Exposure to health hazards at work can result in any number of work-related illnesses. For this reason, OSHA continues to get more stringent and regularly issues rulings in order to protect workers from exposure to air contaminants in the workplace. An assessment of a facility and a review of the Industrial Hygiene Program are good resources in determining a facility’s compliance with government regulations, as well as ensuring alignment with industry best management practices, and aiding in the investigation to identify the reason behind an employee complaint.
CTI has a professional and knowledgeable team experienced in diverse working environments throughout many industrial sectors. We can provide practical and proven solutions through assessments & analytic services using regulatory interpretation. Check out our Industrial Hygiene Brochure for more information.
CTI provides comprehensive indoor environment investigations to evaluate employee health hazards and occupant complaints associated with indoor building environments. We conduct area or personal air monitoring in accordance with the applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sampling protocols. CTI’s sampling capabilities include testing for:
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- Chemicals
- Metals
- Acids/bases
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Inorganic compounds
- Particulates
- Gases
- Mold
We use accredited laboratories to perform the analysis of sample media. The laboratory results, compared to the relative OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs), NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs), and ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), are included in the final Occupational Air Exposure Monitoring reports, along with a breakdown of the sample location and personnel, and recommendations for corrective actions to reduce the exposure to employees.
Why Conduct Indoor Air Quality Monitoring?
Indoor air quality is important for employee health and comfort. Poor air quality can lead to several negative health effects, including irritation, coughing, and fatigue. More serious health hazards such as occupational asthma, specific organ toxicity, or cancer can also occur, depending on the chemicals being handled on-site. Because of this, OSHA has developed PELs for several types of dust, fumes, and vapors from various chemicals. These PELs, found in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1, identify the maximum concentrations of different chemicals and materials an employee can be exposed over the course of an 8-hour work shift. Employees exposed to airborne concentrations of a material above a PEL may be at risk for serious health hazards.
Who is Required to Conduct Indoor Air Quality Monitoring?
Any facility that processes or handles hazardous materials, particulates, or chemicals that can become airborne should consider testing for indoor air quality. In order to determine if an employee is at risk for serious health hazards related to airborne particles or chemicals, facilities must first review applicable Safety Data Sheets (SDS) in order to identify any applicable exposure limits. This includes airborne dust particulates, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), silica, lead, hexavalent chromium, and other hazardous chemicals identified in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1.
How Can CTI Help?
CTI has worked with numerous facilities in several different industry sectors with indoor air quality. Our team of engineers can help keep your employees safe from hazards associated with the overexposure of airborne contaminants with the following:
- Reviewing facility SDSs to determine what to monitor for;
- Conducting indoor air quality monitoring on site;
- Analyze results from indoor air quality monitoring and provide recommendations for engineering controls, administrative controls, or personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce employee exposure;
- Conduct qualitative or quantitative respirator fit testing; and
- Develop and implement a Respiratory Protection Program.
Click below to explore a number of the safety and health consulting services that CTI can tailor to your personal industry and business dynamic.
Services:
Confined Space Entry Procedures
Industrial Hygiene/Indoor Air Quality
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
Lab Safety
Lockout/Tagout and Energy Control Procedures
Machine Guarding Risk Assessment And Evaluation
Noise Exposure Monitoring
OSHA Compliance Audits & Mock OSHA Inspections
OSHA Required Safety Training
Robot Risk Assessment & Safety
Safety Policies, Procedures, and Programs
