Air Sampling and Industrial Hygiene Engineering

Martha J. Boss,Dennis W. Day

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781000359480
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Scienze biologiche
• Subtopic: Conservazione e Tutela dell'Ambiente

We know certain chemicals cause problems in the workplace. The issues now are: Where do they occur in the workplace? How can we best evaluate them? What are the procedures for dealing with them safely? Many books simply define the problem and tell you that you need a program. Air Sampling and Industrial Hygiene gives you a guide to air sampling protocols from start to finish.
The book presents sampling technology updated with today's tools - such as microcircuitry and remote sensing. The authors emphasize an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how air monitoring can adequately report current environmental conditions associated with outdoor media, indoor remediation efforts, proximal equipment, interior line monitoring, and the interrelationship of ventilation parameters.
In addition to providing the how-tos of sampling, this guide covers the basics of chemical risk assessment, biological assessment, engineering evaluation of mechanical system design criteria, and chemical or process engineering hazard assessments. It presents the information using text, text outlines, graphics, and pictures - including cross sections of instrumentation and side bars to elaborate on complex concepts.
Faulty readings caused by poor sampling techniques can be very costly. This book provides the how-tos for making design engineering and on-site decisions as to instrumentation selection and scheduled usage. Air Sampling and Industrial Hygiene Engineering will allow you to complete the sampling process systematically and correctly from initial suspicions to the use of obtained results.

CHAPTER 1
Air Sampling Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of air sampling and site monitoring that is legally defensible. It answers questions about monitoring protocols that must be initiated for emergency and contingency situations.

1.1 DOCUMENTATION

Essentially in any sampling endeavor, without documentation, you have what is called “personal opinion” The intent of documentation is to provide the basis for professional opinion. The documentation then becomes a dialogue of historical perspective and the empirical sampling event.

When assembling historical documentation, make sure that you define how the information is used. Often in order to understand sampling results, the environment, including work practices, must be analyzed. Work practices include human factors; therefore, you must be very careful to present a dialogue of these work practices that is not individually invasive.

When you decide on documentation techniques, before you write the first chronicle, enter field notes, or take that first picture, make sure that everyone understands what the purpose of the information is and who will have access to this information.

Be very careful when the original scope of work calls for only general information. Often as the investigation continues, you may be asked to provide very specific reasons for general information development. Consequently, even for general information screening or limited audits, you may need to keep very specific information available to substantiate your opinions.

Whenever a review of human factors is required, especially interviews, all parties must understand the limitations on personal anecdotal information. If you do not intend to personally name the interviewee, make sure all parties understand.

The overriding message here is define your scope of work and write this definition for all to see. If you need to work under the auspice of attorney/client privilege or through any other set boundaries, make sure the scope of work reflects these facts.

1.2 SAMPLE DOCUMENTATION

To assist in determining appropriate engineering controls, take photographs (as appropriate) and detailed notes concerning the following:

• Visible airborne contaminants
• Work practices
• Potential interferences
• Movements
• Other conditions

Prepare blanks during the sample period for each type of sample collected. One blank will suffice for up to 20 samples for any given analysis. These blanks may include opened, but unused, charcoal tubes.

1.3 COMPETENCY FOR SAMPLING TECHNICIANS

When deciding who is defined as a competent sampling technician, the first criterion is as follows: Is the scope of work completely defined according to sampling requirements? If you have any doubts about the situation with which samplers are involved, whether those doubts stem from a lack of background knowledge of the site or unknown hazards, the sampling scope is not completely defined.

For undefined sampling scopes, a senior sampling professional will need to initiate the site work. If the sampling choices once in the field are multifactorial, in that circumstances on-site are very dynamic, a team of senior sampling professionals is required.

Remember that a phenomenon known as perceptual shift will occur during sampling. As we become more or less secure with our environment, we start to see things differently A strong team is able to keep its members on target, thus providing a more complete picture of the sampling environment.

Once a scope of work is defined, sampling can often be delegated to less senior personnel. The purpose of this text is to provide information to assist in the standardization of both the initial and the delegated work effort. Despite the many ways of communicating before the sampling event, dialogue must be continued throughout the sampling event. Unfortunately this dialogue may not be free-flowing conversation without limitations. The original team that defined the scope of work must be available to the on-site personnel. The actual conversations on-site, while delimited by many events, must give way to free-flowing discussions within this team so that the collected data are useful and relevant.

1.4 SAMPLING ACTIVITY HAZARD ANALYSIS

To analyze the activities involved in sampling, an Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) may be required. An example AHA is given in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Air Sampling and Monitoring

Activity	Hazards	Recommended Controls
Air sampling and monitoring	Electrical	Grounded plugs should be used. Generators or air pumps should be used in dry areas, away from possible ignition sources. Do not stand in water or other liquids when handling equipment. Electrical equipment will conform to OSHA 1910.303(a) and 1910.305(a),(f),(f)(3). Ground fault interrupters are used in the absence of properly grounded circuitry or when portable tools must be used in wet areas. Extension cords should be protected from damage and maintained in good condition.
	Sampling pumps Ambient environment and readings	Air pumps should be placed within easy reach using an OSHA-approved ladder or elevated platform or by placing the pump on a stake. Personnel should be thoroughly familiar with the use, limitations, and operating characteristics of the monitoring instruments. Perform continuous monitoring in variable atmospheres. Use intrinsically safe instruments until the absence of combustible gases or vapor is anticipated.

1.5 SECURITY

Whenever confidential or security issue data are collected, this information must be secured. One of the most difficult issues when on-site is just what to write down or record on media. Too much information is as bad as too little information.

For the junior sampling technician, raw data should not be interpreted in the field without consultation with the scope development team. Usually this consultation will produce advice to the sampling technician; do not record that advice other than through a verbal discussion with senior staff.

Samples should be handled only by workers specifically designated as samplers. The worker who signs the chain-of-custody record will guarantee sample integrity until its final arrival at the laboratory.

1.5.1 Sample Containers—Laboratory

The analytical laboratory will often provide sample containers. The containers for soil or water sampling will be either high-density polyethylene or glass with Teflon®-lined lids and will be pretreated with preservatives as applicable. The type of sample containers and preservatives required for each analysis will be specified by the laboratory in coordination with the scope of work.

Sample filter cassettes, sorbent tubes, and other collection devices for air samples may also be obtained for the laboratory. Coordination with the laboratory is essential to ensure that sample containers meet the laboratory’s internal quality control requirements as well as regulatory requirements.

1.5.2 Sample Handling and Decontamination

After sample collection in the field, the exterior of sample containers will be decontaminated if gross contamination is present. The sample containers will be handled with gloves until they are decontaminated with a detergent wash and water rinse. Care will be taken to avoid damaging the temporary labeling during decontamination. After decontamination, permanent labels will be placed on clean sample container exteriors.

The sample containers will be well cushioned with packing materials and packaged as described below for transportation to the laboratory. Care will be taken to seal bottle caps tightly. The samples will be shipped to the laboratory under chain-of-custody protocols.

Asbestos samples should never be sent with packing peanuts because the static charge generated during shipping will alter the pattern of fiber deposition on the cassette filters. Volatile samples must be sent in cooling chests to maintain a 4°C atmosphere during shipment. Semivolatiles should also be sent in cooling chests.

1.5.3 Procedures for Packing and Shipping Low Concentration Samples

Samples will be packaged as follows:

• Use waterproof metal (or equivalent strength plastic) ice chests or coolers only.
• After determining the specific samples to be submitted and filling out the pertinent information on the sample label and tag, put the label on the bottle or vial prior to packing.
• Secure the lid with strapping tape (tape on volatile organic compound [VOC] vials may cause contamination).
• Mark volume level on bottle with grease pencil.
• Place about 3 in. of inert cushioning material, such as vermiculite, in the bottom of the cooler.
• Enclose the bottles in clear plastic bags through which sample tags and labels are visible and seal the bags. Pack bottles upright in the cooler and isolate them in such a way that they do not touch and will not touch dur...