Air Monitoring

There are both initial site air monitoring and ongoing air monitoring. Employers must be sure to conduct both.

Airborne contaminants pose threats to employee safety; therefore, it is vital that the employers include air monitoring in the initial site evaluation. Initial and ongoing airborne monitoring will identify airborne levels of hazardous substances and the safety and health hazards they pose. This will ensure the appropriate level of on-site employee protection.

Air monitoring should take place during the initial site entry to identify and assess the following:

• Any IDLH condition
• Exposure over permissible exposure limits or other published exposure levels
• Exposure over a radioactive material's dose limits
• Other dangerous conditions, such as the presence of flammable atmospheres and oxygen-deficient environments

After initial air monitoring (and after the site is determined to be safe for start-up operations), 29 CFR 1910.120 requires that the employer implement an ongoing air monitoring program.

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