Exposure Monitoring and Indoor Air Quality Assessments
Under the `Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended)` employers have a legal duty, in the first instance, to assess the risk to health created by work involving substances hazardous to health (Regulation 6), and if required the employer shall ensure that the exposure of employees to substances hazardous to health is monitored in accordance with a suitable procedure (Regulation 10(1)). A hazardous substance may occur in many forms, eg dusts, fumes, gases and vapours etc. We undertake personal and fixed point static sampling of contaminants using a variety of techniques including real-time analysis, sampling pumps and passive samplers, as well as providing laboratory analysis of collected samples.
AEC`s team of occupational hygienists can help you meet these regultory requirements - we undertake airborne exposure monitoring for a wide range of hazardous substances in accordance with the latest monitoring guidelines, methods and techniques.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality has a major influence on the health, comfort and well-being of building occupants, with poor air quality often being linked to problems associated with Sick Building Syndrome. Symptoms include headaches, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry mucous membranes, dry skin, nasal irritation, breathing difficulties, abnormal taste sensation, distorted sense of smell, tiredness, dizziness, lack of concentration and nausea.
Whilst there are no specific regulations associated with indoor air quality, guidance on acceptable levels is available from The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the 2006 revision of the Building Regulations, which have set performance criteria for several air pollutants including VOCs, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.
AEC occupational hygiene consultants are able to assess indoor air quality within a number of work place situations.