Measurement

Measurement of the dust level in the work environment is very important in the prevention of pneumoconiosis.

It helps to:

• assess the exposure level;
• evaluate the effectiveness of the control measures;
• record the information for academic studies.

Air Sampling

The sample may be taken to represent average conditions, but more often the concern is for catching the possibility of extreme conditions; i.e. when or if the workplace standard is approached or exceeded.

• Area monitor characterize the air quality for a location

• Personal monitor characterize the air quality experience by a worker during the workday (worker will have worn the monitor wherever he worked for eight hours)

Sample Analysis

The dusts collected on the filers are weighted with a balance with sufficient precision so that the dust concentration in the workplace can be calculated with the known flow rate and sampling period.

Occupational Exposure Limits

“Occupational Exposure Limit (OLE)” refers to the airborne concentration of individual chemical agents that represent levels regarded to impose no adverse health effects to most of the workers on exposure by the route of inhalation.

• The OEL for respirable nuisance dust is 5mg/m3 and that for inhalable dust is 10mg/m3.
• The OEL for respirable quartz is 0.1mg/m3.
• The OEL of chrysotile is 0.5 fibre/ml and that of the other types of asbestos are 0.2 fibre/ml.