The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25. Among the most common findings: businesses that have LEV systems but no structured process for checking them between formal examinations. Less than half of companies with LEV systems regularly test them. Of those that do get the 14-month TExT done, many have no evidence of any checks in between.

A written checklist, used consistently and recorded properly, is the simplest way to close that gap. Here's what it should contain and how to use it.

Why You Need an LEV Inspection Checklist

Your LEV system undergoes a thorough examination and test (TExT) at least every 14 months. That examination confirms the system works on one specific day. Between examinations, you're responsible for making sure it keeps working. That's your duty under COSHH Regulation 9 — maintain LEV in efficient working order, efficient working condition, and good repair.

A checklist does three things:

1. Prevents missed checks. Without a list, people check what they remember to check. A hood knocked out of position gets noticed. A slowly clogging filter doesn't — until capture performance drops below effective levels.
2. Creates a record. COSHH doesn't explicitly require user check records, but HSG258 recommends them, and HSE inspectors look for them. A completed checklist is evidence that you're meeting your maintenance duty.
3. Catches problems early. A daily check that takes 5 minutes can identify a failing component before it becomes a system failure. Early intervention is cheaper than emergency repair and far cheaper than an enforcement notice.

Daily User Check Items

These seven checks apply to virtually every LEV type — dust extraction, fume hoods, spray booths, welding extractors, dental suction, nail ventilation, kitchen extraction. Run through them at the start of every working day, before the system is needed.

Universal daily checklist

• System powers on and runs. Switch the system on. Confirm the fan starts, runs to full speed, and sounds normal. Unusual noise (grinding, rattling, high-pitched whine) indicates a mechanical problem — worn bearings, a loose fan blade, a slipping belt.

• Airflow confirmed at every capture point. Hold a tissue, a light strip of paper, or your hand near each hood, slot, or extraction opening. You should feel a definite pull. If suction is weak or absent at any point, the system isn't capturing contaminants there. For systems with multiple hoods, check each one — a blocked branch can reduce flow at one hood while others seem fine.

• No visible escape of dust, fume, or vapour. With the system running and the process active (or simulated), watch the capture zone. Contaminants should be drawn into the hood, not drifting past it into the room. Visible escape means the system isn't capturing adequately at that point.

• Hoods and capture points correctly positioned. Flexible arms, moveable hoods, and adjustable canopies must be positioned close to the source. A welding extraction arm that's been pushed to the side, or a downdraft slot that's been covered with tools, isn't protecting anyone. Check that nothing has been moved since the last shift.

• Ductwork intact. Look along visible ductwork for gaps, cracks, loose joints, dents, and disconnections. Even a small hole in ductwork between the hood and the fan reduces capture velocity at the hood. Flexible sections are especially vulnerable to damage.

• Filters and collectors not overloaded. Check filter indicators, bag condition, collection bins, and dust drawers. An overloaded filter restricts airflow across the whole system. If your system has a differential pressure gauge across the filter, read it and note the value. A rising reading means increasing resistance — the filter needs attention.

• Gauges and indicators within normal range. If your system has static pressure gauges, manometers, airflow indicators, or warning lights, read them. Compare against the baseline values recorded when the system was last tested or commissioned. Significant deviation from baseline means something has changed — investigate before continuing work.

Time required: 5-10 minutes for a single-system installation. 15-20 minutes for multi-hood setups.

Who does it: Any employee trained to understand the system and recognise problems. No formal qualification required. The HSE's employer guidance states the person needs to understand how the system works, know what to look for, and know what to do when something is wrong.

Weekly Inspection Items

Weekly checks go slightly deeper than daily ones. These cover items that don't change day-to-day but can deteriorate over a week of operation.

• Flexible hoses and connections. Inspect all flexible ductwork, hose connections, and couplings for cracks, kinks, crushing, and looseness. Flexible sections have shorter lifespans than rigid ductwork and are the most common point of failure.

• Dampers and blast gates. Check that all dampers and blast gates are in their correct positions and operate freely. A stuck blast gate can redirect airflow away from an active hood, leaving a worker unprotected.

• Fan belt tension and condition (where accessible). If your system uses a belt-driven fan and the belt is accessible for inspection, check for wear, fraying, glazing, and correct tension. A slipping belt reduces fan speed and airflow. Many systems are direct-drive, in which case skip this item.

• Collection and disposal. Empty dust collection bins, replace full bags, clean out waste traps. An overflowing collection point creates back-pressure that affects the whole system. Dispose of waste properly — wood dust and some metal dusts are combustible.

• External discharge point. If the system exhausts outside, check the discharge grille or stack for blockage (leaves, debris, bird nests, ice in winter). A blocked discharge restricts the entire system.

Time required: 10-15 minutes on top of your daily check.

What to Document and How Long to Keep It

For every check, record:

Retention period: COSHH Regulation 9 mandates 5-year retention for TExT reports. For user check records, there's no specific statutory minimum, but HSG258 recommends keeping them alongside your TExT records. In practice, keep everything for at least 5 years. If an inspector asks to see evidence of ongoing maintenance, you want the full picture available.

Format: Paper or digital. The regulations don't prescribe a format. What matters is that records are complete, legible, and accessible when needed. For a detailed comparison of the two approaches, see our paper vs digital log book guide.

Making Your Checklist Sector-Specific

The daily and weekly items above are universal. But different LEV types have additional check points that matter for your specific setup.

Woodworking dust extraction: Check for dust deposits on surfaces near the extraction point — this is the clearest visual indicator that capture is failing. Inspect the blast gate positions if your system serves multiple machines. Check the bin-full indicator on the collector.

Spray booths: Check filters for paint loading and replace on schedule. Confirm airflow direction (from operator towards the booth). Inspect booth seals and panels for gaps that would disrupt the airflow pattern. Read the manometer.

Welding fume extraction: Check that extraction arms reach the weld point and are being positioned within 200-300 mm of the arc. Inspect the arm's articulation — stiff joints mean operators won't reposition the arm between welds. Check filter condition and the auto-clean function if fitted.

Laboratory fume cupboards: Test face velocity with an anemometer if available — a reading below 0.5 m/s at the working aperture warrants investigation. Check the sash mechanism. Confirm the alarm or low-flow indicator works. Look for excessive clutter inside the cupboard that could disrupt airflow.

Dental suction and nail bar ventilation: Check suction strength at each individual handpiece or station. Inspect flexible hoses for kinks and blockages. Confirm filters are clean and the motor runs without unusual vibration.

Our compliance checklist generator builds a tailored checklist based on your LEV type, sector, and number of systems. It takes about 2 minutes and gives you a ready-to-use document.

Turning Your Checklist Into a Routine

A checklist only works if people use it. A few practical points that make the difference between a checklist that lives and one that gets ignored after the first week:

Make it visible. Pin the checklist next to the LEV system, not in a folder in the office. The closer it is to the equipment, the more likely it gets completed.

Make it quick. The daily checklist above takes 5-10 minutes. If your checklist takes 30 minutes, it won't get done on busy days. Keep it tight.

Assign it to a named person. "Everyone should check the LEV" means nobody checks the LEV. Name one person per shift or per day. Rotate if needed, but always have a named individual.

Review completed checklists weekly. Someone with management responsibility should glance at the week's completed checklists. Are all days covered? Any recurring issues? Any readings trending in the wrong direction?

Act on findings immediately. If a check reveals a problem, fix it or take the affected hood out of use. A checklist that documents the same fault day after day without action is worse than no checklist — it's evidence that you knew about a problem and didn't address it.

Your Starting Point

Download-ready checklists are useful. Sector-specific checklists are better. Our compliance checklist generator creates a tailored inspection checklist based on your LEV type, industry, and number of systems — ready to print or use digitally. The record-keeping requirements checker can then help you confirm your documentation meets COSHH requirements.

LEVproof will bring checklists, records, and TExT tracking together in one system — designed for UK businesses that need LEV compliance without the admin overhead. Join the waitlist for 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.

COSHH isn't a vague set of principles. It places specific, enforceable duties on employers. Three regulations in particular create the framework around LEV systems. Here's what each one requires and how they connect.

What COSHH Is

COSHH is a set of statutory regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It applies to every employer in the UK whose workers are or may be exposed to hazardous substances — dusts, fumes, vapours, mists, gases, biological agents, and any substance with a workplace exposure limit.

That covers most workplaces. If you run a woodworking shop, a bakery, a welding fabrication unit, a dental practice, a nail salon, a laboratory, a spray booth, or a commercial kitchen, COSHH applies to you. The HSE's COSHH guidance provides the full scope.

COSHH creates duties at every stage: assess the risk, control exposure, maintain your controls, test and examine them, monitor the workplace, carry out health surveillance where required, and train your people. LEV sits at the heart of this because it's the most common engineering control used to meet the duty to adequately control exposure.

Regulation 7 — Adequate Control of Exposure

Regulation 7 is where it starts. It requires every employer to ensure that exposure to hazardous substances is either prevented or, where prevention isn't reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.

COSHH sets out a hierarchy of control measures:

1. Eliminate the substance or the process that generates it
2. Substitute a less hazardous alternative
3. Enclose the process to contain the substance
4. Engineering controls — LEV sits here
5. Administrative controls and PPE — last resort only

LEV enters the picture at step 4. If you can't eliminate the hazard, substitute it, or fully enclose the process, you need engineering controls to capture the substance at source. That's what LEV does.

Critically, PPE (dust masks, respirators) should not be your primary control if LEV is reasonably practicable. An employer who hands out face masks instead of installing extraction where extraction would work is not meeting Regulation 7. The HSE's position on this is clear — PPE is supplementary, not a substitute for proper engineering controls.

What "adequate control" means

For substances with a workplace exposure limit (WEL), adequate control means keeping exposure below that limit. For carcinogens, mutagens, and substances causing occupational asthma, the duty is stricter: you must reduce exposure as far as is reasonably practicable, even if exposure is already below the WEL.

Your COSHH assessment (required under Regulation 6) is what determines which substances are present, what the exposure risk is, and which control measures are needed. If the assessment identifies LEV as necessary, you must install and operate it. There's no discretion once the assessment has been done properly.

Regulation 9 — Examination, Testing, and Maintenance

This is the regulation that most directly affects LEV management. Regulation 9 creates four duties:

1. Maintain LEV in efficient working order, efficient working condition, and good repair.

This is a continuous obligation. It means routine maintenance — replacing filters, repairing damaged ductwork, adjusting hoods, replacing worn belts — not just waiting for the annual examiner. A system that's technically "working" but performing below its design specification doesn't meet this duty.

2. Thorough examination and test (TExT) at intervals not exceeding 14 months.

Every LEV system provided as a COSHH control measure must be formally examined and tested by a competent person at least once in every 14-month period. This involves measured performance testing against the system's design specification, a physical inspection of all components, and a written report. It's not a service call — it's an independent assessment of whether the system is doing its job.

3. Keep records for a minimum of 5 years.

Every TExT report must be retained for at least 5 years and be available for HSE inspectors on request. HSG258 also recommends keeping records of user checks and routine maintenance.

4. Ensure LEV is properly used.

Workers must actually use the system when carrying out work that generates airborne contaminants. A dust extraction system that nobody switches on doesn't meet the legal requirement, regardless of how well it's maintained.

Regulation 12 — Health Surveillance

Regulation 12 requires health surveillance for employees exposed to certain hazardous substances, even when controls like LEV are in place. This applies when your COSHH assessment identifies exposure to substances known to cause identifiable diseases or adverse health effects, and there's a valid technique for detecting early signs.

For LEV operators, health surveillance is most commonly relevant when workers are exposed to:

• Wood dust — associated with nasal cancer and occupational asthma
• Welding fume — linked to lung cancer and occupational asthma (HSE updated its enforcement position on welding fume in 2019, following evidence that all welding fume — not just stainless steel — poses a carcinogenic risk)
• Isocyanates — found in spray paints and foam production, a leading cause of occupational asthma
• Flour dust — causes baker's asthma
• Silica dust — causes silicosis

Health surveillance might include lung function tests (spirometry), skin checks, or symptom questionnaires, depending on the substance. The results can also tell you something about your LEV's effectiveness. If workers develop symptoms despite LEV being in place, the system may not be controlling exposure adequately — which circles back to Regulation 7.

How COSHH Assessments Connect to LEV

The COSHH assessment is the foundation. Without it, you don't know what substances your workers are exposed to, what control measures are needed, or whether LEV is required.

A COSHH assessment must:

• Identify the hazardous substances present in your workplace
• Assess the risk of exposure — who's exposed, how, and how much
• Determine what control measures are needed to prevent or adequately control exposure
• Be reviewed regularly and updated whenever work processes change

If the assessment identifies LEV as a control measure, the system must be installed, maintained, tested, and recorded in line with Regulation 9. If you skip the assessment, you've breached Regulation 6 — and you've also got no basis for knowing whether your existing controls (including any LEV) are adequate.

Many businesses install LEV but never revisit whether the system still matches the work being done. A dust extraction system designed for one type of wood processing may be inadequate if you switch to composite materials that generate finer particles. The COSHH assessment should be a living document, reviewed whenever processes, substances, or working patterns change.

Common COSHH Mistakes With LEV Systems

These come up repeatedly in HSE enforcement actions and inspection findings.

Treating PPE as the primary control. Handing out dust masks to workers while a perfectly viable extraction point sits unused (or uninstalled) is a Regulation 7 failure. PPE supplements LEV. It doesn't replace it.

Overdue TExT examinations. The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25. Overdue or missing TExT reports are among the most common findings. Less than half of companies with LEV systems regularly test them.

No user checks between examinations. A TExT confirms the system works on one day. Without regular user checks, you have no evidence the system was working on the other 400+ days between examinations.

Missing or incomplete records. Having the test done but losing the paperwork puts you in the same position as not testing at all. The law requires you to produce records, not just have them somewhere.

No COSHH assessment, or an outdated one. Without a current assessment, you can't demonstrate that your LEV is the right control measure, or that it's adequate for the substances and processes in your workplace.

Modifying LEV without re-assessment. Adding a new extraction point to an existing system, extending ductwork, or changing the process can all affect system performance. Any modification should trigger a review of whether the system still meets its design specification.

Practical Compliance Steps

Meeting your COSHH obligations around LEV comes down to a repeatable process.

1. Complete your COSHH assessment. Identify substances, assess exposure, determine control measures. If LEV is required, document why.
2. Install appropriate LEV. Designed for your specific substances and processes, not a generic off-the-shelf unit unless it genuinely fits.
3. Commission and record the baseline. When the system is installed, record its design specification and commissioning data. This becomes the benchmark for all future TExT examinations.
4. Set up user checks. Train someone to carry out daily or weekly inspections. Use a sector-specific checklist and record every check.
5. Schedule TExT within 14 months. Book your competent examiner. Use the due date calculator to track the deadline. Set reminders well in advance.
6. Store records securely. Keep TExT reports and user check logs for at least 5 years. Make them accessible for inspection. The record-keeping requirements checker can help identify gaps.
7. Act on findings. Fix problems identified in TExT reports and user checks. Record the repair.
8. Review your COSHH assessment. Revisit it whenever processes, substances, or working conditions change. Update it at least annually as good practice.

COSHH compliance around LEV isn't a one-off project. It's an ongoing cycle of assess, control, maintain, test, record, and review. LEVproof will be a digital tool designed to keep that cycle running without the administrative overhead. Join the waitlist for early access.

Sources

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

Most UK businesses still use paper log books. Many of those businesses are one water leak, one lost folder, or one illegible entry away from failing an inspection.

What an LEV Log Book Is and Why You Need One

An LEV log book is your running record of everything related to the maintenance, examination, and user checks of your LEV systems. COSHH Regulation 9 requires you to keep records of every thorough examination and test (TExT) for a minimum of 5 years. HSG258 recommends you also record routine user checks and maintenance activities.

A complete log book should contain:

• TExT reports — the formal examination documents from your competent examiner, including measurements, findings, and the date the next test is due
• User check records — dates, who checked, what was inspected, readings taken, problems found, actions taken
• Maintenance records — filter changes, belt replacements, ductwork repairs, any modifications
• Remedial actions — evidence that problems identified in TExT reports or user checks were actually fixed, and when

This isn't optional record-keeping. It's a legal duty. The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25, and incomplete or missing LEV records are one of the most frequent findings.

Why Paper Log Books Fail

Paper log books aren't illegal. The COSHH Regulations don't prescribe a format. But paper introduces risks that digital systems don't.

Physical damage

A paper log book stored in a workshop is exposed to dust, moisture, oil, and general wear. Five years is a long time for a physical document to survive in an industrial environment. A single spill can destroy records you're legally required to produce. A fire or flood takes out everything.

Illegibility

Handwritten entries vary in quality. An inspector who can't read your records treats them the same as missing records. Entries made quickly at the end of a shift — with dirty hands, in poor light, using a blunt pencil — are the ones most likely to be challenged.

Inconsistency

Paper log books rely on every person who uses them recording information in the same way, in the same level of detail, every time. In practice, entries drift. Early pages are thorough. Later pages get sparse. Some days get skipped entirely. That inconsistency looks like inconsistent checking to an inspector.

Retrieval time

When an HSE inspector asks for your LEV records, they expect them promptly. Not tomorrow. Not after someone drives to the other site to collect the folder. If your log book is in a filing cabinet behind the workshop, under a stack of supplier catalogues, and the person who knows where it is happens to be off that day — you have a problem.

Multiple systems, multiple books

If you operate several LEV systems — perhaps across different rooms or sites — you may have multiple paper log books. Keeping track of which book covers which system, ensuring none of them goes missing, and making sure all of them are up to date becomes an administrative burden that grows with every system you add.

What HSE Inspectors Actually Look For

Understanding what triggers concerns makes the paper-vs-digital choice clearer. When an inspector reviews your LEV records, they're checking:

1. Continuity — no gaps in your TExT schedule. Every 14-month window is accounted for.
2. Completeness — TExT reports contain all required information (date, examiner details, measurements, findings, next test date). User check logs show consistent, regular entries.
3. Follow-through — if a TExT report or user check identified a problem, there's a record of it being fixed. A report that flags a fault with no corresponding repair record is a red flag.
4. Accessibility — records are produced quickly, without searching. Well-organised records signal competent management.
5. Retention — the last 5 years of TExT reports are available. Disposing of records early is a breach.

A paper log book can satisfy all five points. But it's fragile. One missing page, one water-damaged report, one period where nobody filled in the user checks — and you fall short.

What a Digital LEV Log Book Offers

Digital record-keeping addresses the specific weaknesses of paper. Here's what changes.

Searchability

Finding a specific TExT report from 3 years ago takes seconds, not minutes. Filter by date, by LEV system, by examiner. An inspector asks for the June 2023 report on your dust extraction unit — you pull it up on screen immediately.

Automated reminders

A digital system can alert you when a TExT deadline is approaching. Set reminders at 8 weeks, 4 weeks, and 2 weeks before each 14-month deadline. No more relying on someone remembering to check the diary. This alone prevents the single most common compliance failure: an overdue examination.

Audit trail

Digital records can log when entries were created, by whom, and whether they were modified. This creates an integrity layer that paper doesn't have. If an inspector questions whether a user check was actually done on the date recorded, a timestamped digital entry carries more weight than a handwritten date.

Cloud backup

Records stored in the cloud survive the disasters that destroy paper: fire, flood, theft, accidental disposal. Multiple backups mean no single point of failure. Your 5-year retention obligation becomes straightforward when records exist in a system designed to keep them.

Multi-system management

If you operate 3, 5, or 15 LEV systems — each on its own 14-month TExT cycle — a digital system tracks every deadline independently. One dashboard shows you which systems are compliant, which are due soon, and which are overdue. Paper can't do that without significant manual effort.

Remote access

Your records are available wherever you are. An inspector visits your site while the manager is off-site? The records are accessible from any device. No hunting through filing cabinets.

How to Choose Between Paper and Digital

Paper isn't always wrong. Digital isn't automatically right. The decision depends on your situation.

Paper may be adequate if:

• You operate a single LEV system
• One person manages all LEV records and is reliably present
• Your workshop environment is clean and dry enough for paper to survive 5+ years
• You have a consistent, disciplined record-keeping habit

Digital makes more sense if:

• You operate multiple LEV systems
• Multiple people are responsible for user checks
• Your working environment is harsh (dusty, wet, oily)
• You've had gaps in record-keeping before
• You want automated reminders for TExT deadlines
• You operate across multiple sites

For most UK SMEs operating LEV systems, the tipping point is two or more LEV units. Once you're tracking multiple 14-month cycles, paper becomes unreliable without disproportionate administrative effort.

Moving From Paper to Digital

If you decide to switch, you don't need to digitise your entire history on day one. A practical approach:

1. Start digital from today. All new user checks and TExT reports go into the digital system.
2. Scan critical documents. Photograph or scan your most recent TExT report for each system. This gives you the baseline date for the next 14-month cycle.
3. Keep paper records for the retention period. Don't throw away existing paper records. COSHH requires 5 years of TExT records. Store the paper safely and let it age out naturally as digital records accumulate.
4. Set up your TExT deadlines. Enter the date of each system's last TExT. Use the LEV testing due date calculator to confirm when the next examination is due. Set reminders.
5. Check for gaps. Run through the record-keeping requirements checker to identify anything missing from your current records.

Your Records Are Your Compliance

A perfectly maintained LEV system with no records is, in the eyes of the law, an untested system. The log book — whether paper or digital — is what proves you've met your duties under COSHH Regulation 9.

LEVproof will be a digital LEV log book built specifically for UK compliance: TExT tracking, user check logging, automated reminders, and audit-ready record storage. Join the waitlist for 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.

That's the textbook definition. In practice, LEV is the extraction arm above a welding bench, the dust hood on a table saw, the fume cupboard in a dental lab, the ventilation unit at a nail station. If your business creates airborne substances that could harm people's lungs, an LEV system is likely how you're required to control them.

How LEV Systems Work

LEV is a means of controlling airborne contaminants at source, removing them before they can spread into the wider workplace. Every LEV system follows the same basic sequence: capture, transport, clean, discharge. The components differ between a woodworking dust extractor and a laboratory fume hood, but the engineering principle is identical.

1. Capture — the hood or inlet

The hood is the business end. It's positioned at the source of contamination — over a workbench, around a sanding machine, at the opening of a spray booth. Its job is to capture contaminated air before it disperses into the room. Hood design matters enormously. A well-designed hood positioned correctly will capture contaminants efficiently. The same hood positioned 30 cm too far from the source may capture almost nothing.

HSG258 describes several hood types: enclosing hoods (which surround the source), receiving hoods (which catch contaminants already in motion, like rising hot fumes), and captor hoods (which pull contaminants towards them against still air). Each suits different situations.

2. Transport — the ductwork

Ductwork carries contaminated air from the hood to the air cleaning equipment. The design has to maintain sufficient transport velocity — fast enough to keep particles airborne and moving through the system rather than settling and blocking the ducts. For most dusts, that means air speeds of at least 15-20 metres per second in the duct.

Ductwork problems are common. Holes, loose joints, crushed sections, and poorly designed bends all reduce system performance. A 10% air leak in the ductwork between the hood and the fan can cut capture velocity at the hood significantly.

3. Clean — the air cleaning equipment

Before air is discharged, contaminants need to be removed. The cleaning method depends on what you're capturing:

• Particulate filters and bag collectors — for dust (wood, metal, flour, stone)
• HEPA filters — for fine or hazardous particles
• Activated carbon filters — for vapours and gases
• Wet scrubbers — for certain chemicals and mists

Filter maintenance is critical. A clogged filter increases resistance across the system, reduces airflow, and degrades capture performance at the hood — the exact point where it matters most.

4. Discharge — the exhaust

Cleaned air is either discharged outside the building or, in some recirculating systems, returned to the workspace. External discharge is more common and generally simpler. Recirculating systems need additional safeguards — continuous monitoring to ensure the cleaning stage is working properly, because if it fails, contaminated air goes straight back into the room.

The discharge point must be positioned so that expelled air doesn't re-enter the building through windows, doors, or other air intakes.

Common LEV Types and Where They're Used

LEV isn't just found in factories. These systems operate across a wide range of UK workplaces.

The HSE's work-related lung disease programme drives enforcement activity across many of these sectors. Occupational lung disease remains one of the biggest causes of work-related ill health in the UK, and inadequate LEV is a primary contributing factor.

LEV vs General Ventilation — What's the Difference?

This distinction matters because the legal requirements are different.

General ventilation moves air through an entire room. Opening a window, running a ceiling fan, or operating an HVAC system are all forms of general ventilation. It dilutes contaminants by mixing them with clean air across the whole space. It doesn't capture anything at source.

Local exhaust ventilation captures contaminants at the point of generation, before they enter the wider room air. It extracts rather than dilutes.

General ventilation is suitable for low-risk situations — controlling background odours, maintaining comfortable temperatures, providing fresh air. It is not suitable as the primary control for hazardous substances. If your COSHH assessment identifies airborne substances that could cause harm, general ventilation alone almost certainly won't be adequate. You'll need LEV, or an equivalent engineering control, to capture contaminants at source.

A workshop that relies on "leaving the roller door open" for ventilation is using general ventilation. It might feel like it's working — you can't see dust in the air, it doesn't smell too bad. But airborne contaminants at harmful concentrations are often invisible and odourless. Wood dust at the workplace exposure limit of 3 mg/m3 is barely visible. By the time you can see a dust cloud, concentrations are likely many times above the limit.

When Do You Legally Need an LEV System?

There's no single regulation that says "you must install LEV." Instead, the requirement flows from your COSHH assessment.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 require every employer to assess the risks from hazardous substances in the workplace (Regulation 6) and then provide adequate control measures (Regulation 7). COSHH sets out a hierarchy of controls:

1. Eliminate the hazardous substance entirely
2. Substitute it with something less harmful
3. Enclose the process so substances can't escape
4. Engineering controls — this is where LEV sits
5. Administrative controls and PPE (personal protective equipment) — the last resort

If you can't eliminate or substitute the substance, and full enclosure isn't practical, LEV is the next step. PPE (dust masks, respirators) should only be relied on when engineering controls like LEV aren't reasonably practicable, or as a supplement while LEV is being installed or repaired.

In practical terms, if your workers are exposed to wood dust, welding fume, silica dust, flour dust, solvent vapour, or any other substance with a workplace exposure limit, and you can't eliminate the source, you almost certainly need LEV.

Legal Requirements Once You Have LEV

Once an LEV system is in place as a COSHH control measure, specific legal requirements apply:

• Maintain the system in efficient working order, efficient working condition, and good repair — an ongoing duty (COSHH Regulation 9)
• Thorough examination and test (TExT) at intervals not exceeding 14 months — carried out by a competent person with calibrated instruments
• Keep records of every examination for at least 5 years — available for HSE inspectors on request
• User checks — daily or weekly inspections by trained staff to confirm the system is working between formal examinations. You can do these yourself

These duties apply to every employer operating LEV, regardless of business size or sector. A two-person nail salon has the same legal framework as a 200-employee manufacturing plant.

The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25. Missing TExT reports, overdue examinations, and absent user check records are among the most common findings. Fines for COSHH breaches can reach six figures, and directors can face personal liability.

Getting Started

If you're reading this because you've just discovered you might need an LEV system — or because you've got one and aren't sure you're managing it properly — here's the sequence:

1. Check your COSHH assessment. Does it identify airborne hazards? Does it specify LEV as a control measure? If you don't have a COSHH assessment, that's the first problem to solve.
2. Identify your LEV systems. List every piece of local exhaust ventilation on your premises. Include systems you might not think of as "LEV" — dental suction, nail station ventilation, kitchen extraction.
3. Check your TExT status. When was each system last examined? Is it within the 14-month window? Use our LEV testing due date calculator to check.
4. Set up user checks. Create a simple checklist for daily or weekly inspections. Our compliance checklist generator builds a sector-specific checklist for your LEV type.
5. Organise your records. Gather your TExT reports and user check logs. Check for gaps. The record-keeping requirements checker can identify what you might be missing.

LEV isn't complicated technology. It's a hood, some ductwork, a fan, and a filter. The challenge is managing it consistently — keeping checks on schedule, records organised, and examinations within the 14-month deadline. LEVproof will be a digital compliance tool built for exactly this. Join the waitlist for early access.

Sources

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

Here's the full testing schedule, broken down by check type and LEV system.

The 14-Month TExT Cycle

COSHH Regulation 9 requires a thorough examination and test (TExT) of every LEV system at intervals not exceeding 14 months. This is a hard legal deadline — not a guideline, not a recommendation.

Why 14 months, not 12

The 14-month maximum gives a two-month buffer over an annual cycle. If your last TExT was in March, you have until the following May to complete the next one. This allows for practical scheduling issues — examiner availability, holiday periods, access constraints — without pushing you into immediate non-compliance.

That buffer isn't an invitation to delay. If you routinely schedule at 13-14 months, a single scheduling hiccup will put you in breach. Most well-managed businesses aim for roughly annual testing, using the extra two months as contingency only.

What triggers the clock

The 14-month count starts from the date on your most recent TExT report. If your LEV system has never been examined, the clock started when it was first put into service. A system that's been running for more than 14 months without a TExT is already overdue.

Can you test more frequently

Yes, and sometimes you should. The 14-month interval is a maximum, not a target. Your risk assessment may indicate shorter intervals for:

• Systems controlling highly toxic substances (carcinogens, respiratory sensitisers)
• LEV subject to heavy wear, corrosion, or abrasive dusts
• Systems in harsh environments (high humidity, temperature extremes)
• Systems where previous TExTs have found deterioration between cycles

Your competent examiner should advise on the right interval based on your specific circumstances.

What happens if you miss the deadline

You're in breach of COSHH Regulation 9 from the day after the 14-month window closes. The HSE doesn't send reminders. There's no grace period. If an inspector visits and your most recent TExT report is more than 14 months old, that's a compliance failure.

The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25. Overdue or missing TExT reports are a common finding. Enforcement responses range from improvement notices (fix it within a set timeframe) to prosecution for serious or repeated breaches. Fines for COSHH breaches can reach six figures.

Daily and Weekly User Checks

User checks are the routine inspections you carry out between formal TExT examinations. They don't replace TExT — they complement it. A system can develop problems within days of passing a formal test. A knocked hood, a torn filter bag, a slipped fan belt — none of these will wait 14 months.

What to check

The specifics vary by LEV type, but every user check should confirm:

• The system is switched on and running
• Airflow is present at each capture point (use a tissue, smoke tube, or your hand)
• No visible dust, fume, or vapour is escaping the capture zone
• Ductwork is intact with no obvious gaps or damage
• Filters and collectors aren't overloaded
• Any gauges or indicators read within normal range
• Flexible arms and hoods are positioned correctly

For a detailed checklist by LEV type, see our guide to user checks vs thorough examination, or use the free LEV compliance checklist generator to build one tailored to your setup.

How long it takes

A daily user check takes 5-10 minutes for most single-system setups. Multi-hood installations might take 15-20 minutes. This is a small time investment against the cost of an enforcement notice or, more importantly, an employee developing occupational lung disease.

Who can do it

Any employee with adequate training. The HSE's employer guidance specifies someone who understands how the system works, knows what to look for, and knows what action to take if they find a problem. No formal qualification is required.

Why it matters even with TExT

Less than half of companies with LEV systems regularly test them. Of those that do get TExT done, many assume that annual examination is enough. It isn't.

A TExT confirms the system works on one specific day. User checks confirm it's working every day. Between TExT visits, components wear, settings drift, and working practices change. Daily checks catch problems when they're small and cheap to fix, rather than when they've developed into performance failures that put workers at risk.

Testing Frequency by LEV Type

Different LEV systems have different demands. This table gives a practical summary of testing frequency based on HSG258 guidance and common industry practice.

Note: the 14-month TExT interval applies uniformly across all LEV types under COSHH Regulation 9. There's no exemption for "simple" systems. A single nail bar extraction unit has the same formal testing requirement as a multi-hood woodworking dust extraction system.

How to Track Your Testing Schedule

This is where most businesses struggle. Use our free LEV testing due date calculator to work out exactly when each system's next TExT is due. The 14-month cycle doesn't align with the calendar year, so you can't just mark "LEV test" in January every year and forget it. If your last test was in September, your deadline is the following November — and it shifts by a few days each cycle depending on when you actually schedule the examination.

Add multiple LEV systems, each with different test dates, and tracking becomes genuinely difficult.

Common approaches

Paper diary or wall planner. Simple, but easy to miss. If the person who tracks it is off sick or on holiday near the deadline, things slip.

Spreadsheet. Better — you can set up formulas to calculate the 14-month deadline from each test date and flag upcoming deadlines. But spreadsheets don't send you reminders, and they depend on someone actively checking them.

Calendar reminders. Setting alerts 8 weeks, 4 weeks, and 2 weeks before each TExT deadline gives you time to book an examiner. This works well for one or two systems. For larger estates, managing dozens of calendar entries becomes its own administrative burden.

Digital compliance tools. Purpose-built tools can automate deadline tracking, store TExT reports and user check records in one place, and send reminders before deadlines approach. This is the direction the industry is moving — especially for businesses managing multiple LEV systems across multiple sites.

The record-keeping side

Whatever approach you use to track deadlines, remember that the records themselves need keeping for 5 years minimum. That includes both TExT reports from your competent examiner and your internal user check logs. The COSHH regulations require you to produce these records on request, so they need to be accessible — not buried in a filing cabinet behind the workshop or saved on someone's personal laptop.

Never Miss a Deadline

Tracking 14-month cycles across multiple LEV systems, storing 5 years of records, and keeping everything audit-ready — this is exactly the problem LEVproof will solve. A digital logbook built for UK LEV compliance. 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
• COSHH main page — HSE
• Work-related lung disease — 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.

Everything stems from one piece of legislation: the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, known as COSHH. Regulation 9 deals specifically with LEV. Here's what it requires and what happens if you fall short.

What COSHH Regulation 9 Requires

Regulation 9 creates four distinct duties for employers who provide LEV systems as a control measure:

1. Maintain LEV in efficient working order, in efficient working condition, and in good repair.

This is an ongoing duty. It means routine maintenance — replacing worn belts, clearing blocked filters, repairing damaged ducting — not just waiting for the annual examiner. The standard is that the system must be working effectively whenever it's needed. A system that only works properly on the day the examiner visits doesn't meet this requirement.

2. Thorough examination and testing at least every 14 months.

Every LEV system covered by COSHH must undergo a thorough examination and test (TExT) at intervals not exceeding 14 months. This isn't a service call or a visual check. It's a formal, documented assessment of whether the system is performing as designed, carried out by a competent person using calibrated instruments.

3. Keep records for at least 5 years.

Every TExT must produce a written report, and you must retain it for a minimum of 5 years. These records must be available for HSE inspectors to review on request — at your premises, without prior notice.

4. Ensure LEV is properly used.

Employees must actually use the LEV system when doing work that generates airborne contaminants. A perfectly maintained system that nobody switches on doesn't satisfy the regulations.

These duties apply to all LEV systems provided as COSHH control measures, regardless of business size or sector. A nail salon with a single extraction unit has the same legal framework as a large manufacturing facility.

Testing Frequency — The 14-Month Rule

The 14-month maximum interval is set by COSHH Regulation 9. But why 14 months and not 12?

The 14-month interval provides a practical buffer. If your last examination was in January, you have until March of the following year — not the following January. This accommodates scheduling difficulties, examiner availability, and minor delays without immediately putting you in breach. It's a pragmatic allowance, not an invitation to push testing as late as possible.

What counts as a thorough examination and test

A TExT is a comprehensive assessment. HSG258 sets out what this should include:

• Measurement of capture velocities at each hood
• Measurement of transport velocities in ductwork
• Assessment of air cleaning equipment performance (filters, scrubbers)
• Visual inspection of all components — hoods, ductwork, fans, motors, discharge points
• Comparison of current performance against the system's design specification or commissioning data
• Review of maintenance and user check records
• A written report documenting all findings, measurements, and required actions

When more frequent testing is required

The 14-month interval is a maximum, not a target. Your risk assessment may indicate more frequent testing if:

• The LEV controls exposure to highly toxic substances (certain carcinogens, sensitisers)
• The system is subject to heavy wear or corrosive conditions
• The work process has changed since the system was designed
• Previous examinations have identified deterioration between tests

In these cases, your examiner should advise on an appropriate interval — which might be every 6 or 12 months.

Record-Keeping Requirements

Record-keeping is where compliance most commonly breaks down. The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25, and incomplete or missing LEV records are among the most frequent findings. Less than half of companies with LEV systems regularly test them — and even businesses that do test often can't produce the documentation to prove it.

What records must contain

A TExT report should include:

• Date of the examination and test
• Identity of the LEV system examined (location, description, any reference numbers)
• The condition of each component
• All measurements taken, with instruments used
• The examiner's assessment of whether the system adequately controls exposure
• Any repairs, modifications, or improvements required
• The name and status of the competent person who carried out the examination
• The date by which the next examination must take place

For routine user checks, record the date, who did the check, what was inspected, any readings taken, problems found, and actions taken.

Format — paper or digital

The COSHH Regulations don't prescribe a format. Paper logbooks, spreadsheets, or digital systems are all acceptable. What the HSE cares about is that records are:

• Complete — no gaps in the testing schedule
• Legible — readable and clear
• Accessible — producible when an inspector asks, without delay

Use our free record-keeping requirements checker to confirm your records meet these standards.

What HSE inspectors actually look for

Inspectors checking LEV compliance will typically ask for:

1. Your most recent TExT report for each LEV system
2. Evidence that any remedial actions from the last report were completed
3. Records of routine maintenance and user checks
4. Evidence that the 14-month interval hasn't been exceeded
5. Training records showing that relevant staff understand the LEV system

A complete set of well-organised records signals competent management. Gaps, missing reports, or records that stop abruptly raise immediate concerns.

What Happens When You Don't Comply

The HSE has a range of enforcement tools, and it uses them. Enforcement activity around LEV and dust exposure has been a priority area. The HSE's work-related lung disease programme drives targeted inspections across sectors where airborne contaminants are common — woodworking, stonemasonry, bakeries, metalworking, and construction.

Enforcement actions

Improvement notices require you to fix a specific problem within a set timeframe. Failing to comply with an improvement notice is a criminal offence.

Prohibition notices stop you from using a process or piece of equipment until the risk is addressed. If your LEV system is so deficient that workers face immediate risk, an inspector can shut down the affected operation on the spot.

Prosecution is reserved for serious or repeated breaches. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, fines for COSHH breaches can reach six figures. Magistrates' courts can impose unlimited fines for health and safety offences. The Health and Safety Offences, Corporate Manslaughter and Food Safety and Hygiene Offences Definitive Guideline, in force since February 2016, has led to significantly higher penalties. Crown Court cases can result in even higher penalties.

Personal liability — directors and senior managers can face personal liability under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 if a breach is attributable to their consent, connivance, or neglect. This isn't theoretical; the HSE does pursue individuals.

The cost beyond fines

Enforcement notices and prosecutions are published on the HSE's public register. The reputational cost, the management time consumed by enforcement proceedings, and the potential for civil claims from affected employees all compound the financial penalty.

How to Meet Your Legal Duties

Compliance with COSHH Regulation 9 isn't complicated. It requires organisation, not expertise. Here's the practical sequence:

1. Identify all your LEV systems. List every piece of local exhaust ventilation on your premises. Include extraction systems you might not think of as "LEV" — dental suction, nail bar extraction, kitchen hoods used to control exposure to cooking fumes or cleaning chemicals.

2. Find a competent examiner. The examiner must have sufficient training, knowledge, and experience for your specific LEV type. Ask about their experience, qualifications, and what their report will include. The HSE's LEV guidance provides a starting point.

3. Schedule TExT within the 14-month cycle. Book your first examination. Set a reminder for the next one. Use our free LEV testing due date calculator to work out exactly when your next examination is due. The 14-month clock starts from the date of each examination — miss the deadline and you're immediately in breach.

4. Set up user checks. Train a member of staff to carry out daily or weekly checks. Use our free LEV compliance checklist generator to create a checklist tailored to your LEV type. Record every check.

5. Maintain your records. Store TExT reports and user check logs where you can find them quickly. Keep them for at least 5 years. If an inspector visits, you should be able to produce your records within minutes, not days.

6. Act on findings. When an examiner or a user check identifies a problem, fix it promptly and record the repair. A report that identifies a fault is only useful if you act on it.

Staying Audit-Ready

The hardest part isn't any single step — it's sustaining all of them consistently, especially when you're managing multiple LEV systems across different 14-month cycles. LEVproof will be a digital compliance tracker designed to handle exactly this: scheduling, record-keeping, and audit readiness for UK LEV systems. Join the waitlist for 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
• Work-related lung disease — 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.

Here's what it actually says, which parts matter most for your business, and how to use it without reading the whole thing.

What HSG258 Is

HSG258 is published by the Health and Safety Executive. Its full title is "Controlling airborne contaminants at work: A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV)." It covers the entire LEV lifecycle: design, installation, commissioning, use, maintenance, examination, and testing.

It's guidance, not law. You won't be prosecuted for not following HSG258 to the letter. But it explains how to meet the legal requirements in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), and HSE inspectors use it as the benchmark for what "adequate" LEV management looks like. If your approach deviates significantly from HSG258 without good reason, you'll need to demonstrate that your alternative is equally effective.

The document applies across industries: woodworking, manufacturing, automotive paint spraying, laboratories, dental practices, bakeries, welding shops, nail salons — anywhere LEV is used to control airborne hazards.

The Sections That Matter Most for Employers

You don't need to read all 200-plus pages. Here are the chapters that directly affect how you manage your LEV systems day-to-day.

Chapter 2 — Health effects of airborne contaminants

This chapter explains why LEV matters. It covers how dusts, fumes, vapours, and mists enter the body, and what damage they cause. The practical takeaway: LEV isn't a regulatory box-ticking exercise. Poorly controlled wood dust causes nasal cancer. Welding fume causes lung cancer and asthma. Flour dust causes occupational asthma. Silica dust causes silicosis. These are serious, often irreversible conditions.

Understanding the health consequences helps you prioritise which LEV systems need the closest attention and the most frequent checks.

Chapter 7 — Users' responsibilities

This is the chapter most relevant to employer obligations. It covers:

• Your duty to maintain LEV in efficient working order (COSHH Regulation 9)
• User checks — what they are, how often to do them, what to record
• Training requirements — making sure employees understand the LEV system and how to spot problems
• What to do when things go wrong — procedures when a user check reveals a fault

Chapter 7 makes clear that maintenance and user checks are the employer's responsibility, not something you outsource entirely to your annual examiner. The examiner tests the system once every 14 months. You live with it every day.

Chapter 9 — Thorough examination and testing (TExT)

This chapter details what a thorough examination and test involves, who should carry it out, and what the report must contain. Key points:

• TExT must happen at least every 14 months under COSHH Regulation 9
• The examiner must be a "competent person" — someone with sufficient training, knowledge, and experience for the specific LEV type
• The report must document the system's condition, measurements taken, whether it's performing adequately, and when the next examination is due
• Records must be retained for at least 5 years

If you're choosing an examiner or reviewing a TExT report, Chapter 9 tells you exactly what to expect.

Chapter 13 — Record-keeping

This chapter specifies what records to keep and for how long. The HSE ran 4,000 targeted dust inspections in 2024/25, and poor record-keeping is one of the most common reasons businesses fail. Chapter 13 sets out:

• What user check records should contain (date, person, findings, actions)
• What TExT reports must include
• The 5-year minimum retention period
• That records must be available for inspection by HSE at any time

Paper or digital records are both acceptable. What matters is completeness and accessibility. Use our free record-keeping requirements checker to confirm your documentation covers everything Chapter 13 requires.

How HSG258 Relates to COSHH Regulation 9

This distinction trips people up, so here it is plainly.

COSHH is the law. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 are statutory instruments made under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Regulation 9 creates legal duties: maintain your LEV, get it examined and tested every 14 months, keep records for 5 years. Breach these duties and you face enforcement action — improvement notices, prohibition notices, or prosecution. Fines for COSHH breaches can reach six figures, and directors can face personal liability.

HSG258 is guidance. It explains how to comply with COSHH (and other relevant regulations). Following HSG258 doesn't guarantee compliance, and not following it doesn't automatically mean you've broken the law. But it represents the HSE's view of good practice. In enforcement proceedings, demonstrating that you followed HSG258 is strong evidence that you met your legal duties.

Think of it this way: COSHH Regulation 9 says "you must examine and test your LEV." HSG258 says "here's what that examination and test should look like, here's who should do it, and here's what the report should contain."

Practical Steps — Using HSG258 in Your Workplace

You don't need to memorise HSG258. You need to use it as a reference at the right moments. Here's how.

When setting up user checks

Use Chapter 7 to build your user check schedule. HSG258 recommends daily checks for high-risk systems (those controlling exposure to substances like wood dust, silica, or isocyanates) and at least weekly checks for lower-risk systems. Our free LEV compliance checklist generator builds a sector-specific checklist based on your LEV type, so you don't have to start from scratch. Train the person doing the checks on whatever checklist you use.

When choosing an examiner

Use Chapter 9 to evaluate potential examiners. Ask them:

• What specific experience do you have with this type of LEV system?
• What instruments will you use?
• Will your report cover all the elements listed in HSG258 Chapter 9?
• Can I see a sample report?

A competent examiner should be familiar with HSG258 and able to discuss it knowledgeably. If they haven't heard of it, find someone else.

When reviewing TExT reports

Cross-reference the report against Chapter 9's requirements. A compliant report should include: the date, the system components examined, measurements taken, the examiner's assessment of whether the system is adequate, any repairs or modifications needed, and the date of the next examination.

When an inspector visits

Having HSG258-aligned records and procedures demonstrates that you've taken a structured approach to LEV management. This is exactly what HSE inspectors look for when they assess compliance with COSHH.

Where to get it

HSG258 is available from the HSE website. It's a priced publication, but the investment is worthwhile if you operate LEV systems. A single copy shared between the person managing your LEV and your competent examiner covers most needs.

Making Compliance Manageable

HSG258 gives you the framework. The challenge is applying it consistently — running user checks on schedule, tracking 14-month TExT deadlines, keeping records accessible. LEVproof will be a digital logbook designed to handle exactly this, built around the requirements HSG258 sets out. Join the waitlist if you'd like early access.

Sources

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

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:

1. Maintain LEV systems in an efficient state, in efficient working order, and in good repair.
2. Thoroughly examine and test (TExT) each LEV system at intervals not exceeding 14 months.
3. 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

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.

• System powered on and running normally
• Airflow confirmed at each hood or capture point
• No visible dust, fume, or vapour escaping the capture zone
• Ductwork intact — no gaps, cracks, or disconnections
• Filters and collection bags not overloaded or damaged
• Any pressure gauges or indicators reading within normal range
• Flexible arms and hoods positioned correctly for the work being done
• Fan running smoothly — no unusual noise or vibration
• Dampers and blast gates in correct positions
• Any issues found recorded and reported

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.