AIR XS
Refractory
site visit

As part of our ongoing testing programme in real-world scenarios, we recently visited a local company manufacturing specialist refractory materials.

During the visit, Joe Morais, our in-house Occupational Hygienist, conducted personal exposure monitoring using traditional techniques as stipulated in MDHS 101/2 – Crystalline silica in respirable airborne dust, alongside our AirX range of real-time monitoring instrumentation. 

Among other things, personal sampling was conducted on one of the Mill Operators as he filled bags with product containing crystalline silica.

2 x AIR XS units were positioned either side of the operator’s work area, and the resultant respirable crystalline silica levels were recorded in real time. 

In line with standard Occupational Hygiene practice, the personal samplers were retrieved from the operatives, processed, and submitted to an external accredited laboratory for analysis of both respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica exposure concentrations. 

The analytical results indicated that the operative was exposed to 0.101 mg/m³ respirable crystalline silica during bagging activities. At the same time, the AIR XS units returned average respirable crystalline silica results of 0.118 mg/m³ and 0.079 mg/m³ respectively.

The data provided valuable insights into the operative’s behaviours based on exposure profiles during the assessment period. 

This comparative result not only demonstrates how AIR XS performs in line with traditional monitoring techniques but also highlights its importance in interpreting operative behaviours, the impact of resting periods, and the design of control measures.