Chemical Exposure Monitoring

Gully Howard Technical’s Occupational Hygiene department offer clients a range of services including, Chemical Exposure Monitoring Services. Our Chartered Occupational Hygienists have many years of experience in Personal Exposure Monitoring and Controlling Airborne Hazardous Substances.

Chemical Exposure Monitoring

Approximately 13,000 persons die every year in the UK from diseases caused by occupational exposure to airborne hazardous substances. Many more people suffer from ill health as a result of exposure to such hazardous substances.

Airborne hazardous substances can be in the form of:

  • Dusts (e.g. wood, silica, metals)
  • Fibres (e.g. MMMF, asbestos)
  • Gases (e.g. carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide)
  • Vapours (e.g. benzene, toluene)
  • Fumes (e.g. welding, brazing)
  • Mists (e.g. oil).

Such exposures can cause acute and/or chronic health effects.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations requires that such exposure is prevented or controlled. One of the definitions of control is exposure must not exceed the Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL). WELs are published in the HSE document EH40.

Exposure is conducted in the breathing zone, defined as a 30cm hemispherical zone below the nose and mouth. This is typically conducted using personal air sampling pumps mounted on the waist, connected to sampling media positioned in the breathing zone.

If the daily (8-hour) or short-term (15 minute) exposures exceed the WEL then control measures are required to be implemented based on the ‘principles of good practice’ laid down in the COSHH Regulations.

Chemical Exposure Monitoring Services Bookings and Enquiries

Please contact us our Occupational Hygiene department: Enquiries@ghtechnical.com / 023 9272 8040.