LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation)
What is LEV?
A lot of people will not know what LEV is, some may never need to know, however if you work with dusts, mists, gases, vapours or fumes it is important that you are aware of the risks associated with these substances. Every year, thousands of people in Great Britain die of lung disease or get asthma because of airborne contaminants they have breathed in at work.
LEV is an extract ventilation system that removes workplace dusts, mists, gases, vapours or fumes, out of the air so they can’t be breathed in.
Examples of these contaminants are:
Dusts
as a result of woodworking or flour production
Mists
produced by paint spraying or MWF (metal working fluid) during CNC machining
Gases
e.g. carbon monoxide from furnaces
Vapours
produced by solvents including the printing industry
Fumes
produced by welding, vehicle exhaust or rubber production
Many employers install LEV to protect their workers health but it doesn’t always work effectively. It is important that the right type of LEV is installed, that it is used correctly and maintained efficiently.
Properly designed LEV will
Collect
Collect the air that contains the contaminants
Contain
Make sure they are contained and taken away from people
Clean
Clean the air (if necessary) and get rid of the contaminants safely
Once installed it is important to have the LEV thoroughly examined and tested (TExT) by a competent person at least every 14 months to ensure the system is continuing to meet its intended design performance and protect exposure to employee health.
How can we help?
PDI Vent Ltd are independent, skilled engineers with experience and knowledge in the installation and testing of LEV systems within a broad range of industries. We are not limited to a specific range or brand of equipment; we will design a compliant system that will work for you and your employees.
Our LEV engineer holds the following BOHS accreditation:
P601 Proficiency Certificate: Thorough Examination and Certification of LEV Systems
P602 Proficiency Certificate: Design and Installation Principles of LEV Systems
P604 - Performance, Evaluation, Commissioning and Management of LEV Systems
W201 - Basic Principles in Occupational Hygiene
P304 - COSHH - Fundamentals of Risk Assessment and Control
All new systems are designed to meet compliance with HSG258
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