Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Validation
In a report in 2016/17 the Health and Safety Executive estimated 13,000 deaths each year are linked to past exposure to chemicals or dust at work. Regular testing of LEV systems not only protect your employees, it also ensures you are complying with the HSE legislation under COSHH – the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations.
The Risk of Disease
Extraction systems such as LEVs are a must if organisations from healthcare to industry, laboratories and hospitality are to ensure the air we breathe is free of contamination.
Dust inhalation poses a major health risk and puts workers at risk of lung disease and lung cancer, asthma, rhinitis, pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
LEVs (Local Exhaust Vents) in air ventilation systems, if left uncleaned, present a risk of infection by facilitating the spread of airborne infections such as MRSA and circulating dust particles. This is especially concerning in clinical settings where patients are immunocompromised, and therefore more likely to acquire an infection. However, ensuring the air quality is consistent in laboratories and exhaust fume cabinets is also important in optimising their performance.
Maintaining Air Quality
Whatever environmental setting a LEV is placed in, maintaining air quality is essential in reducing the risk of transmission of infection and lung diseases from dust and other airborne contaminants. If not maintained in hospitals, it can result in a longer hospital stays, as well as cost of care. In other settings, it can, in the long term, cause lung health issues and could result in personal injury claims.
It is also a COSHH requirement that LEV systems are maintained and inspected with a thorough examination taking place at least every 14 months. It is important therefore that a registered company is used to ensure COSHH statutory law is complied with and so that if an audit was to be carried out, that the LEV system has been maintained according to requirements.
Our LEV maintenance services can be combined with our other services focused on the air vector of transmission to create an effective strategy, ensuring a consistent supply of clean air.
Did you know?
Contaminated air with microbes and particulates can cause respiratory tract complications such as pneumonia2
How Inivos Can Help
We help reduce the risk of air pollutants through thorough testing and examination of your LEV systems to a give you peace of mind and ensure you are within the law.
Our Service
We manage the process through from end to end whether an emergency call out, specific project or a managed service contract. Our teams of qualified technicians are able to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We offer an on-call service for a rapid turnaround and to ensure minimum disruption.
Pre-Service Assessment
Our approach begins with a thorough understanding of your current Health and Safety plan around airborne particles as well as the details of the LEV’s use and purpose. We then use our insights to design solutions that meet your needs and implement a strategy to service your LEVs to you’re your employees and service users safe.
Post-Service Validation
Post-service validation is important to reassure you and the health and safety regulators you have done everything possible to prevent pollutants getting into the air and endangering the health of your workforce. We produce a comprehensive report for you containing the complete details of the validation that has been carried out.
Post-Replacement Assessment
After replacing HEPA filters, we assess the newly installed filters and provide certification for the changed filter. We can also provide a maintenance contract for replacement of your HEPA filters to give you assurance of the efficacy of your filters.
