Safety and environmental monitoring technologies
Understanding the potential exposure of workers to chemical agents including nanoparticles is crucial for risk assessment. However, there is still very little robust data on occupational exposure to Nano Objects, Agglomerates and Aggregates (NOAA) coupled with considerable variability in published data and studies as a result of the application of non-standardised measurement methods.
Sampling and detecting chemical agents in the form of liquid or solid aerosols, volatile compounds or gases from industrial operations is essential to comply with occupational health and safety regulations and protect workers. ITENE has over 15 years of experience in monitoring particulate matter, especially nanoparticles, along with low-cost measuring software and systems which enable us to build measurement networks generating data in real time to support decision-making.
Detecting pollutants and monitoring exposure to chemical agents
At ITENE we seek to safeguard health and safety in the workplace and to this end we deliver a wide range of services in a number of areas:
- Occupational health and safety (OHS)
- Monitoring particulate matter (inhalable and respirable dust fractions) including respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
- Monitoring nanoparticles, their aggregates and agglomerates and quantitative assessment of occupational exposure to nanoparticles and ultrafine particles.
- Specifying containment and minimisation measures.
- Specifying and assessing the effectiveness of personal protective equipment.
- Measuring toxic gases and volatile compounds (VOCs).
Exposure monitoring tools
ITENE has proprietary technology for gathering real-time data on exposure to chemical agents, particulate matter (PM1/PM2.5/PM10) and nanoparticles (< 100 nm) which supports decision-making. We have the following technological tools in place.
- Low-cost equipment for measuring nanoparticles and particulate matter
- Real-time data acquisition and processing software
- Nanomonitor device: equipment developed at ITENE which enables remote monitoring of particulate matter (20 nm – 10 microns).
- NanoWatcher device: portable equipment developed at ITENE to assess the levels of exposure to nanoparticles and particulate matter in the workplace. It features low-cost sensor integration and a control interface for risk assessment by occupational health and safety officers plus a sampling pump.
- BESAFE device: portable equipment developed at ITENE for real-time monitoring of particulate matter, gases and VOCs in indoor industrial environments.
Benefits and outcomes
Monitoring exposure to chemical agents, particulate matter and nanoparticles has a number of benefits and outcomes:
- Addressing the shortage of available testing protocols and technological tools for detecting harmful agents.
- Occupational health and safety monitoring.
- Regulatory compliance:
- According to the Spanish Occupational Health and Safety Law and Royal Decree 374/2007 it is compulsory to assess the risks arising from exposure to chemical agents in the workplace.
- The EU additionally identifies exposure assessment as a cornerstone of occupational health and safety in its amendment to Regulation 1907/2006.
- Spain’s new Climate Change Law has also been rolled out.
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How can I help you?
Carlos Fito
Safety and Environmental Monitoring Technologies Manager