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 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.

LEV Testing is a legal requirement in the UK for compliance with health and safety standards. LEV Test reports often form part of a company’s insurance policy. Inadequate testing can result in employers being prosecuted, insurance policies being invalidated and even employees becoming ill.

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.

This guidance explains how local exhaust ventilation (LEV) can help employers effectively control exposure to gas, vapour, dust, fume and mist in workplace air by extracting the clouds of contaminant before people breathe them in. It describes the principles of design, installation, commissioning, testing and examination of proportionate ‘ventilation controls’.