What's LEV got to do with it?
June 1st 2009

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) can play a vital role in controlling exposure to airborne

contaminants and reducing respiratory risks, but only if systems are designed, installed,

used,maintained and tested properly,explains HSE's John McAlinden

Thousands of Britain's workers contract occupational asthma and other lung diseases each year. Many people die or are permanently disabled by these conditions and are unable to work.

People develop these diseases because they breathe in too much dust, fume or other airborne contaminants at work, often because exposure control measures do not work well enough.

Most industries are affected, including woodworking (both in conventional woodworking shops and on construction sites), welding, paint-spraying, stonemasonry, engineering, and

foundry work.

Millions of workers rely on LEV

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is the most common way of controlling exposure to airborne contaminants and reducing respiratory risks. It has the biggest potential for making a positive impact on occupational health. But many LEV systems are not designed, installed, used, maintained or tested properly. Research suggests that around 100,000 businesses use LEV to control respiratory risks for up to 2.6 million workers in their workplaces but only 40% have their LEV systems tested.

Suppliers of LEV goods and services often fail to provide LEV systems that are 'fit for purpose' and many businesses are overoptimistic about LEV capabilities, leaving them unaware of the actual exposure risk.

Delivering adequate exposure control with LEV – what the law requires

The law is clear and requires that:

• Where exposure to hazardous substances (including airborne contaminants) cannot be prevented, then it must be adequately controlled
• So far as is reasonable and practicable, exposure shall be adequately controlled by means other than personal protective equipment (PPE).

HSE consulted with relevant professional institutions and industry employers and employees to establish how HSE and industry stakeholders might bring about the better design, supply, use, maintenance and test of LEV to secure adequate control.

A consensus was reached that a range of new tools was needed so that all involved in Britain's health and safety system could tackle the problem of inadequate exposure control of airborne contaminants caused by 'not fit for purpose' LEV systems. Some of the new tools and approaches developed to date are:

1) New HSE Guidance

New, better targeted HSE guidance on LEV was produced in partnership with external stakeholders with separate publications for:

• Designers and suppliers of LEV goods and services

  (HSG 2 58, Controlling airborne contaminants at work, ISBN 9780717662982, price £12.50 from HSE Books or HSG 258 plus the DVD, Everyone Needs to Breathe, price £22.50 from

  HSE Books)

• Employers who buy and use LEV systems (INDG 408, Clearing the air, A simple guide to buying and using LEV, free publication from HSE Books)
• Employees who rely on LEV systems to protect their health (INDG 409, Time to clear the air!, A workers' pocket guide to LEV, free publication from HSE Books)

The long term aim of the new guidance is to influence LEV designers and suppliers to provide better LEV and to help employers specify and purchase systems that are fit for purpose.

In the shorter term, the new guidance will encourage users to properly use and maintain the LEV they already have and to comply with the law.

2) New Training

The changes and practical approaches used in the new guidance are so significant that a new one day training package has been introduced for HSE's own inspectors as well as external training providers. The new package contains innovative training material and teaching methods with illustrative diagrams, stills and video-clips.

An award winning, working LEV model is used to demonstrate the key design features and correct use of an LEV system. This demonstrator helps to explain why LEV systems fail

to control exposure and how they can be improved. The course is hands-on and includes practical sessions using efficacy assessment tools and realistic and challenging syndicate exercises.

3) Partnership with training providers

Trainers and advisors (including suppliers of LEV goods and services) have been invited to attend the course where they will receive the new training materials free of charge, subject to terms and conditions.

The priority groups HSE targeted were:

• Specialist LEV trainers and advisors

• LEV designers and suppliers who also provide training;
• Employer organisations with specialist trainers who provide

  training

• Employee representative trainers who provide training

Further details are available from the HSL Training Unit, Tel:

01298 218806 or e-mail mary.buteux@hsl.gov.uk

4) Professional Competence

Stakeholder consultation also identified the professional competence of suppliers of LEV goods and services to be another area of concern. Traditionally, LEV has been dealt with as a minor component of wider ranging courses in Heating and Ventilation. The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) have now put in place new HSE recognised curricula for vocational qualifications in LEV system test (P601) and LEVsystem design (P602).

Both courses are now available from training providers and further details can be obtained directly from BOHS at www.bohs.org.

A one day LEV Awareness course to provide attendees with basic knowledge of the requirements and utilisation of LEV systems is now available from training providers and further details can be obtained directly from BOHS at www.bohs.org.

5) HSE LEV website – download free guidance

A new website has also been launched to complement the new guidance and training packages.

Also available for free viewing are illustrative video clips, each one referenced in the guidance document 'Controlling airborne contaminants at work' (HSG 258) - showing how airborne contaminants can be generated by a variety of industry processes and sources. You can also freely download samples of commissioning and thorough examination and test forms.

Future plans for the website will include

• the development of key messages
• case studies providing examples of successful control using LEV
• site user feedback
• listings of relevant events including training;
• video illustration of key LEV hood design and application factors

The future – it's time to clear the air

If you are a supplier, an employer or an employee, new HSE guidance has been written for you, so get it and read it. Improve your LEV knowledge today and play your part in ensuring LEV is fit for purpose and provides adequate control.

The HSE would like to hear from you and invites you to provide information on solutions that have worked well and those that have not.

Contact any of the following to find out more:

James Wheeler – james.wheeler@hse.gsi.gov.uk or

Mark Piney – mark.piney@hse.gsi.gov.uk or

John McAlinden – john.mcalinden@hse.gsi.gov.uk

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