Educational guides on how workplace documents fit together — which document is typically completed before another, what is used alongside it and what follows. Connected to workplace forms, checklists and registers. Informational only — not legal advice; employers remain responsible for required documents and compliance.
What a dust extraction test workflow is
A dust extraction test workflow is the chain of documents an employer uses to keep local exhaust ventilation (LEV) — dust and fume extraction — working effectively. It links the dust and fume assessment, the LEV register, the routine user check, the periodic thorough examination and test and the defect or repair action.
This page is an educational overview of how those documents typically connect. It does not set examination intervals — the employer is responsible for keeping LEV effective and examined by a competent person, under the applicable law.
Why these documents connect
LEV protects people from dust and fume only when it is actually capturing them, and effectiveness fades with blocked filters and worn parts. The dust and fume assessment decides where extraction is needed; the register tracks each system; the routine check catches obvious problems like reduced flow; and the periodic thorough examination and test confirms performance. A failed test drives repair.
Connecting the documents means a failing extraction system is caught and repaired rather than left to expose people to dust or fume while appearing to work.
The typical sequence
- Required before: a dust and fume assessment and an LEV register define what is extracted and where.
- Used with: a routine user check confirms flow and obvious condition.
- Completed after: a periodic thorough examination and test confirms performance, recorded against the system.
- Escalation: a failed test drives repair before the system is relied on again.
- These are example steps only — adapt the sequence to your LEV and the applicable law.
When the chain runs
The chain runs through routine user checks of flow and condition, and on the periodic thorough-examination-and-test cycle for the LEV.
It also runs after a modification, a blocked filter, or a sign that capture has dropped.
Who owns each step
- The employer owns the LEV and the assessment.
- Users carry out routine checks and report poor capture.
- A competent person carries out the thorough examination and test.
- A supervisor ensures failed systems are repaired.
Common mistakes
- Assuming LEV works because it is switched on.
- No routine check between thorough examinations.
- Blocked filters or ducts left unaddressed.
- No register, so a system is missed.
- A failed test recorded but no repair.
Records & retention (high level)
Employers generally keep the LEV register and examination and test records for as long as the systems are in use and for a period afterwards, in line with their obligations and data-protection duties.
This page does not state a required period or interval — confirm both with the applicable law and the official authority.
Sharing the workflow as a PDF
LEV registers and examination and test records are commonly stored as PDFs so each system’s history stays together and can be shared or audited. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the test official or guarantee compliance.
Employer notes
- Base LEV provision on the dust and fume assessment.
- Run routine checks between thorough examinations.
- Use a competent person for the examination and test.
- Repair failing systems before relying on them.
Worker notes
- Check the extraction is on and capturing before you start.
- Report poor capture, blocked ducts or a clogged filter.
- Position work so the extraction can capture dust or fume.
- Do not defeat or bypass the extraction.
Country considerations
LEV examination practice, intervals and the official authority vary by country. This page is high-level and general — it is not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee that a process or form is valid anywhere.
Always confirm the current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for keeping LEV effective and examined by a competent person, and for compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not set intervals, does not make a workplace compliant and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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