Control through Ventilation Seminar Report

• Bill Williams as BOHS Regional Organiser chaired this seminar and introduced LEV with a reminder about the new BOHS P601 LEV inspection and testing module, as an important and relevant training provision. He did add that some early P601 candidate training inspection reports have confused velocity measurement units with mass flow units and revealed the importance of also inspecting the roofs where stacks discharge!
  
• Arthur Johnson of UK Health and Safety Laboratories (HSL) commenced the real proceedings with an illustrated introductory talk in which he defined and described the various terms and component hardware features of typical LEV systems, with an emphasis on good control. This was a very useful talk for anyone new to LEV or in need of a clear refresher.
  
• Mark Piney of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was then introduced to present an excellent talk which included some superb slides demonstrating the difference between poor industry conditions and good LEV control. Working slides showing stone masons and paint sprayers were particularly revealing. During the following questions’ break  Mark Piney did offer to provide a copy of his presentation for the website, which has now been up-loaded and can be accessed from here.  Thank you Mark.
  
• A scheduled refreshment, exhibition and demonstration break was then taken and this afforded delegates the opportunity to ask individual questions of speakers and exhibitors, as well as seeing the HSL demonstration team in action. HSL staff used a smoke generator machine with a working set of LEV models to demonstrate the visual basics of achieving effective fume capture and control.
  
• After the break Mike Slater of Diamond Environmental related some of his hygiene consultant experiences within a wide range of industrial sites, but maintained his client confidentiality with a knowing smile. Some of his pictured hot working processes did show potential exposure problems, but Mike explained that these were photograped before his control advice had been successfully implemented!
  
• Our final main speaker was Malcolm Banner of SAFed, supported by Ken Oram of HSB Haughton.  Malcolm explained that SAFed as the Safety Assessment Federation represents the UK independent engineering and certification industry for statutory inspection, which includes LEV examination. This work is undertaken by SAFed member companies, such as Ken’s employer, to incorporate quality standards ranging from ISO to BSEN and UKAS.
  
• At the conclusion the chairman formally closed the meeting and thanked all concerned for participating so enthusiastically, but he reminded everyone that speakers and exhibitors would be staying to answer questions and provide advice, with coffee and tea for as long as delegate interest continued. With special thanks to Andy Phillips of the BOHS NW Team.