Occupational Hygiene

We offer services to assess a wide range of industrial hazards, including dust, lead, silica and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Our tailored approach combines measurement of airborne concentrations and biological monitoring (where appropriate) with qualitative assessment tools to provide a holistic view of current exposure risks as well as the performance of existing controls. Bespoke services such as control audit reviews can then help you take the next proactive steps to protecting worker health. 

By highlighting best practice and devising actionable recommendations, our trained team equip you to make informed decisions that safeguard your workforce’s health and ensure compliance with relevant UK legislation, including Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and Control of Lead at Work (CLAW). 

Our specialist team has experience in assessing exposure to: 

• Inhalable and respirable dust and aerosols, including flour and wood dust  
• Lead and other heavy metals 
• Metal constituents of welding fumes 
• Silica, including respirable crystalline silica (RCS) 
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 
• Acid mists 
• Roisin-based solder fume (colophony) 
• Isocyanates  
• Diesel fumes (DEEE) 
• Rubber process dusts and fumes 
• Metal-working fluids (MWF) 
• Various combustion gases 

Uncontrolled noise within the working environment can trigger a range of health and productivity issues - which explains the need for levels to be assessed and controlled under Control of Noise at Work regulations. At Envirochem, we employ various techniques to comprehensively evaluate the dangers presented by noise exposure, delivering insights into your workplace and actionable recommendations to develop an effective noise-control strategy. 

Our core service combines real-time data and robust estimates based on doseBadge monitoring to pinpoint problematic sources of noise and quantify the risks from exposure. Additional services we offer include noise mapping, which provides the means to visualise areas of risk, supporting you in designating targeted hearing protection zones and prioritising noise-reduction interventions.  

Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems play a critical role in controlling hazardous airborne substances within the workplace – but only if they are functioning correctly. Our Thorough Examination and Testing (TExT) service includes periodic inspection as mandated by the COSHH regulations. Our specialist occupational hygiene engineers provide an interpretive assessment of overall effectiveness, looking not only at the LEV but also the maintenance and management systems designed to support it.  

By combining a review of technical performance, applying occupational hygiene principles of control, and wider ergonomic considerations, our service goes beyond the data to provide the assurance that your LEV system is performing at the level required to protect your workforce. 

DOP testing is an effective means of validating the performance and integrity of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. By dispersing oil particulates into the system in aerosolised form, the test reveals whether there are any leaks within the filter, frame or seals, and whether they have the potential to compromise the filter’s ability to remove fibres and particles from the environment as intended. 

Envirochem can provide DOP testing as a one-off service if a HEPA filter has been replaced or if damage is suspected. It can also form part of an essential six-monthly programme of ongoing maintenance and validation for HEPA systems. The service, which incorporates Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) and air-flow testing, includes certification that the system is performing to desired standards. 

Providing vital protection against harmful airborne contaminants, tight-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE) delivers effective protection by creating a secure seal with the face. As such, fit testing is fundamental to ensure the selected RPE is both suited to the wearer and fulfils other PPE requirements. 

Envirochem offers a fit-testing service to ensure compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR). Available on-site or at our laboratory, the assessment covers full-face, half-face, ori-nasal and P3 disposable masks, and can be complemented by our training programme on the correct use of RPE. 

We recommend regular retesting as a best-practice measure to ensure fit is maintained. This is especially relevant to workers involved in licensed asbestos removal and must be carried out when the size or model of RPE is changed or if there are significant changes in the facial characteristics of the wearer.  

For workers using power tools, impact equipment or regularly driving forklifts or off-road vehicles, high or sustained levels of vibration have the potential to damage nerves, joints, muscles and more. UK legislation requires employers to accurately assess and limit this risk in the form of both hand-arm and whole-body vibration. 

Envirochem’s workplace vibration exposure assessments provide the critical data you need to understand exposure and undertake a risk assessment. We take on-equipment measurements to understand real-world vibration exposure, while also reviewing ergonomic contributing factors. This provides a holistic view of the issue, helping you determine the wider risk and allowing you to make targeted interventions.