Occupational Hygiene : Exposure Monitoring

As part of the duties of an employer under the COSHH Regulations, there is often a requirement to show adequate control of substances hazardous to health.

The most common method is to measure the airborne concentrations of one or more hazardous substance in operators’ breathing zones. The results can be compared with published limits to determine the degree of control and hence the level of risk.

Some substances with more potent toxic effects have a further requirement to monitor on a more frequent basis, e.g. carcinogens such as Chrome VI, benzene and rubber fume and respiratory sensitisers such as wood dust, flour and isocyanates.

The Occupational Hygiene Unit of Newcastle Occupational Health and Hygiene has experience of monitoring personal exposures of a diverse range of airborne hazardous substances. This include dusts, mists, fumes, gases and vapours and can be carried out as part of a full investigative programme, or as part of a routine assessment in order to update COSHH records. Substances and processes include, among others:

• Solvent vapours associated with painting and printing
• Inhalable dusts associated with woodworking
• Inhalable dusts, fumes and gases associated with metalwork fabrication (welding)
• Anaesthetic gases in operating theatres
• Oil mists from metal turning and processing
• Respirable silica dusts from the manufacture of quartz glass

Exposure or background monitoring of many other substances can be undertaken on request.

In all cases, following the investigation, a comprehensive report is supplied, describing the monitoring program, presenting the results obtained, discussing the findings and recommending remedial action where necessary.

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