Of the five controls tested the enclosing hood, the downdraught bench and the on-tip extraction system are the most effective. Each has advantages and disadvantages in various situations and careful consideration of the processes and tasks to be controlled is required to select between the three. The mobile capturing hood is capable of controlling exposure if used correctly, but like all capturing hoods requires repositioning if the source moves in order to keep it within the effective capturing zone. This means that the potential for worker misuse leading to exposure to solder fume is high, for this reason it should be considered secondary to the other forms of control in the opinion of the author.

What is LEV and why do I need it? Every year, thousands of workers in Britain develop occupational diseases from breathing in certain dusts, fumes or other airborne contaminants at work. Local Exhaust Ventilation, often called dust or fume extraction, can help clean the air, before people breathe in these harmful substances. (Excerpt from HSE web site).

According to the HSE, around 13,000 workers in the UK die each year from historic work-related exposure to airborne contaminants at work leading to lung disease and various cancers. These figures are estimated to be attributed to past exposure, primarily to chemical and dust at work.

Equipment that draws pollutants from an operation or process in the working environment. Made up of an inlet like a hood, slit, arm, cabinet or booth. This will be located near to or close to the area of the substance release. All suchlike equipment needs to be connected by ducting and a fan to enable the movement of air. The removed air passed through a filter or is extracted to atmosphere away from the workplace. How Welding Supplies Direct can help ? WE will carry out a thorough tests in line with COSHH Regulation 9 as detailed in HSE Guide HSG258 Our levels of service can be tailored to your Companies needs. However, most clients choose to take advantage of by combining servicing with the LEV testing. Read more info on Local Exhaust Ventilation LEV Testing.

Where employers use or intend to use LEV they must ensure that it is appropriate for the task, installed and operated correctly and subsequently maintained so it continues to operate as when originally installed. Suppliers of LEV can play an important role in helping the employer with the design, installation and maintenance of the equipment. This guidance is therefore intended to help employers and suppliers as well as managers, trade union and employee safety representatives to work together to provide effective LEV so that workers are not breathing in hazardous substances. Different chapters will be more appropriate for different audiences.