of your LEV obligations, but there are also many safety and efficiency-based reasons.
Keep Your LEV System Efficient
If your LEV system doesn’t benefit from regular testing then ducts can get blocked, or other parts of the system can be compromised. This means the LEV system that you put time, effort, and money into getting installed, won’t be working efficiently.
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Keep Your Warranty & Insurance Validated
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Neglecting your commitment to annual LEV testing can lead to invalidating your system’s warranty and can lead to difficulties if you require an insurance payout. To fully keep on top of this, it is also recommended to undertake quarterly LEV servicing outside of your legal obligations.
LEV - Frequently asked questions
I'm an employer
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I have been told that I need my LEV thoroughly examined and tested, what does this mean?
Health and safety law says you must assess the risks to your workers from hazardous substances – dusts, fumes, vapours, etc. - and decide what measures to use to protect their health.
If the measures you adopt include extraction systems (LEV) to remove the dusts, fumes, vapours etc. produced by your work processes or activities, then you must maintain the LEV in efficient working order so it continues to provide the necessary protection. You should also have a periodic thorough examination and test (at least every 14 months) and must keep this record for at least 5 years. In addition, you should have information on the installed LEV system to confirm it provides adequate protection, which should be kept for the life of the equipment.
What is the purpose of a thorough examination and test?
It is a check that your LEV is still working as effectively as originally intended and is helping to protect your employees' health. To be able to tell if it is still working as it should, you should be able to provide the examiner with information about the intended or designed performance of your system eg hood type and position relative to the process, airflow and other measurements.
This information might be in the form of an initial appraisal or commissioning report, if one was carried out, or for simple 'stand alone' systems it could have been provided as standard operating data by the suppliers of extraction equipment. Alternatively, it might be found in recognised guidance (including that from HSE) on simple processes/systems (For examples COSHH Essentials ). If none of this is available, you could consider getting someone competent to advise you.
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Airflow FAQs
Is it necessary for all the hoods in the LEV system to be fitted with airflow indicators?
As an employer, you must ensure that your LEV system is working effectively – although there is no specific requirement to have an extraction system fitted with airflow indicators. Your LEV can stop functioning properly due to a fall in the airflow.
You can use airflow indicators at the hood to check the performance. This will reassure you that the flow rate is maintained, your employees are protected and the process is cost-effective.
If you wish to check the airflow via alternative methods, you can use an anemometer, a dust-lamp or a smoke tracer (providing the work process is operating).
However, HSE’s LEV guidance recommends fitting an airflow indicator. This is because it is currently the only method that will show the operator or supervisor if there is an immediate problem.
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How do I tell if there is adequate LEV hood airflow?
Assessing the velocity of the air entering an LEV hood by hand is not possible. Therefore, an airflow indicator will make it simple and clear for the operator to determine if the airflow is adequate at the source.
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Which type of airflow indicator should be fitted?
A basic indicator is sufficient if the risk is low. A more sophisticated indicator is required if the substances and circumstances are more hazardous. E.g. those with an alarm or warning light.
Whichever indicator is used, it will need to display clearly whether the airflow is adequate. For more advice about the type of airflow indicator, do give us a call.
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Must examiners label all the LEV systems that are tested?
It is not required for examiners to label LEV systems they test.
The legal requirement is that the employer must maintain the performance of the LEV system, and organise an examination and test at a minimum of once every 14 months.
Supervisors, operators and employers need to know if an examination has been done or when it is due. Attaching labels is an effective way of indicating if a system has been tested and whether it has passed or failed.
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Must examiners label all the LEV hoods that are tested?
Yes, examiners are required to label all LEV hoods with a test record clearly visible to operators and the supervisor. The test record label can alternatively be placed near to the LEV hood e.g. near to the system switch.
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Must examiners attach red labels to all failed LEV hoods?
Yes, examiners are required to place a red ‘failed’ label on any hoods that have failed.
The label should include an emergency report describing the circumstances of the failure and a list of achievable actions for fixing it.
Once the employer has repaired the LEV hood or system, it needs to be checked to ensure its effectiveness. The ‘failed’ label can then be replaced with a ‘passed’ label.
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Are there alternative methods to attaching red labels?
Labels are a clear and simple approach. However, an alternative method can be used as long as it still conveys to the employer and operators that the equipment is in need of attention.
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