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  • [Music]

  • Lots of different jobs across different industries involve work processes that create dust and

  • fumes. If these are not controlled properly people can breathe them in and develop diseases

  • such as asthma, lung scarring and cancer.

  • Every year thousands of people in Great Britain die as a result of breathing in harmful dusts

  • and fumes at work. The common way businesses can control dust and fumes is by using local

  • exhaust ventilation systems or LEV, also called extraction or fume control.

  • LEV systems can be very effective at controlling dust and fumes but it is vital that people

  • understand how LEV works so that they buy the right LEV and use it properly.

  • LEV systems all work in the same way.

  • [Video showing example]

  • In this example 2 hoods are used to enclose the saw blade, one above the table and one

  • below. The LEV airflow into these hoods carries the wood dust away. The contaminated extracted

  • air is transported through the duct work to the filter and fan unit. The filter removes

  • the dust from the air. The fan creates the airflow. It’s the motor that moves air through

  • the system.

  • An LEV system will often provide extraction at more than one machine. Getting the right

  • type of LEV hood is the most critical step. If the hood design is right for the process

  • then it is possible to control the dust and fume. Soldering work produces fume which can

  • cause asthma.

  • [Video showing LEV]

  • Here the worker is protected by the LEV hood and system but how does it work. The hot fume

  • cloud rises but is prevented from reaching the woman’s breathing zone by the enclosing

  • hood. The LEV airflow draws the fume filled air away. The enclosure and the airflow act

  • together to protect the worker’s health. Enclosures can be very effective but in practice

  • LEV hoods come in all shapes and sizes, from ones which are large enough to stand in to

  • others that are tiny and built into tools.

  • [Music]

  • LEV hood design is critical to controlling dust and fumes. For almost any dusty or fumy

  • process there is an LEV hood and system design that will provide effective control.

  • Make sure your LEV is the right sort and is properly applied. Well designed and applied

  • LEV systems can really protect your workershealth.

  • Professional advice is widely available.

  • You can get competent help from your trade association or a professional adviser.

  • Printed guidance on how to choose and use LEV is available from the HSE and a range

  • of information and links can be found at the HSE LEV website.

[Music]

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