You probably hear about work place safety all the time, especially in manufacturing, construction, and oil and gas industries. Visit a manufacturing plant or major construction site and you will see a “196 Days Accident Free” sign or something to that affect.

How does a  company go about business being accident free?  Managers and supervisors use job hazard analyses to identify dangers associated with specific tasks to reduce the risk of injuries or accidents. In addition to job hazard assessments, managers and supervisors use exposure monitoring to help job sites stay accident-free.

How Can Exposure Monitoring Help You Stay Accident-Free?

One contractor is facing $329K fine for mercury exposure hazards on the job. Two willful and six serious violations include failure to evaluate the effectiveness of respirators and employee exposure.  Not to mention, failure to conduct workplace evaluations.  These fines could have easily been prevented if this company conducted exposure monitoring on a continual basis, and kept documentation of exposure abatement plans. (Source: OSHA.gov)

Here Are Four Reasons to Conduct Exposure Monitoring on a Regular Basis

1. Determine What PPE To Require. Hazard assessments and personal exposure monitoring
   aid in the selection of types of PPE.  Depending on the type of exposure, certain types of hearing protection or respiratory protection may be required.  Or maybe safety goggles instead of safety glasses are required to eliminate injuries to the eye from chemicals or dust.
2. Determine What Safety Programs To Implement.  Exposure monitoring shapes the company health and safety program.  Do employees need to be aware of chemical exposures?  Noise exposure?
3. Determine Proper Engineering Controls. Exposure monitoring will help you evaluate engineering and administrative controls in certain work areas or for certain operations.  For example, if the amount of exposure to chemicals, dust, fumes, vapors, etc exceed the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), consider installing a ventilation system to help control the air contaminants.
4. Determine the Health & Safety of Workers. Ultimately, exposure monitoring helps you maintain a safe work environment.  It is your responsibility as an employer to provide a safe work area, and provide employees with the tools needed to be safe.

Need Exposure Monitoring? SRP Industrial Hygienists conduct job hazard assessments and exposure monitoring.  Exposures include but are not limited to asbestos, indoor air quality, organic vapors, chemicals, fumes, particulates, silica dust, respirable dust, noise, and carbon monoxide. Call SRP to Schedule a Survey!  Call Us at (866) 222-4972 or email us below.