What does an occupational hygienist add to an assessment?

Often, when people first come to us to discuss workplace exposure monitoring, they ask, “can’t you just drop off the equipment, collect the data, and send us the results?”

At first glance, that might sound like a fairly reasonable request. After all, the sampling equipment provides the exposure measurements, so why do we need to send an occupational hygienist along too? The missing piece is the assumption that the numbers provide a full picture of what’s going on at your workplace. In reality, this is only part of the story.

Why occupational hygiene requires more than monitoring

Exposure measurements can provide you with a number, but it doesn’t explain why.

Two sites could return very similar results, but for completely different reasons. On one, there might be a ventilation issue. On another, the result could be impacted by how a task is being carried out, or even whether procedures are being followed correctly.

Without context, it’s easy to draw the wrong conclusion, which could result in focusing on a solution that isn’t relevant. That’s why an occupational hygiene assessment with a qualified occupational hygienist is so valuable.

What an occupational hygienist looks for on-site

The time our occupational hygienists spend on your site is where all the contextual information for our report comes from. As well as placing monitors and reviewing the data, they’re also watching how your team performs tasks, where people position themselves, how long certain activities take, and how controls are being used. This is particularly important in environments where controls like local exhaust ventilation systems are relied on to manage exposure.

Learn more about what to expect from an occupational hygiene assessment.

How occupational hygienists interpret exposure monitoring data

Once the data is collected, it needs to be analysed in parallel to what’s been observed. Looking at results on their own can be a bit like reviewing a set of medical test results without speaking to the patient. The numbers might point to an issue, but without context, it’s difficult to understand what’s contributing to it or how serious it is.

By combining data with on-site observations and experience, an occupational hygienist can identify patterns, rule out assumptions, and focus attention where it will make the most difference.

The same principle applies whether you’re looking at individual exposure or wider ambient air quality monitoring. Read the top reasons you should be monitoring ambient air quality & worker exposure.

Why a competent occupational hygienist matters

WorkSafe guidance places a strong emphasis on using a competent person for occupational hygiene work. That competence comes not only from qualifications, but also from experience across different workplaces. The team at Air Matters have extensive experience and have carried out many assessments at a wide variety of sites and have a thorough understanding of how exposure risks present, and how to interpret results in a way that stands up to scrutiny. They’re also highly skilled at translating technical findings into practical recommendations that can be applied as part of a wider occupational hygiene programme.

Turning occupational hygiene results into practical decisions

Ultimately, exposure monitoring is only useful if it leads to better decisions around the protection of health. That might mean acting on a recommendation to upgrade your controls, or highlighting a specific task that needs a process review. 

That’s what an occupational hygienist brings to an assessment. Not just the data, but the ability to turn it into something you can act on.

Get in touch today to book an initial consultation with one of our team.

Still not sure? Read our guide to choosing the right exposure assessment for your workplace.