NIOSH Recommends Continuous Area Monitors to Protect Workers For Exposure to Harmful Vapors Area Monitors Prove More ReliableLess Costly Than Sample Collection Methods. The Wilks MIRAN-201 Area Monitor represents a significant advance in instrumentation for permanent environmental Many of the recommended analytical procedures monitoring stations. prepared by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the past for mea- toxic vapor levels at many points in a plant for periods of surement of potentially toxic vapors have sug- months or years with a high degree of accuracy over a broad gested the use of sample collection methods with concentration range. Such data can be used to compute subsequent laboratory analysis to determine ex- exposures for various individuals working in the different posure to toxic vapors. The control of toxic vapors areas at far less cost than sample collection methods. In addition, the instrument can be equipped with alarms to is enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health warn when toxic vapor levels approach OSHA Hmits. Administration (OSHA). However, current trends are in the direction of area monitoring of harmful MIRAN-201 Area Monitor Meets OSHA vapors of OSHA compliance testing. Record Keeping Requirements
Limitations of Sample Collection Monitors
The Wilks MIRAN-201 Area Monitor has been designed to meet NIOSH criteria for protecting workers and collecting data for proving compliance with OSHA regulations. It can Although sample collection methods generally be sensitized for most vapors on the OSHA list in the range provide useful data on the time-weighted average of the compliance level. A digital printer is used to print out exposure for a particular individual, they have vapor concentrations in parts per million from as many as 15 several serious limitations. The laboratory analysis remote locations at the rate of one point per half minute. In of each collected sample can cost from $15-$50. addition, it includes an adjustable alarm that indicates any Furthermore, three samples per person are often site at which the vapor concentration exceeds the allowable required for 95 percent confidence in the results. limit. The instrument is designed for long-term, unattended operation with the added convenience of plug-in modules if An even more serious limitation is that sample servicing is required. collection devices for personnel monitoring cannot be used to give immediate warning of the oc- If you use materials in your plant that may be toxic or hazardous, we would be pleased to send you a proposal on how curence of a hazardous situation. you can protect your workers and insure that you meet OSHA compliance regulations. Continuous Area Monitors Provide
Better Worker Protection For these reasons, NIOSH and OSHA now recognize the advantages of using continuous area monitoring instruments and are recommending their use for general worker protection. These monitors can be used to collect and store data on
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