Research By The Hse Shows Varying Levels Of Understanding Of Lev Systems

As part of its campaign to improve awareness about the use and maintenance of LEV systems

, the HSE carried out some research among businesses that need to control employees' exposure to hazardous substances and among suppliers of LEV cleaning and testing services.

Researchers found that user businesses fell into three main categories. The first included such activities as soldering and working with rubber and were generally medium sized companies or the 'larger' small businesses and represented approximately one in ten of the sample.

The HSE research found that there was a high knowledge and interest in the risks associated with their occupations and a determination to take every precaution to prevent employees being exposed to unacceptable risks.

The majority of those in the survey fell into the second group, adding up to two thirds of the total 90 companies surveyed. It revealed that this group's attitude to health and safety showed some disregard for some of the finer points, such as the annual or 14 monthly inspections of LEV equipment.

The final group was principally small companies, predominantly in welding, and represented one in five of the sample. This group showed a lack of interest in health and safety, was using old or second-hand LEV equipment if using any, and a had relaxed approach to the control of risks and hazards.

Generally responsibility for Health and Safety was delegated to someone in the organisations in all categories and the MDs' level of interest in the issue varied.

The HSE researchers found that the MDs on the whole, were confident that they were doing enough to protect their workforce and demonstrated some awareness of the risks in their sector. Many believed that they were taking all or most of the necessary steps to minimise that risk.

This research was carried out in 2009 during the immediate aftermath of the credit crunch and economic recession that began in 2008. Therefore the most important issue on the minds of most of the businesses' owners or MDs was survival in the current economic climate.

Many, particularly those respondents in construction and welding, reported both survival worries and a reduction in or postponement of orders and that clients had cut their budgets. Consequently issues of LEV testing and inspection and Health and Safety in general were not a top priority.

This picture was borne out by the suppliers of LEV cleaning and LEV testing services, who reported that current clients were having fewer LEV inspections and fewer new clients were coming forward to have ventilation equipment installed. LEV testing and maintenance suppliers reported that barriers to good H & S practice included the perceived expense of LEV and ignorance on the part of suppliers and users in identifying the correct equipment.

Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers

by: Alison Withers

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