Legislation


AirBench is classified as a Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system. LEV systems in the UK fall under two main pieces of legislation.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is a United Kingdom Statutory Instrument that stipulates general requirements on employers to protect employees and other persons from the hazards of substances used at work by risk assessment, control of exposure, health surveillance and incident planning.

A proper COSHH assessment is essential prior to use of hazardous substances; as an employer you should be able to demonstrate that you have assessed the risks associated with these substances and addressed them as appropriate.

More information on the COSHH regulations is available from the Health and Safety Executive website at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/COSHH/

COSHH Essentials provides a quick and simple method for assessing the substances you work with, providing an estimated level of exposure without controls, and a benchmark level of exposure - together these allow you to assess the type of controls you should put in place.

http://www.coshh-essentials.org.uk/
AirBench and COSHH
AirBench can help you comply with COSHH regulations by providing a demonstrably effective means of reducing or eliminating exposure. AirBench removes the risks associated with custom designed systems by providing a proven, off-the-shelf method of addressing dust and fume problems - no more bespoke installations which may or may not work, and minimal reliance on operator intervention. See our article on "The Case for Downdraught Extraction" for more details.

AirBench is not only used by thousands of UK companies to address dust or fume issues; it is also in use by a wide range of government bodies and military establishments, where controls may in many cases be more strictly applied.

HSG258: Controlling Airborne Contaminants at Work

HSG258 is the latest guidance from the Health and Safety Executive on LEV systems and provides information for designers, buyers, users, and examiners of LEV systems.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/lev/

While strictly a guidance document, selecting a system which complies with HSG258 allows employers to demonstrate that they have followed reasonable steps to protect employees.

This guidance consists of three components:

  HSG258 - Controlling airborne contaminants at work
Detailed guidance for designers, installers, and examiners of LEV.
  INDG408 - Clearing the air
Guidance for employers on buying and using LEV.
  INDG409 - Time to clear the air
A pocket guide for users of LEV.

These documents are all available from HSE (www.hse.gov.uk/lev); copies of INDG408 and INDG409 are also available from WorkPoint - email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a pack.
AirBench and HSG258
AirBench complies fully with HSG258; among the many areas covered by this guidance, AirBench:
  • Is commissioned and tested prior to leaving the factory.
  • Is supplied complete with pressure gauges to indicate filter condition, allowing ongoing monitoring of maintenance requirements.
  • Can be quickly and simply tested in line with regulations to demonstrate ongoing compliance.
  • Is supplied with full user manual and logbooks to record maintenance routines, filter changes, and testing schedules.

Thorough Examination and Test (LEV Testing / COSHH Testing)

Under both COSHH regulations and HSG258, all LEV systems must be tested at least every 14 months to ensure they are working to design specifications. AirBench can be quickly and simply tested and is supplied complete with all required information to enable testing.

Testing services are available from WorkPoint, from other LEV suppliers, from specialist examiners, or can be completed in-house with appropriate training.

Contact us for more details, or to discuss compliance in more depth.

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