How do you determine the number of air monitoring pumps required when undertaking asbestos removal?

Posted by Luke Austin on 31 July 2016 | 0 Comments

Tags: Asbestos, air monitoring sampling pumps, Negative air unit, Decontamination unit

The aim of the air monitoring during asbestos removal works is to follow the potential air flow patterns around a project and then to be in a position to confirm that the air is all safe for the public to breath.

Basic Set

Location	Reason
Negative air unit	One sampling pump installed in the slip stream of the exiting air for each negative air unit. If there are two negative air units adjacent to each other sometimes one pump can monitor two units. This sampling pumps are to confirm that the filters are working.
Decontamination unit	One sampling pump at the entrance to each decontamination unit. This pump is to confirm that no fibres are exiting the decontamination unit. This can either occur due to: Lack of negative pressure in the enclosure, leading to contaminated air discharging directly from the decontamination unit. Personnel not decontaminating correctly and bring fibres out of the unit with them.
Background	One sampling pump located in air that is undisturbed by the work. This pump is to confirm what the ‘ambient’ levels of respirable fibres are. It is not unknown for there to be elevated levels that are unrelated to the work being undertaken. This pump does not need to be used every day, but sufficient samples need to be taken to be able to get a good understanding of the ambient conditions.

Additional pumps

These additional sampling pumps may be needed and will be determined after a site specific risk based analysis.

Location	Reason
Load out area	Sampling pump installed in the load out area. This pump is to confirm that the load out of the waste is not causing the release of fibres. This pump will only be needed when the loading out is occurring.
Staff lunch rooms	A sampling pump in the staff lunch room is often used: If personnel are undertaking work in areas that may potentially be contaminated with asbestos, but outside of a formal enclosure. As an additional check on the decontamination practices of the asbestos removal staff This pump is to check to see if the workers are bringing fibres back from the work site. It is a good early warning of a potential problem.
Reassurance monitoring	If there are areas in close proximity to the work site that are occupied by third parties, reassurance monitoring can be used to confirm that their work site is not affected by works being undertaken nearby. The total number of pumps required is determined by the number of adjacent third parties and their potential exposure.
Personal monitoring	It is often important to know the level of respirable fibres that the asbestos removal personnel are being exposed to. The reasons for this requirement may include: Confirming that the level of respirator protection is appropriate. That the dust control measures being used in the enclosure are working. In these cases, selected asbestos removal personnel will wear, as required, a personal sampling pump with the sample taken from the workers normal breathing zone.