COSHH LEV Inspections in Stoke-on-Trent

Under COSHH 2002, any LEV system used to control silica dust at a Stoke-on-Trent ceramics manufacturer — including clay preparation areas, glaze mixing rooms, and kiln loading zones — must be thoroughly examined and tested by a competent person at least every 14 months. Silica dust is classified by the HSE as a Group 1 carcinogen, making it one of the highest-priority substances for LEV compliance. The examination must verify capture velocity at each hood, measure airflow through the system, check duct condition and integrity, test fan performance, and confirm filter condition. An extraction system that was adequate at installation may fail to meet design parameters due to duct blockage, hood repositioning, or filter saturation — making the 14-month examination a genuine protection measure, not a box-ticking exercise.

Yes. Spray glazing booths at Stoke-on-Trent ceramics manufacturers must be thoroughly examined and tested at least every 14 months under COSHH 2002. Where glaze spraying uses substances containing heavy metals — including lead or barium compounds used in some specialist glazes — the HSE treats these as higher-risk processes, and the examination should verify that the booth maintains its design face velocity across the full working opening. The examination must also confirm that the recirculation or discharge filter is in good condition and that the airflow is sufficient to prevent glaze mist from reaching the operator's breathing zone. Safe Lee provides COSHH LEV testing for ceramics manufacturers across Stoke-on-Trent.

Yes. Fettling, turning, and finishing operations at Stoke-on-Trent pottery manufacturers generate respirable silica dust — one of the most hazardous dust fractions under COSHH 2002. Any LEV system controlling dust from these operations must be thoroughly examined and tested at least every 14 months. This includes downdraft benches, hood-equipped turning lathes, and centralised duct systems capturing dust from multiple workstations. The examination must assess whether the LEV is achieving adequate capture at each dust generation point — which requires measurement of capture velocity at the dust source, not just measurement of duct velocity at a convenient access point.

A COSHH LEV inspection involves a thorough examination and test of your local exhaust ventilation system. This includes visual inspection of ductwork, hoods, and fans, airflow measurements at capture points, static pressure readings through the system, and checks on filters and discharge points to ensure the system effectively controls hazardous substances.

Under COSHH Regulation 9, LEV systems must be thoroughly examined and tested at least every 14 months. Some specific processes have shorter intervals — for example, LEV for certain blasting operations must be examined every month, and spray-painting booths every 6 months. Your system should be examined according to whichever interval applies.

COSHH LEV inspections cover all local exhaust ventilation systems including fume cupboards, extraction arms, downdraft benches, spray booth ventilation, dust extraction systems, welding fume extraction, woodworking extraction, and any other system designed to capture and remove airborne contaminants at source.