Air Monitoring During the Response Operation
During the response operation, (e.g., when soil or containers are moved or disturbed), employers should monitor employees likely to have the highest exposures to hazardous substances (i.e., exposures above PELs).
If any employee has been exposed to elevated levels of hazardous substances, extensive personal monitoring must be conducted, in conjunction with additional site control measures, to ensure employee health and safety.
Identifying Airborne Contaminants
The two methods generally available for identifying and/or quantifying airborne contaminants are:
- Air monitoring: On-site air monitoring uses direct-reading instruments (DRIs). Air monitoring features "real time" (direct reading) and rapid response.
- Air Sampling: Air samples are obtained using sampling pumps, gas sampling bags, filters, sorbent, or wet-contaminant collection methods that produce samples. The samples must be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Air sampling is more accurate and is compound or class specific. However, it takes more time to get results and may require additional equipment.
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4-3. Who should employers be monitoring during the response operation?
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