The Purpose of LEV Extraction Equipment

COSHH regulation states the employers must prevent/adequately control exposure to harmful substances. LEV systems are used to control hazardous airborne dusts, mists, and fumes, and to protect employees from respiratory illnesses such as occupational asthma, silicosis, and lung disease amongst others.

Do I Need to Have my LEV Tested?

COSHH reg 9 states that LEV systems must be “maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, in good repair and in a clean condition”. This includes carrying out LEV testing “once in every period of 14 months” (or more frequently for some types of systems). Testing will thoroughly assess your systems for effectiveness. Besides staying compliant with COSHH regulations, LEV testing has other benefits as well, including:

• Ensuring your employees health and wellbeing
• Highlighting issues before they become bigger problems, potentially saving money on parts and downtime in the future
• Ensuring that your insurance remains valid: some insurance policies stipulate that LEV testing must be carried out within the terms of your policy

For more information on the requirements of LEV testing, you can read this FAQ section from the HSE website.