Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace - Irsst

38 IRSST – Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace
Part 3: Contaminant sampling and analysis
Introduction
The following section presents the sampling and analytical parameters used in evaluating occupational
exposure. The PEVs in question are listed and defined in the ROHS. Information on the principles for using
reference values is presented in Part 1 of this document and in several publications including the ACGIH ®
2012 Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices
(10).
3.1 Specific considerations for the analytical laboratory
The quality of a result depends on the entire evaluation process, the establishment of the sampling strategy,
the sampling itself, and the laboratory analysis. In this context, it is important to entrust the analysis of the
samples to a recognized laboratory. An occupational hygiene analytical laboratory should be selected on the
basis of its expertise, its accreditations, and its quality management system. The IRSST's laboratories possess
several accreditations and certifications that ensure, to its partners and clients, the quality, integrity and
recognition of its work.
The IRSST's analytical laboratories are accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association 6 (AIHA).
To maintain this accreditation, they comply with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:1999 and with the
AIHA's requirements to provide proof of the management of a quality system, the existence of appropriate
technical competence within the IRSST, and the technical validity of the results produced. This quality system
is supported by a series of documents such as procedures and work instructions that reflect the activities
carried out in the laboratories. The application of the requirements of quality documentation implies that
quality records and techniques are retained to allow the traceability 7 of the measurements and analyses. The
provisions of the quality system are established in a Quality Manual and apply to the analyses associated with
the different scopes of accreditation.
3.2 Table of substances in the ROHS and the substances analyzed by the IRSST
This part of the guide contains two tables. The first table (green pages) contains all of the substances in the
ROHS (namely 706) as well as information on IRSST methods or on other methods that are recommended by
the IRSST. The latter methods were chosen by a review committee consisting of four chemists based on the
literature available in 1994. For each of the substances, a file exists in the Laboratory Division that contains a
copy of the chosen method as well as some other methods that were not selected. It is important to mention
that no laboratory test was performed regarding the recommended methods. In this context, the
implementation of these methods must undergo an appropriate analytical validation process. The majority of
the recommended methods come from the two following organizations: NIOSH (National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). This is the list
of documents or Web sites that were consulted.
• NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, second edition, Volumes 1 to 7, published from 1977 to 1980,
Cincinnati, OH.
• NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, third edition, published from 1984 to 1994, Cincinnati, OH.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam/
• OSHA Analytical Methods Manual (Organic and Inorganic), published from 1985 to 1991, Salt Lake
City, UT http://www.osha.gov/dts/sltc/methods/
• OSHA Chemical Information File, published in 1991, Salt Lake City, UT.
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http://apps.aiha.org/qms_aiha/certificate/101913_certificate.pdf
Traceability means following the trail taken by the sample, from its reception until the analytical report is
produced.