LEV testing in Bedford

What a Bedford LEV test covers

LEV testing checks that your extraction still controls exposure to airborne contaminants as intended. For employers using it to control hazardous substances, thorough examination and testing is a legal requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. COSHH regulations set the general interval at least once every 14 months, or at the shorter interval in Schedule 4 for its specified processes. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance HSG258 describes a visual inspection, a review of technical performance and an assessment of control effectiveness. This covers the LEV system as it is used, including how employees position the hoods and carry out the work. Measurements alone need to be considered alongside those observations. Read the LEV testing regulations guide for the duty and shorter intervals.

Choose a competent person with relevant knowledge, skills and practical experience of LEV systems like yours. Give them your commissioning report, user manual, logbook and previous findings where available. These help establish how the LEV system should perform and whether it has changed. Tell the examiner about new processes, different materials or altered ductwork before the visit. Arrange safe access and discuss safety risks and how normal work can be observed during the examination. Ask for a written scope and a clear record of the results, including defects and the action needed. Keep that record, or a suitable summary, available for at least five years from the date it was made. Read the findings and act on them. To support a compliant workplace, maintain effective control between visits and record routine checks and repairs. The LEV testing cost guide explains what to include when asking companies to price the work.