Working environment measurement

Managing a facility requires ensuring the workplace is unpolluted and safe for the employees （Japanese Occupational Safety and Health Law). The measurements of the working environment have to be implemented by certified companies. In addition to its activities in maintenance and nuclear material management, ATOX does possess certifications in the field of working environment measurement. Our devices and teams could certainly meet your needs.
ATOX can also perform asbestos measurement. Please contact us for details.

What does "working environment measurement" mean ?

The following example illustrates ATOX's services in the field of measurement of the working environment.

Exemple

Context ：(C) is a University chemistry laboratory, where an organic solvent (methanol) is used for an extraction experiment. The test is performed under two air flow hoods.

Experiment start ：10：30
Experiment end ：16：00

The work environment measurements are performed by qualified engineers

The measurement procedure is described below step by step.

（1） Environment of the analysis

The hoods connected to the room extraction system, within C laboratory.

（2） Choice of A measurement points

Inside (C) chemical laboratory, selection of 5 equidistant measurement points (A1 to A5).

（3 ）Choice of B measurement point

Because the use of organic solvent is restricted to hood D, the highest concentrations in the air are likely to be measured in front of D.

（4） A and B measurement method

The organic solvent is used from 13:00 to 16:00. Therefore, samples are collected during one hour starting at 14:00. Samples measurement is implemented just after the sampling.

　

（5） Sampling method

Charcoal absorbent tubes

（6） Chemical analysis method

Gas chromatography

（7） Calculation of the concentrations

Giving in ppm the results of the analysis

（8） Final assessment

Concentrations at points A and B are compared with regulatory values

（9） Report on the working environment conditions

A report including steps (1) to (8) is transmitted to the facility's manager.

Our equipment for sampling and analysis

ATOX can meet various requirements with a large range of devices for sampling and analysis.

Main analytical devices
・Gas chromatography	・Air sampling	・Phase contrast microscope
・Ge(Li) radiation analyser	・ ICP
・Liquid scintillation counter	・ Absorption spectrometer

　　　　　 　　　　　　　　 　

Our team of work environment measurement specialists

All around Japan, our customers rely on ATOX's experts to respond to their needs in the field of measurement of the work environment.

・Working environment measurement engineers (type I) - number of people
Mineral dust	17	Special chemicals	17
Radioactive materials	66	Metallics	14
Organic solvents	17
・Working environment measurement engineers (type II)
39

　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　 　

What measurements are required at your facility ?

Conditions				Measurement
Type of work (Occupational Safety and Health Regulations）			Relevant law (Japan)	Type of measurement	Frequency	Number of records to be kept
1	Presence of stone, mineral, metallic or carbon dust in a indoor workplace		Japanese law on dust pollution	concentration of dust in the air concentration of free SiO2 in the dust	every 6 month	7
2	Very hot, humid or cold indoor workplace		Japanese law on safety, health & hygiene	temperature, humidity, radiant heat	twice a month	3
3	Noisy indoor workplace		Japanese law on safety, health & hygiene	noise level	every 6 month	3
4	Underground workplace (mine)	a)　CO2 environment	Japanese law on safety, health & hygiene	carbon dioxide concentration	every month	3
		b)　28℃	Japanese law on safety, health & hygiene	temperature	twice a month	3
		c)　facility with air ventilation system	Japanese law on safety, health & hygiene	ventilation intensity	twice a month	3
5	Central conditioned air control room (office building)		Japanese law on offices	carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, relative humidity of the room	every 2 month	3
6	Radioactive material handling	a) using radioactive material	Japanese law on ionizing materials	dose rate equivalent from external sources	every month	5
		b) handling radioactive material	Japanese law on ionizing materials	concentration of radioactive matters in the air	every month	5
		c) mining, extraction of radioactive material	Japanese law on ionizing materials	concentration of radioactive matters in the air	every month	5
7	Manufacturing or handling of special chemicals (first or second class) in a indoor working place		Japanese law on special chemicals	First class and second class material concentration in the air	every 6 month	3※
8	Indoor work operations in the purpose to handle asbestos or to manufacture it for testing and research goal.		Japanese law on asbestos	Concentration of  asbestos in air	Once every 6 months	40
9	Indoor work operation in the purpose to conduct conduct certain work in which lead is handled.		Japanese law on lead	Concentration of  lead in air	every month	3
10	Operations leading to oxygen depletion in the workplace		Japanese law on oxygen depleted environment	concentration of oxygen in the air	Before each work	3
				concentration of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the air	Before each work	3
11	Production or handling of first-class or second-class organic solvents (indoor)		Japanese law on organic substances	concentration of the organic solvents in the air	at least once/operation	3

The items coloured in light blue have to be performed by engineers qualified in working environment measurement
※ the data should be available for 30 years