Worker Exposure & Air Quality Testing
Exposure Assessments & Monitoring
Anticipate. Recognize.
Workers can be exposed to a multitude of harmful agents in the workplace, including chemical, physical and biological hazards. These agents can arise from pre-existing conditions, materials handled and used, work processes and practices. Without identifying and recognizing potential exposure risks, workers may be subject to undue harm and unnecessary health effects.
PHH ARC's trained and qualified team of hygiene professionals have industry experience in a variety of work environments to help anticipate and recognize those workplace agents that may affect the health, safety and well-being of workers. We have the knowledge, skills and abilities to identify potential workplace exposures so that effective plans are developed to address risks to workers.
Evaluate.
PHH ARC will review workplace conditions, operations and tasks, and design strategies that will target and characterize those specific hazardous agents workers may be exposed to.
The only way to truly know how much employees could be exposed is to conduct testing in the workplace. Also known as Occupational Hygiene Monitoring, this testing can occur for several reasons:
- Characterization of worker exposures
- Identify potential contaminant pathways and exposure to adjacent workers (migration studies)
- Determine effectiveness of implemented control measures
- Identify need for, and requirements of, control solutions
Monitoring is only conducted by trained staff, some of whom have designations such as Diploma Technology (OHS) and Registered Occupational Hygiene Technologist (ROHT). We have performed many sampling projects in Western Canada and can evaluate a multitude of hazards including:
Chemical Hazards
- Solvents
- Aldehydes
- Particulate
- Metals
- Welding fume
- Diesel fume
- And many more...
Physical Hazards
- Noise
- Lighting
- Vibration
- Temperature extremes
- Radiation
Biological Hazards
- Microbial agents
- Biological agents
Control.
Based on the findings of the monitoring, PHH ARC will source, design and recommend specific, but practical control options and management plans to appropriately address worker exposures.
We are committed to developing customized solutions that primarily focus on elimination and prevention, in order to achieve effective mitigation of risks to workers so they stay healthy, safe and productive.
Quality You've Come to Expect
PHH ARC is committed to quality occupational hygiene products and services. To achieve this on a consistent basis, we have dedicated ourselves to:
- Strictly adhering to code of ethics prescribed by hygiene associations such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
- Following established and current occupational hygiene principles and sampling techniques
- Utilizing the most current, validated sampling methods accepted by governmental regulators
- Using accredited laboratories with high levels of quality control/assurance
- Using the most up-to-date sampling equipment
Our comprehensive, but easy to read reports are delivered on time and on budget. All reports are prepared by trained hygiene professionals, and are reviewed for quality by senior hygiene professionals with designations such as Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH).
Whether you have worker exposure or health concerns, need to meet compliance as a result of regulatory pressures, or maintain proactive due diligence we have the occupational hygiene solutions to meet your needs.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Inadequate Office Environments...Indoor Problems
Building-related illness and sick building syndrome are terms that have been used in past years to describe inadequate air quality in office environments. While not typically exposed to workplace contaminants as in the industrial sectors, office workers and tenants of buildings can still been adversely impacted by poor or inadequate office work environments, which can affect both well-being and productivity.
It's Not Just the Air...
PHH ARC's trained and qualified team of investigators have effectively studied and characterized many office and tenanted environments. We work with our clients to strategize specific approaches based on several building, occupant, and office environment design factors.
Besides potential air quality issues due to contaminant sources arising from building construction materials, furnishings, occupant operations, mould or bacteria growth, there are several indoor environmental factors that may affect occupant comfort and health.
Therefore, depending on the office environment and project requirements, our professionals will also perform surveys to identify, evaluate and recommend mitigation for the following parameters:
- HVAC system, components and design
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Air supply and flow
- Lighting
- Noise
- Office ergonomics
- Other factors potentially affecting occupant comfort and health
Whether you have occupant or tenant health concerns, or wish to maintain proactive due diligence we have the indoor environmental solutions to meet your needs.
LEED EQ Indoor Air Quality Certification Testing
Sustainability Now and Into the Future...
Administered and guided by the Canada Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications are becoming increasingly prevalent in today's movement towards more sustainable design and construction practices. Known as the "green" standard for constructing new buildings or renovating existing spaces, obtaining LEED certification is the ultimate goal of more and more construction/renovation projects.
PHH ARC, being natural advocates of greener and more sustainable environmental initiatives, is very much aligned - in our business practices and service offerings - with the missions of the Canada Green Building Council and other green partners to help transform building and other work environments.
Managing Construction Practices.
Most owners and contractors are very well aware of the LEED certifications for new construction (NC) of buildings; however, certification can also be obtained for commercial interiors (CI), existing buildings (EB) and multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs).
Our LEED EQ Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) services have been carefully designed to assist owners and contractors in obtaining all-important certification points as it relates to management of the air quality in indoor environments.
With our LEED AP professionals and trained technicians, we have assisted numerous clients with documentation submittals that are necessary to satisfy the requirements of the LEED Canada Commercial Interiors 1.0 Reference Guide, LEED Canada for New Construction 1.0 Reference Guide and the Application Guide for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings.
Our LEED EQ Services
PHH ARC currently offers several LEED EQ IAQ services that can help you obtain IAQ-related certification points, including:
- Construction IAQ Management Plans (LEED EQ 3.1)
- Attendance of design meetings to determine plan scope
- Development of IAQ Management Plans that meet compliance with relevant standards and criteria
- Preparation and delivery of pre-construction presentations for all hired trades personnel
- Development of signage detailing the requirements of the IAQ Management Plan
- Performance of IAQ inspections at construction milestones
- Preparation of comprehensive reports
- Pre-occupancy IAQ Testing (LEED EQ 3.2 Option 3 or EQ 3.2 Option B)
- Development of appropriate sampling strategies based on industry-accepted guidelines
- Assessment of the building environment
- Performance of total volatile organic compound pre-screening prior to full-scale testing
- Measurement of required chemical parameters based on LEED criteria and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air
- Interpret and analyze sample results and data-logged information, and determine compliance within acceptable LEED standards
- Preparation of comprehensive reports that indicate satisfaction with document submittals and compliance with LEED criteria
