Methods Used to Evaluate Respiratory Hazards

Safety and health professionals evaluate the respiratory hazards of a healthcare facility by using air monitoring equipment. This equipment measures the concentration of contaminants in samples of air collected in the facility. Accurate measurements require a thorough understanding of many complex factors, such as the ambient temperature, atmospheric conditions in the facility, chemical interactions and interferences, and much more. The sampling must take into account exposure levels under normal conditions and potential exposure conditions in worst-case conditions or in an emergency.

The evaluation should include air monitoring of the breathing zone. This method measures the air in the breathing zone (that is, the air around the head and shoulders of a worker) of an employee who is wearing a personal air pump that pulls air through sampling media. The sampling media may be either a filter cassette that traps particles or a charcoal tube that collects gases or vapors. The collected samples are sent to a lab where the exposure level for this employee is determined.

To learn more about Healthcare Respiratory Protection visit our Cal/OSHA Healthcare Respiratory Protection Safety Online Training web page.