|
The UK has some of the toughest safety regulations
What is LEV and why do I need it?
Every year, thousands of workers in Britain develop occupational diseases from breathing in certain dusts, fumes or other airborne contaminants at work. Local Exhaust Ventilation, often called dust or fume extraction, can help clean the air, before people breathe in these harmful substances. (Excerpt from HSE web site).
What is LEV? Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is a machine that extracts air from a process as a way of controlling and reducing the exposure of workers to dust, fumes and vapor which could be hazardous to their health.
Why do I need LEV testing?
It is a legal requirement, as set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, for any employer to maintain working conditions for employees. Any employer that uses LEV techniques in the workplace must have equipment examined and tested at least “every 14 months” to ensure it is working effectively and safely.
What does LEV testing involve?
A thorough examination of equipment including hoods, filters and ducts, measurement of the technical performance using the appropriate equipment and assessment of the effectiveness of the LEV system. Purex will make recommendations should your system not be up to the required standard. All work is carried out according to HSE guidance which governs LEV testing.
What are the regulations for LEV?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are the government body responsible for the regulation and enforcement of work related risks to people in the work place. Dust & fume exposure is a key element of the COSHH 2002 (Control of Substances Hazard to Health) regulations setting out exposure limits, preventative guidelines and on going reductions of the contact between people and hazardous gas and particulates. Under COSHH, companies must take steps to prevent, control, maintain and monitor dust and fume exposure in the workplace, as laid out in regulation 9.
|