Workplace Air Monitoring to Assess Employee Exposure and Support COSHH Compliance
Workplace air monitoring helps businesses establish the extent of employee exposure to substances hazardous to health and assess whether existing control measures are providing adequate protection. R&B Industrial provides workplace air quality monitoring, occupational hygiene surveys and personal air sampling across manufacturing, engineering, production and industrial environments. Our consultants use recognised sampling and testing methods, with analysis undertaken by UKAS-accredited laboratories where required and provide practical recommendations to support COSHH compliance.
Why COSHH Air Monitoring Matters
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations place responsibility on employers to ensure exposure to hazardous substances is prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.
A suitable risk assessment must first establish the hazards and determine the appropriate means of control. Where monitoring is required, COSHH Regulation 10 requires employers to ensure that employee exposure to substances hazardous to health is monitored using a suitable procedure.
Workplace monitoring establishes the extent of exposure occurring and helps assess the effectiveness of existing control measures. Results can then be compared against relevant exposure limits and guidance to determine whether exposure is adequately controlled or whether improvements are required.
Our assessments can consider the effectiveness of LEV plant, general ventilation and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) alongside the monitoring results.
When is COSHH Air Monitoring Required?
Air monitoring may be required wherever workplace activities generate hazardous dusts, fumes, vapours, gases or other airborne contaminants.
| Workplace Activity | Typical Exposure Risk |
|---|---|
| Stone cutting, concrete and masonry | Respirable crystalline silica (RCS), silicosis and lung disease |
| Woodworking and timber processing | Fine wood dust and potential carcinogenic exposure |
| Welding and metal fabrication | Welding fumes and metal particulates |
| Paint spraying and coating | Solvent vapours, VOCs and isocyanates |
| Chemical manufacturing and processing | Hazardous vapours, gases and chemical exposure |
| Food production and flour handling | Flour dust, enzymes and occupational asthmagens |
| Metalworking and machining | Oil mists, aerosols and machining-fluid exposure |
| Laboratories and pharmaceutical production | Chemical vapours and other airborne contaminants |
| Soldering and electronics manufacturing | Lead-based solder fume, rosin fumes and respiratory sensitisers |
| Biological processes or waste handling | Mould spores, bacteria and biological contaminants |
Monitoring requirements depend on the substance, process and potential exposure. We therefore select the appropriate monitoring method and sampling period for the individual workplace.
Workplace Air Monitoring Methods
RB Industrial uses a range of personal, static and real-time monitoring techniques.
Personal air sampling is carried out within the operator’s breathing zone to establish exposure during specific work activities. Depending on the substance and assessment requirements, this can include both long-term and short-term exposure monitoring.
Spot and area sampling provides general or background measurements and can be used to assess the spread of contaminants, breathing air quality or specific areas of a workplace.
For situations where concentrations need to be observed in real time, we use direct-reading equipment including DustTrak real-time dust monitors, photoionisation detectors (PID) and Dräger detector tubes. Other techniques include personal sampling pumps, impingers and sampling tubes.
Where required, we can also undertake surface wipe testing, lift-off tape, in-situ XRF, metal analysis and bulk sampling to investigate settled or non-airborne contamination.
Samples requiring laboratory analysis are analysed by UKAS-accredited laboratories.
What Do Our Assessments Provide?
The monitoring results are interpreted alongside the workplace activities and control measures in place. Reports can include:
- Exposure monitoring results for dusts, fumes, gases and vapours, compared with relevant exposure limits.
- A detailed description of the work activities and substances present during sampling.
- Assessment of existing LEV, general ventilation and RPE.
- Advice on COSHH risk assessments and appropriate control measures.
- Recommendations for improvements where exposure is not adequately controlled.
- Advice on biological monitoring and health surveillance where appropriate under COSHH Regulation 11
Why Choose RB Industrial?
Our approach combines occupational hygiene expertise with practical engineering knowledge.
We don’t simply provide exposure figures. We consider the process being undertaken, the substances involved, the level of exposure and the effectiveness of the control measures already in place.
Our consultants use current sampling and monitoring equipment and provide independent, clear and concise reports with recommendations focused on practical risk management.
We can also provide ongoing support packages where businesses require continued monitoring, review or assistance with COSHH compliance.