LEV Testing specialist Jamie Allen joined the Filtermist team in June when the company signed a deal with Plasteel, a family run air quality consultancy established by Jamie’s Grandfather Arthur Moss in 1992.
Jamie had worked at Plasteel since leaving school and undertook P601 - Thorough Examination and Testing of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems accreditation in 2011. He now has almost 10 years’ experience of industrial air quality and is an Individual member of BOHS, the British Occupational Hygiene Society.
We spoke to Jamie about the importance of regular LEV Testing - both in terms of the law and an employer’s moral obligation to ensure their workforce benefits from a clean working environment.
Q: First of all, what is an LEV system?
A: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems capture, contain and treat air contaminated with oil mist, fume, smoke and dust at source before it has an opportunity to escape into the wider working environment.
Q: Why is it so important for companies to ensure their LEV systems are checked every 14 months?
A: COSHH regulations state this is a legal requirement and HSE has extensive powers – it can even close businesses down if they fail to comply with improvement orders. From a responsible employer’s point of view, it is common sense. The financial outlay of regular testing is minimal when compared to the fines that can be incurred through a HSE prosecution.
Q: And presumably employers should be doing everything they can to provide a safe and clean working environment?
A: Yes, absolutely. We often hear that the cleanliness of the working environment is rated as one of the most important factors for employees in all sorts of industries.
Q: COSHH regulations have been in place for more than 25 years now – in your opinion do all manufacturers realise that regular LEV testing is a legal requirement?
A: No, not at all. I have visited lots of premises where an extraction system has been installed and effectively ‘that box has been ticked’, but there is no routine maintenance or testing in place. There still appears to be some way to go in terms of educating people about how to ensure their LEV system is doing the job it was installed to do.
Q: What is the main reason for companies requesting LEV Testing?
A: It’s fairly evenly split between the requirement to comply with HSE regulations and complaints from employees. They start coughing and spluttering because they’re breathing in contaminated air and it soon becomes apparent what the cause is.
Q: Why is it important for LEV systems to be tested regularly?
A: Regular airflow readings can identify any problems with the system’s performance. Blocked or saturated filters, or damaged ducting can impact on the extraction capability meaning the system is less able to cope with the volume of air which needs cleaning. The test records the current reading as well as results from previous tests, or the original design requirement. The inspector can cross reference all of the data to ensure the system is operating as intended.
Q: What other factors can affect the performance of an LEV System?
A: Operator interference is one of the main things we encounter. Employees may switch off extraction systems to reduce noise levels, not realising the important role it has in protecting them from harmful contaminants. Filter condition is also a significant factor which is why it is important to undertake regular servicing – that way any issues with the filter can be identified before they start affecting the system’s performance.
Q: The HSE states that LEV Testing must be carried out by a ‘competent person’, but in your view why is this so important? Surely it’s a simple matter of taking readings and entering data into a job record?
A: From the outside it looks like quite a simple task, but if the person undertaking the test has a significant amount of industry experience they can sometimes spot other things which may be raised should the HSE pay you a visit. For example, whilst not strictly part of the LEV test, the ATEX directive states that explosion relief panels should be used in processes that generate highly explosive aluminium dust. Companies may think that by installing an LEV system they are adhering to COSHH regulations, but there are a number of other factors which should also be considered to ensure a clean and safe working environment.
Q: What does a HSE compliant LEV test report look like?
A: The reports that Filtermist issues are legal documents which consist of the following:
• Full company details and date of test
• Details of the substance/process being controlled
• A photo of the LEV system being tested or a schematic drawing
• Test data including water gauge static pressure, velocity in m/sec and volume flow rate
• Readings from all extraction points
• Improvement recommendations
• Pass / fail
• Inspector’s statement of competency
• Safety policy
• Method statement
• Risk assessment
• Report observations
• Details of next recommended visit
NB: It’s important to remember that if HSE asks for a copy of the report, you must supply the whole document – not just the sheet with the test results as it won’t mean anything without the rest of the report.
Q: How long does an LEV test take to carry out?
A: This varies depending on factors including the accessibility of the system, and the type of installation it is. The first visit is always the longest as we complete a risk assessment form, take photos of the systems that need testing and record all of the other details needed for the report. If nothing has changed in terms of the system set-up, the time it takes to carry out subsequent tests dramatically decreases.
Q: Does the LEV test interrupt production?
A: No, not usually as most installations use extraction hoods. We also work around customers’ needs and can schedule a weekend or evening service if there are any reasons why the testing can’t be carried out in normal working hours.
Q: Is cost another reason why people put off regular LEV testing?
A: It can be – some smaller companies think it’s an unnecessary cost which they can get away with not paying. However, when you look at the cost per employee it’s a relatively small price to pay to protect workers and stay within the law. For example, for a company with 20 LEV systems and 60 employees, LEV testing through Filtermist works out at just over £12.50 per employee, per year - just £1.04 per person, per month.
Q: Filtermist is known for its oil mist extraction systems – do you only provide LEV Testing for oil mist filters?
A: No, not at all. All LEV systems operate in the same fundamental way and the equipment we use is suitable for all types of LEV system. In actual fact, as the UK distributor for sister company Absolent AB, Filtermist also specifies, supplies and installs a range of dust, smoke and fume filtration systems. It also offers a comprehensive centralised extraction systems service and we have the in-house resource to ensure that even the largest of systems such as the one recently installed at Jaguar Land Rover’s Engine Manufacturing Facility, adhere to COSHH regulations.
Q: In conclusion, why is it so important for anyone with an LEV system to have them regularly tested?
A: To protect people. To protect employees from the health risks associated with exposure to airborne contaminants, and to protect employers from HSE prosecution.
More information about Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) workplace fume and dust extraction can be found by visiting www.hse.gov.uk/lev. Jamie can be contacted by emailing lev@filtermist.com or you can arrange a visit from our dedicated LEV team by calling 01952 209500.