HSE LEV Seminar - Uttoxeter June 2009

 

The Health & Safety Executive in association with the WMSA held a free seminar for suppliers to the Woodworking Industry at Uttoxeter entitled

Time to Clear the Air - Dust Extraction in the Woodworking Industry

Key messages on how HSE is determined to improve standards of dust control in the industry were presented by HSE Principal Inspectors illustrated through PowerPoint presentations and practical model examples their key messages on:

  • Basic principles of design - fans, ducting and hoods

  • The importance of airflow measurement and meters

  • What service and commissioning mean in practice

  • 14 month thorough examination and test - what's involved and who can do it

  • Suppliers legal duties, including provision of information

If you were not able to attend the seminar you may see some of the highlights of the HSE presentation material through the following links.  

http://www.hse.gov.uk/lev/processes/index.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/lev/reallifestories.htm

or you can request copies of the presentation by contacting the WMSA office.

Various HSE publications were available at the seminar  -  "Time to clear the air. Controlling airborne contaminants at work: A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV)", "Clearing the air. A simple guide to buying and using local exhaust ventilation (LEV)", "Your extraction system is there to breathe in harmful dust - so you don't have to. Don't chance it, Change it", "Time to clear the air! A workers' pocket guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV)".  All listed publications are available from HSE.

HSE are proposing to issue an LEV Information guide towards the end of 2009 - similar in style to their LEV FAQ web page - we expect this document to provide simple answers to common LEV questions.

In the meantime HSE FAQ can be viewed here. 

 

WMSA is very supportive of the HSE's drive to improve standards of dust control in the woodworking industry and is very interested in supporting members who offer LEV services.  To promote awareness of our members to the industry we have created a new WMSA website page WMSA Members Offering LEV Services  and propose to e mail our industry database drawing attention to the LEV services of our members.