With LEV’s being a big part of the food industry we urge our members to make sure that commissioning documentation is supplied anyone completing the 14 month thorough examination. Failure to supply this documentation will mean the inspector will not have performance information relating to the expected draw/ extraction at different points of the system. This will result in them stating an average reading. The average reading will not satisfy the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (CoSHH). In addition, we hear of new guidance for LEV inspectors being published by SAFed as below:

Published by the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed), this document highlights that those undertaking thorough examinations and tests of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) require clear and definitive guidance with respect to the procedures that should be adopted.

The purpose is to ensure that such control measures are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order, in good repair and in a clean condition so that the control measure is effective in adequately controlling the hazardous substance in accordance with Regulation 7 of COSHH. Unlike other thorough examinations to ensure the continued safe use of equipment, the purpose of a thorough examination of LEV equipment is to ensure that it provides the effective and adequate protection from airborne hazardous substances to protect workers. In some cases, this may require air sampling to confirm the workplace exposure assessment. This can be provided by the inspection body, if they have the necessary equipment and competence to do so, or it can be provided by an external organisation as a supplementary test.

The aim of this guidance is to provide member companies with the appropriate information to ensure that the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH) Regulation 9, the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) Regulation 8, and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR) Regulation 13 are taken fully into account when undertaking LEV thorough examinations and tests.

In addition, the guidance will help to achieve a consistent approach by member companies when undertaking this activity, covering a variety of processes by ‘typical extraction type’.

It is noted that the guidance is for the use of Engineer Surveyors (ES) and it assumes a level of competence in the examination and testing of LEV to cover the legal requirements to examine such equipment.

https://www.safed.co.uk/publications/tc8-local-exhaust-ventilation

Should you want to learn more about this topic please contact:  simonbrentnall@bfff.co.uk