The continued widespread occurrence of occupational lung diseases in the UK has led to increasingly stringent guidelines and statutory requirements for Local Exhaust Ventilation.
In May 2008, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a new, comprehensive guide (HSG258) on Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) for designers, installers and examiners and detailed guidance for employers and their employees who depend on LEV to protect their health.
LEV systems must be tested every 14 months
The COSHH regulations require that all Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems are subject to a thorough examination. They also require most LEV systems to be tested every 14 months, including all oil mist, welding fume, smoke and dust extraction units that you currently have on site. This examination must be undertaken by a competent person and the tests and reports must conform to HSE standards. The HSG258 guideline on Controlling Airborne Contaminants provides the recommended procedures to achieve these statutory requirements.
Monitoring Equipment and Record Keeping
Air flow monitoring equipment and record keeping systems as specified in HSG258 can be supplied as part of this service and are also available for purchase direct from Filtermist.
Don't take a risk with the health of your workforce
Supplementory L.E.V. Information
HSE Regulations
Further information on the following HSE topics can be found through the links below:
Expert analysis and practical recommendations
Filtermist provide comprehensive LEV testing for all makes and types of extraction equipment, working strictly in accordance with HSG258 guidelines. The Filtermist examination measures the air flow speed (velocity) of the air being extracted at the source and duct. The results are compared with the recommended velocities set by the HSE and our expert analysis, based on 40 years experience in the manufacture and design of LEV systems, allows us to provide practical advice and recommendations. The Filtermist report will have photos and/or schematic diagrams showing the Test Point, which will also be clearly identified on the ducting, as required by the HSE.
LEV Testing is required for compliance with health and safety standards and test reports often form part of a company's insurance requirement. Inadequate testing can result in employers being prosecuted, insurance being invalidated and employees getting ill.
Interpretation of the test results and subsequent recommendations concerning LEV equipment rely on the qualified expertise and practical experience of the LEV examiner.
Don’t take the risk when commissioning your LEV tests
Filtermist have been trusted to take care of the LEV requirements of some of the worlds best known manufacturing operations since 1969. Our engineers provide a combination of in-depth application knowledge of LEV systems and are qualified in excess of the standard LEV testing requirements.
Recommended Further Reading
Free HSE leaflets (click to download):
Books (click to download pdf version):