ABSTRACT
The right-to-know laws give the worker access to information needed for self-protection. Once identified, the best measures to protect workers from these hazards must be devised. A program of monitoring of the workplace ensures that protective measures are working. Identifying hazards present for the worker in an existing or planned facility is a monumental task, even if one restricts consideration to airborne contaminants. A good filter strikes a balance between stopping the particles and allowing an adequate rate of air flow. Where the filter is to be studied microscopically, as would be the case for a study of asbestos in air, polycarbonate filters are superior because of their smooth surface. Air is bubbled through a liquid which dissolves or reacts with the contaminant. If air flow through the bubbler is too fast, the contaminant may not be collected effectively, so the person sampling the air must understand the limitations of the system.
