Exposure Assessment
- Reassessment of Exposures: The employer should reassess exposures whenever the following happen:
- a change in the production, process, control equipment, personnel, or work practices may reasonably be expected to result in new or additional exposures at or above the action level, or
- when the employer has any reason to believe that new or additional exposures at or above the action level have occurred.
- Methods of Sample Analysis: The employer should ensure all samples are taken to satisfy the monitoring requirements discussed above. Samples must be evaluated by a laboratory meeting the requirements of 1926.1153, Appendix A.
- Employee notification of assessment results: Within five working days after completing an exposure assessment, individually notify each affected employee of the results.
- Written notification can be given to each employee or posted in an appropriate location accessible to all affected employees.
- If exposure is above the PEL, the employer should describe the corrective action being taken to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL.
- Observation of Monitoring: Where air monitoring is performed, the employer should give affected employees or their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring. When observation of monitoring requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required:
- the employer should provide the observer with protective clothing and equipment at no cost, and
- make sure the observer uses such clothing and equipment.
- Methods of Compliance: The employer should use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate such controls are not feasible.
Wherever engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer should:
- still use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level, and
- supplement them with approved respiratory protection.
The employer should comply with other OSHA standards, such as 29 CFR 1926.57 Ventilation, where abrasive blasting is conducted.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-3. Wherever engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer should _____.
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