Selecting a Laboratory

Once a sample has been obtained, the employer must send the sample to a competent laboratory for testing. Selecting a laboratory that does high-quality work is critical for knowing if the employer is complying with the OSHA crystalline silica standard. Employers should ask the following questions before deciding to go with a particular lab:

• Can the laboratory describe the positives and negatives of the techniques they use to analyze samples?
• Does the laboratory maintain accreditation with a recognized authority?
• Does the laboratory report the results in a format that is understandable, and provide all of the information required to perform the exposure calculations?
• Does the laboratory have a quality assurance program?
• Does the laboratory participate in a proficiency testing program for crystalline silica to assure consensus and adequate performance?
• Does the laboratory analyze quality control samples to assure that its procedures are performed correctly?
• Does the laboratory staff appear knowledgeable about your workplace operations, including the other substances in use at the workplace that could interfere with the test results?

Once the laboratory uses the samples provided to determine the exposure level, the employer must compare those results to the permissible limit.

To learn more about Silica Safety visit our General & Maritime Silica Safety Online Training web page.