Local Exhaust Ventilation systems do a fantastic job of making the air surrounding an operator safe, they are designed to efficiently and quickly remove hazardous fumes from the operators breathing zone.

Many harmful fumes are invisible, so at a glance how can an operator tell if their LEV is operating correctly or at all? It may be easy if the task they are performing produces smoke, they would see that being pulled away, but what about those nasties in the air that are hard to see or completely invisible, for example dust particles.

 

Part of the responsibility of owning/providing LEV includes ensuring an up to date LEV test is performed on the equipment from day one. This test ensures that the equipment is effective in its location at removing those hazardous fumes or particles from the air ensuring that the operator is capable of maintaining a safe workspace. 
But is passing an LEV test enough? No, the HSE guidance on continued operation (HSG258 Paragraph 106) states:-

"Employers need to ensure that LEV systems continue to work properly. There are several ways of checking this, such as using an anemometer, dust lamp or smoke tracer – with the work process running. But the simplest way is probably to use and airflow indicator. This will give the operator a simple indication that the hood is working properly."

Adding an Airflow indicator to a new or existing LEV system is simple, the AFI is simply fitted to the system in a location where the operator can easily check, as soon as they turn the LEV equipment on the operator will have a clear indication whether the LEV is working or not.

 

Nederman provides a range of Airflow Indicators  which will suit almost any LEV system and can be fitted by one of our engineers to Nederman systems or even other makes of LEV equipment.
For more information on our LEV equipment, Air Flow Indicators of LEV testing please contact Nederman today.