Sampling and Instrumentation

This two-day, all-day course will explore the use of air sampling equipment and instrumentation to measure chemical air contaminants and physical agents.

Overview:

Measuring exposures to hazardous chemicals and physical agents is a core competency for Industrial Hygienists, Safety Professionals, and other EHS leaders. A well-designed measurement plan provides reliable and defensible information in a cost-effective manner that can be used to assess exposures, protect workers and ensure regulatory compliance. To accomplish these goals, practitioners must select sampling equipment and instruments based on the purpose of the sampling event, the types of hazards to be evaluated, applicable exposure limits and the concentrations to be measured. Samples must be collected consistent with analytical methods and professional standards and relevant factors must be recorded.

This course is an introduction to sampling and measurement of particulate matter, gases, vapors and physical hazards in the workplace, including:

  • Determining goals for the sampling event, establishing compounds or agents to be measured and identifying exposure limits used to evaluate results.
  • Collecting samples in accordance with applicable analytical methods, including recommended flow rate, sample time, sample volume and method limit of detection.
  • Selection, preparation, calibration and operation of real-time equipment
  • Documenting sampling parameters and relevant exposure factors to support interpretation and reporting of results.

This course will be taught using a combination of demonstration, lecture, group discussion/workshop as well as tabletop exercises and hands-on practical exercises. Attendees are encouraged to bring a personal laptop or tablet and should be prepared to work together with other attendees to improve their knowledge in this important industrial hygiene practice area.

 

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will be able to:

  1. Determine a technical approach for sampling and measurement, based on relevant exposure factors and project goals.
  2. Understand capabilities and limitations of air sampling and measurement techniques and identify appropriate methods.
  3. Collect air samples using a variety of active and passive air sampling methods.
  4. Measure airborne contaminants and physical agents using a variety of direct reading instruments.
  5. Prepare appropriate documentation to support measurements and record relevant variables.

 

Agenda:

  1. The Practice of Industrial Hygiene
    • Why sample or measure?
    • AIHA Exposure Assessment Strategy
    • Occupational Exposure Limits – PELs, TLVs. others
    • Full-shift, Short-term (STEL), Ceiling, area samples
    • Group Discussion - Attendee “chemicals of concern”
  2. Air-Sampling Plan
    • Sampling Strategy
    • Laboratory analytical methods
    • Limits of detection and minimum sample volume
    • Quality Assurance
    • Tabletop Exercise – Developing an air sampling plan
  3. Particulate Contaminants
    • Size-specific Monitoring – “total,” respirable, thoracic, inhalable particulate
    • Real-time Measurement
    • Wipe tests (surface contamination)
    • Hands-on Exercise – Size-selective sampling, Use of real-time instruments
  4. Gases and Vapors
    • Air samples – Active and Passive methods, Whole air methods
    • Real-time Measurement - Combustible Gas/Oxygen/”4-gas Meters,” Photoionization Detectors, Colorimetric Tubes, Substance-Specific / Electrochemical Sensors
    • Hands-on Exercise – Active/passive sampling, Use of real-time instruments
  5. Noise Monitoring
    • Sound-Level Meters
    • Noise Dosimetry
    • Octave-band analysis
    • Hands-on Exercise – Active/passive sampling, Use of real-time instruments
  6. Heat Stress Monitoring
    • Heat Stress Index (HSI)
    • Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)
    • Hands-on Exercise – Use of WBGT meter
  7. Interpreting Sampling Results/Measurements
    • Shift-length adjustment
    • Mixture rule
    • Aggregating results
    • Decision-making statistics
    • Tabletop Exercise – Interpreting air sampling results
  8. Conducting a Sampling Event
    • Documenting survey data
    • Sample management
    • Reporting Results
    • Group discussion - Sampling for attendee “chemicals of concern”
*Subject to modification

 

Other Registration Options

Call Us: 310-825-0709

Email Us: erc@ph.ucla.edu

 

Payment Terms:

Classes are subject to cancellation by the host due to low registration or scheduling issues. If a class is cancelled by the host, participants will receive a full refund of their original payment.

(rev. 11/6/09):

Participant cancellations must be in writing. Refund schedule due to participant-requested cancellations is:

  • 15 or more business days before the class: 80% of registration fee
  • 7-14 business days before the class: 50% of registration fee
  • Less than 7 days before the class and "no shows": No refund

If course materials such as books have been sent to course participants in advance, the cost of that material will be subtracted from the refund.

UCLA reserves the right to postpone an offering 7 days prior to the course date should minimum enrollment requirements not be met. If a program is canceled, you will be notified and your registration fee will be refunded in full, less the cost of course materials sent in advance if they are not returned in the condition in which they were received. The liability of UCLA is limited to the course fee.