COSHH 2002 · Teesside

LEV testing and certification in Hartlepool

Thorough examination, testing and certification of local exhaust ventilation by a P601 qualified engineer

A mask is what you reach for when engineering has done all it can: COSHH's hierarchy puts local exhaust ventilation ahead of RPE, not beside it. In Hartlepool's welding and fabrication trades, the 14 month LEV test is the proof that control starts at the source, where the law says it must.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote
  • Independent & impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly

Extraction we test

Hartlepool, Teesside

  • Welding & soldering fume
  • Wood, MDF & fine dust
  • Fume cupboards & cabinets
  • On-tool & capture hoods
  • Spray booths & paint lines
  • Grinding, polishing & mist
Extraction we test

LEV testing and certification for Hartlepool businesses

Extraction across the town's trades runs from welding fume capture, fixed bays and mobile units, through grinding and finishing extraction to the dust and workshop systems of the estates, each provided system on COSHH Regulation 9's fixed cycle.

The hierarchy is practical, not philosophical: LEV that captures fume at the arc protects everyone in the building, while a mask protects one face for one shift, if it fits and if it is worn. So the thorough examination carries real weight: if capture is proven, RPE is the backup it should be; if capture has quietly failed, masks have been carrying a load they were never meant to carry alone. We test every hood against its design, report a pass or fail per hood with readings, and flag honestly where extraction has slipped from control to decoration.

Welding fume bays and mobile units
Capture proven at the arc
Grinding and finishing extraction
Workshop dust systems
How it works

Booking your LEV test in Hartlepool

Tell us what extraction runs and where the welders work. We prove capture at the source, report per hood with readings and set the next 14 month date.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us about the extraction on your Hartlepool site.

  • 2

    Examination and test

    We measure airflow and capture performance at each hood.

  • 3

    Your report

    You receive a report with measured data and remedial actions.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we examine, we do not sell the equipment
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Clear reports issued without delay
  • Single items or whole sites
Areas we cover

LEV testing and certification across Hartlepool and nearby

Our engineer surveyors cover Hartlepool and the towns around it across Teesside. If your site is nearby, we can almost certainly reach you, so just ask.

HartlepoolSeaton CarewGreathamHartWynyardElwick
Other inspections in Hartlepool

Related compliance for Hartlepool businesses

Many sites need more than one statutory regime. If you use lifting gear, pressure systems, work equipment or extraction in Hartlepool, we can examine all of it.

LOLER lifting equipment in HartlepoolView this service PUWER work equipment in HartlepoolView this service PSSR pressure systems in HartlepoolView this service
COSHH FAQs

LEV testing and certification: common questions

Do you carry out LEV testing in Hartlepool?
Yes. We test LEV across Hartlepool and the wider Teesside area, covering fixed bays and mobile units alike. Call us to arrange a visit.
How quickly can you visit Hartlepool?
A Hartlepool visit is usually within a couple of working days, and we time testing around production so lines keep running. Call 0330 043 8191 to book your LEV test.
How often does LEV need to be tested?
Under COSHH Regulation 9 every local exhaust ventilation system must have a thorough examination and test at least every 14 months, and that interval is a legal maximum rather than a target. Higher-risk processes in COSHH Schedule 4 are tested far more often, in some cases monthly or six-monthly; the HSE sets this out in its guidance on LEV examination.
Is LEV testing a legal requirement?
Yes. The duty sits with the employer under COSHH Regulation 9, which requires extraction that controls a hazardous substance to be examined and tested by a competent person, and that responsibility stays with you even when the work is outsourced. You can read the duty in plain terms in our COSHH regulations guide.
What does an LEV thorough examination and test involve?
It is a structured check that the system still controls the contaminant the way it was designed to, not a service or a filter swap. We measure airflow and capture velocity at each hood, check duct velocities, filters and fan condition, and compare every reading against the design data and the HSG258 benchmarks.
Who is qualified to carry out LEV testing?
The HSE expects a competent person, which it links to BOHS-recognised training such as the P601 qualification. Our engineer surveyors hold P601 and report to the HSG258 standard, so the examination stands up to scrutiny.
What is in the LEV report, and how long must I keep it?
You receive the measured airflow and capture data, a pass or fail verdict at each test point, photographs, any remedial actions and the next due date, and it is this report an inspector asks to see rather than a service record. COSHH requires the records to be kept for at least five years, so we log every result against your system.
What happens if my LEV system fails the test?
The report sets out exactly why, for example low airflow, a worn fan or a badly positioned hood, and the remedial work needed to bring it back into adequate control. Once the work is done we can return to re-test and confirm the system is protecting people again.

Due an LEV test or certificate in Hartlepool?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection in Hartlepool.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote