Casella, a Kempston, U.K.-based international provider of dust, noise and vibration monitoring solutions, says it welcomes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard on silica exposure levels expected in September 2017. Casella encourages employers to use its Apex2 personal dust sampling pump range to monitor individual exposure.
The latest OSHA highlights a new effort to tackle the preventable diseases that can develop as a result of exposure, including silicosis and lung cancer. This standard is part of a zero-tolerance approach and will reduce the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour shift. Employers will also be required to use engineering controls to limit exposure limits and worker access to high-exposure areas, develop written exposure control plans, and train workers on silica risks and how to limit exposures.
Monitoring equipment is essential in this process to identify particles and their prevalence and, when necessary, send them to a laboratory for additional testing. Casella’s Apex2 personal dust sampling pump range is designed to ensure monitoring and analysis of dust exposure can be carried out safely and effectively, according to the company. The range includes three separate models: the Apex2, Apex2 Plus and Apex2 Pro, with different functionality to meet varying requirements—all designed to monitor workplace dust levels to help protect workers from developing long-term latency health problems as the result of occupational exposures.
Incorporating Bluetooth connectivity with Casella’s bespoke Airwave software, workers can be monitored remotely without being distracted, boosting productivity levels. Employers can view the status of their dust sampling pump on a worker and start, stop or even pause the tool from a smart device. The company says the software is simple and easy to use, providing real-time status updates and allowing collected data to be emailed alongside photos and notes for added context and further simplifying the reporting process.
Justin Stewart, area sales manager for Casella says, “The strengthened OSHA regulations highlight that monitoring employee dust exposure levels has never been more pertinent. The Apex2 range helps employers to do this with equipment that is easy to use, providing instant results and identifying any issues and changing processes instantaneously to enhance the long-term health and quality of life for workers.”