HSE acronyms explained: LEV
The H&S Dept
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4 min read
If your business produces fumes or dust then LEV should be on your radar. We’ll cover when it’s likely to apply to your business and what the consequences can be if exposure isn’t controlled in line with health and safety law.
What is LEV?
LEV stands for Local Exhaust Ventilation. It’s a type of engineering control used to capture and remove airborne contaminants—such as mists, gases, fumes, vapours and dusts at or near the point they’re produced, helping to reduce workers’ exposure.
Examples of industries where LEV is often needed to adequately control exposure include:
Chemical processing: handling chemicals that can produce gases or vapours.
Welding and metal work: this can create fumes or dust that contain hazardous airborne particles.
Manufacturing: often there can be dust or fumes released during these processes.
Painting: particularly spraying can generate airborne particles.
Woodwork: including dust created from sawing.
In these examples, employers have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 to prevent exposure to hazardous substances where reasonably practicable, or where that isn’t possible, to adequately control exposure often using engineering controls such as LEV.
A typical LEV system uses a hood (or other capture point) positioned near the source to draw contaminated air into ductwork, powered by an air mover (fan). The air is then either cleaned (for example, by filtration) and recirculated where appropriate or discharged safely away from people reducing exposure in the breathing zone.
What are the obligations for LEV?
If your work creates hazardous airborne contaminants, COSHH requires you to prevent exposure where reasonably practicable, or otherwise adequately control it. LEV is a common way to achieve adequate control, but the right solution depends on the process and risk assessment.
In 2011 the Institute of Local Exhaust Ventilation Engineers (ILEVE) was established. But it was replaced in the UK by the CIBSE Workplace Exhaust Ventilation Group in 2024. This body also produces guidance on requirements for LEV.
What can happen without LEV?
Workplaces which do not have the correct LEV in place, put their workers at risk of severe illness. The airborne particles can cause damage to the lungs resulting in asthma, lung disease and cancer.
In Great Britain in 2025, 13,000 deaths are believed to have been caused by past exposure at work, primarily due to chemicals and dust (HSE statistics 2025). 11,000 of these deaths are caused by lung diseases. The number of new cases of occupational asthma reported by chest physicians has been broadly consistent since 2010.
As an employer you are legally obliged to keep your workers safe. Failure to do so can result in prosecution. During 2022/23 the HSE found that 78% of the businesses it inspected were not complying with their duties to protect workers from wood dust exposure.
In one such case, a company who produced timber barns and stables was fined £15,000 plus legal costs, for failing to protect their employees from wood dust exposure. This prosecution came after the company had been issued with improvement notices, which they did not comply with.
The HSE inspector from this case stated, “Compliance could have been achieved by simply getting a LEV fitted to the circular table saw and getting a competent person to undertake a thorough examination and test of the LEV on the chop saw.” The failure to act upon the improvement notice resulted in the company being found guilty of breaching both the HSWA 1974 and COSHH Regulations 2002.
Get in touch
If you would like to discuss LEV further, then please reach out to us here at The Health & Safety Dept. Our experts are on hand to make getting to grips with your health and safety a straightforward process.
Our professional team can provide a COSHH risk assessment to identify what your hazards are and what you need to do to eliminate and mitigate the risks. We can provide guidance and support when you need it. We ensure that your business is doing everything it needs to keep your workers safe so your business keeps running smoothly. Contact us today to find out more.
