Local Exhaust Ventilation

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Definition - What does Local Exhaust Ventilation mean?

Local exhaust ventilation is the control used in engineering to manage the quality of air in the workplace environment. Local exhaust ventilation is comprised of five parts - a hood to capture the particles, a duct which acts as a conduit to transport contaminated air away from the area, a filter to clean the air, a fan to create suction to expel the air and a discharge stack that ensures the air is expelled through a non-return valve.

SureHire explains Local Exhaust Ventilation

Local exhaust ventilation is used to remove irritants or hazardous airborne particles from an area before they can contaminate a larger environment and the people in it. It may also introduce clean air into the area it has removed the contaminants from. It is a mechanism to intercept airborne contaminants at the source to prevent employees from inhaling them and to mitigate the effects that they may have on the employee's health and safety. Local exhaust ventilation is commonly used in the construction industry where dust, mist, gas, and vapor can be harmful to employees who are exposed to these particles in confined spaces. Local exhaust ventilation is sometimes used in conjunction with certain types of PPE masks to increase the protection to workers.

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