There could be a number of possible reasons why the booth was not being used correctly. Perhaps management and the workforce don’t fully understand the health risks and so don’t appreciate the importance of using the controls properly. Perhaps the workers haven’t been properly trained on how to use the booth. However, there could be a problem with the design of the booth. It is possible that carrying out the work inside the enclosure presents the operator with some practical difficulties. Perhaps the fine work required is difficult to complete properly if the casting is inside the booth or the booth dimensions, particularly the height, could cause the worker to adopt an awkward posture which causes discomfort and could lead to musculoskeletal problems. Solving one problem often creates another. Ergonomics is often neglected when designing engineering controls for chemical hazards. Ideally workers need to be consulted and involved in the specification and design of the controls and its good practice to build and test a prototype before finalising the design. Proper commissioning of the controls should also check for usability.

What does LEV testing involve? A thorough examination of equipment including hoods, filters and ducts, measurement of the technical performance using the appropriate equipment and assessment of the effectiveness of the LEV system. We will make recommendations should your system not be up to the required standard. All work is carried out according to HSE guidance which governs LEV testing.

As LEV is a control measure under COSHH Regulations it must be regularly and thoroughly inspected and tested. As stated above, LEV regulations outline that any employer who uses local exhaust ventilation to control hazardous substances must ensure that it is operating effectively. Local Exhaust Ventilation Testing is a legal requirement in the UK. All equipment must be thoroughly examined and tested by a competent person at least every 14 months to ensure employees are safe.

All Companies and Employers using extraction equipment have legal requirements they must undertake. All equipment must be examined and tested in order to comply with Regulation 9 of the COSHH Regulations. The Employer must make sure that equipment is maintained and in efficient working order and of good repair. A thorough test should be undertaken once every 14 months and in some cases far more frequently. It is also a requirement of the employer to keep a suitable record of the test. All for a period of at least 5 years. This record should also include details of repairs carried out as a result of the test. Read more details at HSE LEV Testing.

The employer must consider other control options and use them where appropriate (see HSE leaflets Working with substances hazardous to health1 and Clearing the air2) before applying LEV. In some circumstances, LEV may not be a reasonably practicable control as there may be many sources or extensive contaminant clouds that are too large for LEV alone to control. LEV suppliers provide goods (an LEV system) and may then act as a service provider. Designers interpret the requirements of the employer and advise on an effective LEV system which is capable of delivering the required control.