The University is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all staff, students and visitors. In order to achieve this, control measures to prevent and minimise exposure to hazardous substances to as low as reasonably practicable, must be implemented as identified by risk assessment.

One of the most common and effective control measures employed in University facilities is Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). This standard aims to provide the necessary information to use them safely and effectively.

This standard applies to work tasks, including teaching activities, carried out using local exhaust ventilation as a control measure as defined below. This includes fume cupboards, microbiological safety cabinets, laminar flow cabinets, gloveboxes and LEV hood systems used in workshop type environments − for example, for removal of dusts, welding fumes, etc.

Two codes of practice have been written to support implementation of this standard:

• Code of Practice - Local Exhaust Ventilation (general types)
• Code of Practice - Local Exhaust Ventilation - Fume Cupboards

The implementation of this standard is monitored by University Health and Safety Committee. The LEV Safety Standard was approved by UHSC in September 2022. The next review is scheduled for September 2025. This standard supersedes the Safe Use of Fume Cupboards Standard.