How to choose an LEV testing company

Describe what your extraction controls

Start with what your extraction is there to control. Write down the work process, the material being handled and the people who use the equipment. Include the number of systems and hoods, their locations and any changes since the last examination. Give each company the same description so you can compare its proposed work with the others.

A competent person needs information about the intended performance of your LEV system. That may come from a commissioning report, the supplier's operating data or suitable guidance for a simple installation. Gather what you have before booking. If documents are missing, ask the examiner whether they can establish suitable performance standards for the system and explain any additional work.

Check experience as well as qualifications

Ask about training, practical experience and previous work with systems like yours. BOHS P601 covers thorough examination and testing. HSE says a training course by itself will not make a person competent. Ask the person who will attend to explain their approach, the information they need and how they will judge whether control is adequate.

LevHQ displays qualifications claimed by listed companies. We do not verify those claims. Ask to see evidence directly and request references for comparable work.

Agree access and what is included

Discuss safe access to the equipment and any permits needed at your site. Explain when the relevant processes run and who can demonstrate normal working methods. The examiner needs to observe how the extraction is used, as well as take measurements. Check how the visit fits around production and who will accompany the examiner.

Ask for a written scope covering the examination, measurements and findings. Confirm whether commissioning work, repairs or a return visit are included. Ask when you will receive the written record and how urgent defects will be reported. The LEV testing cost guide lists the starting prices that some listed companies publish.

Questions to ask every company

HSE advises getting more than one quote. Ask each company the same questions so you can compare the answers side by side.

• Who will carry out the examination, and which systems like ours have they tested?
• Which qualifications do they hold, and can we see evidence?
• Does the price cover the examination, the measurements, the written record and any return visit?
• What information do they need from us before the visit?
• How will they tell us about urgent defects, and when will we receive the written record?

Understand the examination

The examiner checks the condition of the equipment, reviews technical performance and assesses control effectiveness. Visual inspection can reveal damage, wear, blocked ducts or problems with the fan and filters. Settled dust around a hood can indicate a control problem. Measurements are compared with the intended performance. Observation of the process helps establish whether the system is capturing the contaminant where it is produced.

Airflow readings are part of that assessment. They need to be considered with hood position, working methods and the available performance information. A fan that sounds as though it is running is not enough evidence of control.

Read the findings and plan the next examination

The written record should identify the equipment, describe the checks and give the results. It should explain defects and the action needed. Read it and ask the examiner about anything unclear. COSHH Regulation 9 requires the record, or a suitable summary, to be kept available for at least five years from the date it was made.

Routine user checks and maintenance continue between statutory examinations. Follow the user manual and keep a log of checks, faults and repairs. Dust escaping during normal work needs investigation. If wear could reduce effectiveness between visits, testing should be more frequent.

Choose a date that allows the examination to be completed before it is due. Agree any follow-up work directly with the tester. Keep the commissioning information alongside later records so the next examiner can compare performance and see which changes or repairs have been made.