If you operate machinery or processes that generate dust, fume, or vapour in the workplace, you almost certainly have a Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system in place to protect your workers. But how often does that system need to be formally tested – and what does the law actually say?
The Legal Requirement: Every 14 Months
Under Regulation 9 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Regulations 2002, any LEV system used to control worker exposure to hazardous substances must be thoroughly examined and tested at least once every 14 months.
This is not a guideline – it is a legal obligation. Employers who fail to comply are in breach of CoSHH Regulations and may face enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), including improvement notices, prohibition notices, and prosecution.
The 14-month interval is intentionally set slightly longer than a year, allowing businesses to schedule tests at the same time of year without falling foul of the regulations if there is a brief delay.
When More Frequent Testing Is Required
For certain higher-risk processes, 14 months is the maximum permitted interval – not the recommended one. More frequent testing may be required where:
- The process involves carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, such as hardwood dust or certain metalworking fluids
- The LEV system is critical to controlling exposure to a substance with a short-term exposure limit (STEL)
- The system has a history of defects or is operating in a particularly demanding environment
- Your risk assessment identifies a heightened level of risk requiring additional verification
In these cases, your LEV engineer will advise on an appropriate testing frequency as part of the inspection report.
What Counts as a “Thorough Examination and Test”?
A compliant LEV inspection is formally known as a Thorough Examination and Test (TExT). It must be carried out by a competent person – in practice, this means an engineer holding a BOHS P601 qualification, which is the industry-recognised certification for LEV testing.
A TExT inspection covers:
- Visual inspection of all components – hoods, ductwork, fans, filters, and discharge points
- Measurement of airflow velocity at capture hoods
- Static pressure readings throughout the system
- Assessment of filter condition and efficiency
- Comparison of results against the original design specification or previous test data
- A written report documenting all findings, results, and any remedial actions required
Simply having a maintenance engineer look at the system does not constitute a Thorough Examination and Test. The inspection must be systematic, measurement-based, and documented to a defined standard.
What Happens If You Miss a Test?
Missing a LEV test is a serious matter. If the HSE inspects your workplace and finds that your LEV system has not been tested within the required period, you may face:
- An improvement notice requiring you to become compliant within a set timeframe
- A prohibition notice preventing you from operating the process until the system is tested and confirmed effective
- Prosecution in serious cases, particularly where worker health has been affected
Beyond the regulatory consequences, an untested LEV system may be failing to protect your workforce without your knowledge. Dust and fume-related illnesses – including occupational asthma, lung disease, and certain cancers – can develop over years of low-level exposure. Regular testing is your primary assurance that your system is doing its job.
Keeping Records
CoSHH Regulations require you to keep records of all LEV examinations and tests for a minimum of five years. These records should include the written report from each TExT inspection and should be made available to the HSE upon request.
A reputable LEV testing company will provide you with a detailed written report after every inspection. At Apex LEV Services, our reports are structured to meet the requirements of HSG258 – the HSE’s technical guidance on LEV – and are written to be understood by both safety managers and HSE inspectors.
Book Your LEV Test
If your LEV system is approaching its 14-month test date – or if you are unsure when it was last tested – contact Apex LEV Services today. We carry out BOHS P601-certified Thorough Examination and Testing across Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Bristol, and nationwide.
