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The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 regulations, commonly abbreviated to COSHH, protect employees, contractors and visitors from the effects of exposure to hazardous workplace substances.
The legislation requires employers to carry out a COSHH risk assessment of the handling, storage, use and disposal of hazardous substances, such as dust and fumes; to control and mitigate the risks; and ensure the substances are disposed of properly.
Around 100,000 UK firms use Local Exhaust Ventilation systems to ensure workplace safety and compliance with COSHH regulations. This means around 2.6 million employees work for businesses where LEV systems are installed. However, over time, the effectiveness of an LEV system may be compromised because of wear and tear, a change in the work environment, or due to different substances being used.
COSHH legislation requires that LEV testing is carried out regularly to ensure the system carries on working efficiently to provide the appropriate protection.
Businesses that expose employees to hazardous substances are required to use safety equipment such as a dust extraction system or fume extraction system to provide a safe and healthy working environment. However, according to research from the HSE, less than half of the 100,000 UK businesses that use LEV systems test them regularly and in accordance with COSHH regulations. This means an estimated 1.3 million employees could be at risk without even realising it.
The process of COSHH LEV testing involves experts carrying out a thorough examination of the equipment to check that it’s operating efficiently. By law, this must be carried out by a competent person who has the appropriate knowledge and skills to identify and resolve any problems within the system.
Specialist LEV testing equipment is used to assess the system’s performance, design and maintenance. It commonly involves measuring the pressure drops, airflow rates and the filtration systems’ effectiveness. The condition of the filters, ducting and fans is examined to make sure they’re in full working order.
It is a legal requirement in the UK to carry out LEV testing, with the frequency depending on the types of substances being used and the associated levels of risk. Testing should be completed for high risk substances at least once every 14 months, and at least every two years for medium risk substances.
AirBench’s products in general are classified as LEV systems and as such, we offer full LEV testing and servicing for our own products. If you have an AirBench unit already, our automated system will remind you when you’re approaching 12 months after commissioning, but if you’re not receiving a reminder, please let us know.
You should have your LEV system tested regularly for several reasons: very importantly, it ensures the system is providing the best protection for your workforce. This reduces the risk of health issues caused by hazardous substances in the workplace such as respiratory problems, cancer and skin irritation.
In addition, thorough testing on a regular basis can identify any system problems before they become more serious, preventing potentially expensive repairs and the associated downtime: it can help keep the system fully functional over a longer period of time.
Regular testing helps your business to comply with COSHH regulations: failure to do so may not only result in employees falling ill, but it can also lead to fines, legal action and serious damage to your company’s reputation.
There are an estimated 19,000 new cases of breathing and lung problems annually in the UK, when sufferers have cited their workplace as causing or worsening their condition; occupational lung disease leads to the deaths of 12,000 people every year.
The penalties for companies who fail to protect employees from exposure to hazardous substances are severe. In 2023, a woodworking company was fined £25,000 for failing to control employee exposure to wood dust. The case followed an inspection of the company by the HSE in 2019, which identified there were failings in the control measures.
A second case saw a furniture company fined £16,000 after failing to protect the workforce from exposure to wood dust. At the time, the HSE reiterated how vital it was for companies to carry out statutory thorough inspections of extraction equipment, as demanded by COSHH, to prevent the ill health of employees.
In conclusion, COSHH LEV testing plays a crucial role in managing the risks to employees who are working with hazardous substances. It will also identify any potential issues with your system before they worsen, ensuring compliance with the COSHH workplace safety laws.
AirBench Ltd are the UK’s leading manufacturer of downdraught benches and cross draught extraction systems. We have more than 10,000 extraction systems in service in the UK and overseas. Along with our range of coolant mist filters and air cleaning systems, we are actively helping businesses across many industries solve their workplace dust and fume issues.
If you'd like to try an AirBench product for FREE simply book a demo and we'll bring one to you.
If you’d like to try an AirBench product for FREE simply book a demo and we’ll bring one to you.