2
Meters and Monitors
2.1 Air Quality Testing and Monitoring
2.1.1 Introduction
Indoor air quality testing may be necessary to ensure employee safety. Testing and monitoring may be applied to those conditions where employees may be exposed to:
- nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide
- landfill gases
- noxious odors
- radon gas
- factory emissions
- odor complaints
- rainwater
- metals
- smoke levels
- dust
- volatile organic compounds
- indoor air quality (including Carbon Monoxide)
The results of air quality testing may be used to:
- Assign levels of worker respiratory protection
- For emergency planning
2.1.2 Methods of Sampling and Testing
Electric Power producers shall provide adequate means of carrying air monitoring in generator houses, transmitting stations, injection and switching substations, etc.
Three main methods are available to measure air pollution:
Passive Sampling: This refers to absorption or diffusion tubes or badges that provide a simple and inexpensive indication of average pollution levels over a period of weeks or months. Plastic tubes or discs open at one end to the atmosphere and with a chemical absorbent at the other, collect a sample for subsequent analysis in the laboratory. The low cost per tube allows sampling at a number of points and is useful in highlighting “hotspots” where more detailed study may be needed. The quality and accuracy of the data from passive sampling tubes does not make them suitable for precise measurements but they can give useful long term trend data. ...
