Can You Do Your Own LEV Testing? User Checks vs Thorough Examination Explained

You know your LEV system needs testing. You might even know there's a legal requirement. But can you do the testing yourself, or do you have to pay someone every time?

The answer is: both. UK law distinguishes between two types of LEV check — routine user checks you can handle in-house, and formal thorough examinations that need a competent person. Getting clear on which is which will save you money and keep you on the right side of the Health and Safety Executive.

What UK Law Requires for LEV Testing

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) govern LEV systems in the UK. Regulation 9 is the one that matters here. It places three specific duties on employers:

Maintain LEV systems in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair.
Thoroughly examine and test (TExT) each LEV system at intervals not exceeding 14 months.
Keep records of every examination and test for at least 5 years, and make them available to HSE inspectors on request.

These duties apply regardless of business size. A two-person woodworking shop has the same legal obligations as a factory with 200 employees.

The HSE's published guidance, HSG258, expands on what Regulation 9 means in practice. It's 217 pages long, but the core message is straightforward: LEV systems need both regular user checks and periodic formal examinations.

User Checks — What You Can Do Yourself

User checks are the routine inspections you carry out between formal examinations. They're your responsibility as the employer, and your own staff can do them. No external examiner needed.

These checks catch problems early — a blocked filter, a worn belt, a hood that's been knocked out of position. Left unnoticed, any of these can mean your LEV stops protecting workers long before the next formal test.

What user checks involve

The specifics depend on your LEV type, but here's what to look for:

Dust extraction (woodworking, manufacturing):

Check capture velocity at the hood — hold a tissue or light strip near the extraction point to confirm airflow
Look for dust deposits around the hood and on work surfaces (dust settling where it shouldn't means capture is failing)
Check ducting for visible damage, disconnections, or blockages
Inspect the filter or bag for tears, excessive loading, or bypass
Check the fan is running smoothly — listen for unusual noise or vibration
Read and record any static pressure gauges fitted to the system

Fume hoods and cupboards (labs, dental labs):

Check face velocity using an anemometer if available, or use a smoke tube to observe airflow at the hood opening
Confirm the sash opens and closes smoothly
Look for obstructions inside the hood that might disrupt airflow
Check the alarm or warning indicator functions (if fitted)

Spray booth ventilation (automotive, painting):

Confirm airflow direction is correct — air should move from the operator towards the booth filters
Check filters for loading and damage
Inspect booth seals and panels for gaps
Check the manometer or pressure gauge reading against the baseline

Kitchen and welding extraction:

Confirm the system draws air away from the worker's breathing zone
Check filters and grease traps for loading
Look for grease or residue buildup in ductwork access points
Check capture hoods haven't been repositioned away from the source

Nail bar and dental suction:

Confirm suction at each nozzle or arm
Check flexible hoses for kinks, cracks, or blockages
Clean or replace filters on schedule
Check the motor runs without unusual noise

Who can do them

Any employee with adequate training. The HSE's guidance for employers states that the person carrying out user checks should understand how the system works, know what to look for, and know what to do if something is wrong.

This doesn't require a formal qualification. A 30-minute walkthrough of the system with clear documentation of what to check is usually sufficient for straightforward LEV systems.

How often

Daily or weekly, depending on how critical the LEV is and how harsh the working environment is. HSG258 recommends daily checks for systems where failure would mean immediate exposure to a serious health hazard. Weekly checks may be sufficient for lower-risk systems in stable environments.

The practical rule: if your LEV protects against substances that cause serious lung disease (wood dust, silica, welding fume, isocyanates), check it daily.

Thorough Examination and Testing — What Needs a Competent Person

A thorough examination and test (TExT) is a formal, in-depth assessment of whether your LEV system is performing as designed. This is the legal requirement under COSHH Regulation 9, and it must happen at least every 14 months.

What TExT involves

A TExT goes well beyond a visual check. The competent examiner will:

Measure capture and transport velocities at each hood and along the ductwork using calibrated instruments
Assess the system's effectiveness — is it actually controlling exposure at the point of use?
Inspect all components — hoods, ducting, filters, fans, discharge points — for wear, damage, or modification
Check the system against its design specification — does it still match what was originally installed?
Test air cleaning equipment (filters, scrubbers) for performance
Review maintenance and user check records to identify patterns
Produce a written report documenting findings, measurements, and any remedial actions required

The examiner records their findings on standardised forms — typically P601 (for LEV examination) or P604 (for RPE). These forms provide a structured framework for reporting, though the examiner may use their own format provided it covers all required elements.

Who qualifies as "competent"

The term "competent person" isn't a protected legal title. COSHH doesn't specify a particular qualification. What the law requires is someone with sufficient training, knowledge, and experience for the specific type of LEV system being examined.

In practice, this means:

For simple systems (single-hood dust extraction, basic fume arms): an experienced LEV engineer or occupational hygienist with relevant training.
For complex systems (multi-hood installations, recirculating systems, spray booths): someone with specific expertise in that LEV type, often with formal qualifications such as the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) P601/P602 modules.

The competent person should be independent enough to give an honest assessment. Using the same company that installed or maintains your LEV is acceptable, but they must be willing to report problems without conflict of interest.

How to find a competent examiner

Start with the HSE's LEV guidance pages, which outline what to look for. Ask potential examiners about their specific experience with your type of LEV system, what instruments they use, and what their report will include. Request a sample report before committing.

What the report should include

A TExT report must record:

The date of the examination and test
The condition of each component examined
The results of all measurements and tests
Whether the system is performing as designed
Any repairs or modifications required
When the next examination is due (no later than 14 months from this one)

You must keep these reports for at least 5 years. HSE inspectors can ask to see them at any time. Use our free LEV testing due date calculator to track when your next TExT is due.

How Often Each Type of Check Should Happen

Check type	Who does it	Frequency	What's involved
Daily user check	Trained employee	Every working day	Visual inspection, airflow confirmation, obvious damage check
Weekly user check	Trained employee	Weekly	More thorough visual check, static pressure readings, filter condition
Thorough examination and test (TExT)	Competent person	At least every 14 months	Full performance testing, measurements, written report

Some situations require more frequent TExT cycles. If your LEV controls exposure to substances with very high toxicity, or if the system is subject to heavy wear, your risk assessment may indicate testing every 6 or 12 months instead.

What Records You Must Keep

Record-keeping is where many businesses fall down. The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25, and poor LEV record-keeping is one of the most common reasons businesses fail inspections. Less than half of companies with LEV systems regularly test them — and of those that do test, many cannot produce adequate records.

For user checks

There's no legally prescribed format, but you should record:

Date and time of the check
Who carried it out
What was checked
Any readings taken (static pressure, face velocity)
Any problems found
What action was taken

A simple logbook, spreadsheet, or digital record works. The key is consistency — a gap in your records looks like a gap in your checks.

For TExT reports

These must contain all the information listed in the report section above. The examiner produces them, but you're responsible for keeping them safe and accessible for at least 5 years.

Paper or digital

Both are legally acceptable. The COSHH Regulations don't specify a format. What matters is that records are complete, legible, and available when an inspector asks.

Digital records have practical advantages: they're harder to lose, easier to search, and simpler to share with inspectors or examiners. But a well-maintained paper logbook meets the legal requirement just as well. Use our free record-keeping requirements checker to confirm your records cover everything the regulations require.

Your User Check Checklist

Use our free LEV compliance checklist generator to build a checklist tailored to your LEV type — or use this as a starting point and adapt it for your specific system.

Run through this daily before work starts. It takes 5-10 minutes for most systems, and it's the single most practical thing you can do to maintain LEV performance between formal examinations.

Keeping On Top of It All

Managing the paperwork — user check logs, TExT reports, examiner details, 14-month deadlines across multiple units — is the part most businesses struggle with. LEVproof will be a digital logbook designed specifically for this: tracking your testing schedule, storing records, and keeping everything audit-ready. If that sounds useful, join the waitlist to get early access.

Sources

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) — legislation.gov.uk
HSG258: Controlling airborne contaminants at work — HSE
LEV guidance for employers — HSE
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) guidance — HSE
COSHH main page — HSE

This guide summarises published HSE and government guidance. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.