Dust & Silica

HAZCON has a specialised airborne dust and silica monitoring laboratory and we can offer real time monitoring of dust levels as well as measuring inhalable and respirable dust exposure levels.

All employers are under a general duty to provide a safe workplace. There are recommended limits for employee exposure to both inhalable and respirable dust and crystalline silica. If it is suspected that employees may be exposed to excessive dust levels, monitoring will confirm the exposure and assist in identifying problem locations and developing control strategies.

The dust monitoring program requires the HAZCON consultant to attach personal dust samplers to a number of representative employees at the workplace. These samples are then analysed to determine the employee's exposure to dust. The consultant will select a representative number of these samples for crystalline silica analysis, if required.

The HAZCON consultant will also place static dust monitors at strategic locations to determine the inhalable dust levels in specific areas. If required the consultant can use a real-time dust monitoring instrument to determine dust levels generated by specific processes or movements in the workplace.