Monitoring in the workplace

• Pages: 8-11

4. Monitoring in the workplace

4.1. General

4.1.1. Airborne concentrations of asbestos should be measured in all places of

work where a risk of exposure to asbestos dust might occur.

4.1.2. (1) In order to identify the sources of asbestos dust emission and to

determine the extent of asbestos dust exposure, static and personal monitoring should be

carried out when asbestos or products containing asbestos are produced, handled or used

in such a manner as to be liable to emit airborne dust.

(2) Bulk analysis of the materials should be performed if data on

composition are not otherwise available.

4.1.3. Manufacturers of asbestos-containg products should make available

results of detailed monitoring of representative exposures which could result from the

main foreseeable uses (including misuse) of their products; such monitoring data should

be available to the users and, if appropriate, could remove the need for them to conduct

their own monitoring.

4.2. Static monitoring

4.2.1. In order to obtain indications of the spatial and temporal distribution of

airborne asbestos throughout the general atmosphere of the working area, air samples

should be taken:

(a) close to sources of emission in order to evaluate dust concentrations or the

standard of engineering controls;

(b) at various places in the working area to ascertain dissemination of asbestos dust;

and

(c) from working areas which represent typical exposure.

4.3. Personal monitoring

4.3.1. In order to evaluate the risk to the individual worker, air samples should

be collected in the worker's breathing zone by means of personal samplers. Sampling

should be carried out while the work process is in operation.

4.3.2. Where concentrations of airborne asbestos may vary from one work

operation or phase to another, dust sampling should be done in such a manner that the

average, and in any case the maximum, level of exposure of each individual worker can

be determined.

4.3.3. (1) Personal sampling should be carried out at various times throughout

the work shift and, where necessary, should be supplemented by short-term sampling

during periods of peak emission.

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