LEV 2020 – Extracting the Best Practices Event

On 25 February 2020, the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) and the Institute of Local Exhaust Ventilation Engineers (ILEVE) will be holding their fifth joint event ‘LEV- Extracting the Best Practices’ for anyone involved in the local exhaust ventilation (LEV) space. The programme for the day is now available.

This one-day event, to be held at the Hilton East Midlands Airport in Derby, is a must for anyone who has an active involvement in LEV. The conference is for you if you are:

  • involved in LEV system design, installation or commissioning
  • active in LEV examination, testing, servicing or maintenance
  • an owner of LEV installations.

The event is useful to those working specifically in LEV but also for others working within the broader field of occupational hygiene as well as those just interested in these subjects and wanting to learn more.

The theme of this year’s event is noise, in the context of LEV, and our top speakers will include:

  • Carol Stearne of BAE Systems, who will focus on LEV from the buyer’s perspective and particularly the needs and responsibilities of the end user, and also some common pitfalls for buyers to avoid.
  • Chris Steel from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who is to look at noise control for LEV systems from the regulator’s perspective, with reference to the woodworking sector and also opportunities linked to system benefits.
  • David Wright of SOCOTEC, the provider of testing, inspection and compliance services, who will focus on how to conduct an occupational noise exposure assessment.
  • Peter Wilson from the Industrial Noise and Vibration Centre (INVC) who will talk about “stealth and efficiency” presented by new aerodynamic techniques (without using silencers) in LEV noise control.

There are discounted rates for BOHS and ILEVE members who wish to attend the event on Tuesday 25 February 2020. This year’s exhibitors are: Sauermann UK Ltd, IOM, Shawcity, Filtermist International, Concept Smoke Systems Ltd, Prihoda UK Ltd, TSI, Airbench, Casella, WHWB, BESA, IOSH, ILEVE and SHAPA.

Ahead of the event, John Dobbie, President of BOHS, the Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection, said,

“In a climate where designing out risk is increasingly acknowledged as best practice in controlling hazards, understanding how LEV can mitigate risks at source is essential. The reclassification of welding fume as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and HSE’s strengthened enforcement expectations for all welding fume bring the focus back on LEV.

“Removing airborne contamination of hazardous substances from work spaces is absolutely vital for us to reduce the high burden of lung disease facing the British and global workforce. In addition, good LEV systems can reduce the risk of contaminants landing directly on the skin and onto surfaces, so protecting workers’ skin health too.

“We look forward to welcoming delegates to the ILEVE and BOHS annual best practice event for the LEV industry.”

Dean Greer, Chair of ILEVE said,

“The Institute of Local Exhaust Ventilation Engineers, ILEVE, was established to promote air quality in the workplace and to reduce ill health and death due to airborne contamination and hazardous substances in the working environment.  The Institute exists to recognise competence in the practical application of local exhaust ventilation and to raise awareness of the importance of good air quality and ventilation in workplaces.

“We recognise that these are similar aims of the BOHS and other stakeholders in the LEV Industry and we will continue to work with them and all like-minded organisations as we share a common goal.

The theme of this year’s conference is Noise and, although at first it does not appear to be related to control of the contaminants and hazardous substances in the workplace, it is still a major part of the design, installation and commissioning of LEV systems and all LEV engineers need to be aware of the control of noise levels for the choice of the equipment supplied.

ILEVE, believe continual professional development is a cornerstone of maintaining competence and members, along with anyone in the industry, should attend to further or refresh their knowledge in this area.”