What Is P602?
Every year in the UK, thousands of people die from work-related lung diseases such as Silicosis, Lung Cancer, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In fact, according to the Health and Safety Executive’s report on Occupational Lung Disease in Great Britain, an estimated 12,000 lung disease deaths can be linked to past workplace exposure annually.
Many work-related lung disease deaths are linked to inhaling airborne contaminants such as dust, gases, fumes, and vapours produced during woodworking, metalworking, chemical production, and plastic manufacturing.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, employers are legally required to use appropriate control measures to help limit exposure to these harmful airborne contaminants and protect their employees’ health.
An LEV system is one proven and effective way of controlling airborne contaminants in the workplace. An LEV system is a control measure that captures and contains airborne contaminants at the source and safely deposits them away from the worker’s breathing zone. However, for an LEV system to be 100% effective, it must be designed by a BOHS P602-qualified LEV System Design Engineer. But what is the P602 qualification, and what does it cover? This article will cover everything you need to know.
What is the P602 qualification?
Endorsed by The British Occupational Hygiene Society, P602 is a qualification that provides LEV Designers with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to design a cohesive and effective LEV system.
Who needs a P602 qualification?
Any professional responsible for designing an LEV system or evaluating its performance must be P602 qualified. Typically, this includes the below occupations:
- LEV Designers and Engineers
- LEV Inspectors and Testers
- Engineers’ responsible LEV system maintenance
- LEV compliance professionals
Other occupations, such as internal and independent Health and Safety inspectors, may be required to complete the P602 qualification, too.
What does the P602 qualification cover?
- A comprehensive understanding of workplace control principles.
- How to design an LEV system that meets the requirements specified by HSE.
- How to calculate pressure loss and flow rate requirements.
- How to visually examine system components such as extraction hoods, ducting, and filter units.
- How to evaluate an LEV system’s performance to ensure it functions appropriately and adequately protects workers.
If you manage a site that produces harmful airborne contaminants and require an LEV system to help adequately control them, it is essential to have a system that is designed to comply with industry standards by a P602-qualified engineer.
At LEV Engineering, we will design, build, install and test LEV Systems that meet health and safety regulations and safely remove airborne contaminants to protect workers. Get in touch with our engineers to discuss how we can help you.