clean air day
Health and Safety Practitioner
As Clean Air Day draws attention to the fight against air pollution, Tim Turney of Casella, a manufacturer of air monitoring equipment, shares his insights on reducing air emissions. site.
Air pollution is the leading cause of environment-related deaths worldwide. It is estimated to cause seven million premature deaths, including 4.3 million from outdoor air pollution and 2.6 million from indoor pollution. It is now recognized that negative health effects occur at much lower levels than previously thought, and almost the whole world (99%) breathes polluted air that exceeds internationally approved limits . The most dangerous pollutant for human health is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), produced by vehicles, wood burning, industry and agriculture.
In March 2022, the government proposed to set air quality limits that would reduce PM2.5 levels to 10 micrograms per cubic meter by 2040, representing a 35% reduction in exposure to population, compared to 2018 levels. However, the targets fall short of meeting the PM2.5 concentrations recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has drawn criticism from campaigners. industry that the government is not going far enough to address air pollution.
As air quality objectives continue to be revised, industry must be prepared to actively assess and reduce site emissions. The discrepancy with WHO recommendations and widespread criticism from campaigners means companies should anticipate the possibility of having to go beyond the proposed targets.
Currently, PM2.5, which includes soot and dust, is widely released by industry. According to the 2019 Lord Mayor’s Report, construction alone is responsible for 15% of all particles in London. The common denominator is the combination of a high population density and the intensity of construction and demolition activities, synonymous with dust. However, advances in air quality monitoring technology can contribute to the early detection of airborne contaminants, allowing companies to reduce exposure to their personnel and surrounding communities.
Using air monitoring technology to reduce harmful exposure
Air pollution measuring instruments have several purposes: to publish dust information online to inform the public and to issue warnings if necessary. Having this data in real time can ensure that the right people act when increased levels are reported and that control measures can be put in place and continuously assessed.
Environmental monitoring and protection against potentially hazardous conditions can be difficult to manage without reliable data streams and without monitoring a site perimeter that collects environmental data. For this reason, more and more companies are turning to limit monitoring technology to measure the level of risk and ensure they are meeting environmental limits and guidelines, while protecting against health risks. health.
Boundary monitoring refers to the use of dedicated systems that monitor dust as well as noise and vibration, and for the short-term detection of harmful contaminants in the ground around a job site, to ensure that companies respect all applicable work limits. Boundary monitoring systems are typically deployed in construction and demolition projects, environmental remediation sites, mines and quarries, waste transfer, heavy road traffic, and other locations where a compliance monitoring is required.
Perimeter air monitoring is an important part of a construction site, helping companies stay compliant with the controls required to complete the project, critical as new air quality targets are set to come into effect. vigor.
Border surveillance could help protect the reputation and revenue of construction companies and other industrial enterprises. If complaints arise, responsible companies using limit monitoring have points of evidence to show that they have been diligent in their monitoring of operations and that they have complied with operational requirements. Evidence from a boundary monitoring system is also useful if a yard is accused of problems caused by another operation, allowing site managers to react quickly, minimizing reputational damage.
Real-time air quality monitoring systems are designed as a cost-effective alternative to manual monitoring by on-site experts
Air quality monitoring solutions, such as Casella’s Guardian2, require little upkeep or maintenance while continuously measuring conditions on or around a job site and are designed for easy installation and use. If possible, baseline conditions should be established by testing before operations begin and continued throughout operation to observe site emissions and ensure compliance with planning conditions. The duration of monitoring should be sufficient to take into account weather conditions and seasonality, as well as the effects of corrective measures.
Companies operating in rapidly changing environments can also use a portable particle monitor such as the Casella Microdust Pro to instantly detect dangerous concentrations of airborne particles during spot checks and walk-through surveys. Short-term dust monitoring is often used to quantify an existing problem and is suitable for identifying specific areas or equipment on a site responsible for excessive dust generation.
As safety and environmental regulations have become much stricter globally, it is becoming increasingly important for employers to ensure they have adequate means to test for pollution levels. by dust in their workplace to ensure the safety of their workers and surrounding communities.
Clean Air Day reminds us that we need to make decisions that will promote health and keep more people safe. Access to real-time data close to the reference can help achieve this goal.
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