What is Local Exhaust Ventilation or LEV?

The following presentation asks the question what is Local Exhaust Ventilation or LEV? It examines the health and safety measures used to control dust and fumes in the workplace using local exhaust ventilation systems (LEV) also called dust extraction or fume control.

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)

Lots of different jobs across different industries involve work processes that create dust and fumes. If these are not controlled properly people can breathe them in and develop diseases such as asthma, lung scarring and cancer.

Every year thousands of people in Great Britain die as a result of breathing in harmful dusts and fumes at work. The common way businesses can control dust and fumes is by using local exhaust ventilation systems or LEV also called extraction or fume control.

How LEV Systems Work

LEV systems can be very effective at controlling dust and fumes but it is vital that people understand how LEV works so that they buy the right LEV and use it properly.

LEV systems all work in the same way. In this example 2 hoods are used to enclose the saw blade, on above the table and one below. The LEV airflow into these hoods carries the wood dust away. The contaminated extracted air is transported through the duct work to the filer and fan unit. The Filter removes the dust from the air. The fan creates the airflow. It’s the motor that moves air through the system.

Local Exhaust Ventilation Extraction & Hood Design

An LEV system will often provide extraction at more than one machine. Getting the right type of LEV hood is the most critical step. If the hood design is right for the process then it is possible to control the dust and fume. Soldering work produces fume which can cause Asthma.

Here the worker is protected by the LEV hood and system but how does it work? The hot fume cloud rises but is prevented from reaching the woman’s breathing zone by the enclosing hood. The LEV airflow draws the fume filled air away. The Enclosure and the airflow act together to protect the workers health.

Enclosures can be very effective but in practice LEV hoods come in all shapes and sizes from ones which are large enough to stand in to others that are tiny and built into tools.

LEV Hood Design

LEV hood design is critical to controlling dust and fumes. For almost any dusty or fumy process there is an LEV hood and system design that will provide effective control. Make sure your LEV is the right sort and is properly applied. Well designed and applied LEV systems can really protect your workers health.

Professional advice is widely available; you can get competent help from your trade association or a professional adviser. Printed guidance on how to choose and use LEV is available from the HSE and a range of information and links can be found at the HSE LEV websites.

What is Local Exhaust Ventilation? – Health & Safety Executive

Expert LEV Testing & Local Exhaust Ventilation Inspection Solutions

Contact WTS today to find out more about our expert LEV testing and Local Exhaust Ventilation inspection solutions and how we can help improve workplace health, safety and compliance issues.

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, in-field LEV specialists and technical experts we can offer professional, cost effective Local Exhaust Ventilation testing and inspection support solutions across the whole of the UK.

Contact us now for more information.