Consultancy: Occupational Hygiene Services

What is Occupational Hygiene?

Occupational hygiene is the practice of identifying hazardous agents in the workplace that could cause disease, harm or discomfort to people. The risk from exposure to these hazardous agents is evaluated and recommendations are made to control them.

What the law requires

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 require you to ensure that employees are not put at risk because of substances used or generated at work.

In the case of airborne substances, in order to help professionals decide whether people in the workplace are being exposed to harmful levels, the Health and Safety Executive has prepared and published a guidance document called ‘EH40 - Occupational Exposure Limits’.

EH40 contains an up-to-date list of workplace exposure limits for use in conjunction with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Essentially, this allows occupational hygienists to compare measured exposure levels to set limits in order to establish whether action is required.

How can PHSC help?

We have a range of monitoring equipment that allows our environmental technicians to measure a variety of environmental hazards. These include:

• Assessment of lighting
• Asbestos surveys - see www.alsltd.com
• Test and examination of local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
• Particulate / dust measurement and analysis
• Solvent monitoring
• Analysis and measurement of gases and vapours
• Noise (see also Workplace and environmental noise
  assessment services)
• Quarterly tests of breathing air lines (to BS 4275)

Essentially, any substance can be measured where the situation demands it.

Some monitoring work requires samples to be collected and analysed at a laboratory. We only use NAMAS-accredited laboratories to ensure that the highest level of technical accuracy is maintained. Once the results are received, our technicians write a summary report and recommend appropriate action to enable you to protect your employees and meet the law.

Your Next Step

If you would like to discuss potential chemical exposure issues within your workplace, then one of our environmental technicians would be happy to talk with you.

From an initial conversation, the technician should be able to suggest a monitoring strategy for us to assess exposure levels and help you to protect your staff.

If you would like to find out more about how PHSC can help, contact us now on 01622 717700!

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