Asbestos Air Sampling Programs Determine Dust Levels in Mines

Read the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) report about their procedures to sample air quality in mines. Miners are routinely exposed to dangerous dust, including asbestos.

Contaminant-specific sampling procedures may be obtained from the sources referenced in the appendix. Health specialists and industrial hygienists in your local Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health (MNMSH) District office are also available to assist you.

Personal Exposure vs. Area Samples
Most allowable exposure levels require the measurement of hazardous substance concentrations in the miner's breathing zone (a two-foot diameter sphere surrounding the miner's head).

Breathing zone samples are personal exposure samples and are collected by either holding the sample collection device in the miner's breathing zone or attaching the sampling device directly to the miner. Breathing zone concentrations cannot be determined by area sampling.

Area samples are collected to determine concentrations of standard mine gases, to screen qualitatively for the presence of other potential contaminants, and to determine the effectiveness of controls.

Area samples may also be used to identify potentially hazardous areas so that more detailed observations and personal sampling can be performed in accordance with the hazard level that was detected.

Number and Duration of Samples
Allowable exposure levels are established in terms of time-weighted average exposures, short-term exposures, and ceiling values. The duration of sample collection should be sufficient to compare a miner's exposure to the appropriate allowable exposure level.

Courtesy of http://www.msha.gov/S&HINFO/OPRSAMP/OPRSAMP.HTM

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