Course Description:
The industrial hygienist must determine a strategy for sampling based on the evidence of the MSDS, workplace operation, exposure limits, and historical exposure assessment. This course will guide the IH through the sampling strategy process, from assessing the information on the MSDSs through the sample media selection, sampling considerations, and final calculation of results. Examples of the instrumentation used by the laboratory will be shown and their limitations discussed enabling the industrial hygienist to make better sampling strategies. A guide through the myriad of possible sampling media will be discussed and a list of on-line resources for sampling procedures, such as OSHA and NIOSH methods, WEEL methods, and other resources will be supplied. The consideration for when to use passive samplers will be discussed. The sampling requirements to obtain a valid result from the lab, such as the need for blank samples, detection limits, sampling times, air volumes, and exposure limits will be covered.

Instructors will introduce a practical, systematic approach to selecting air-monitoring methods for a wide variety of workplace and indoor air quality environments. Criteria will be introduced to help participants develop a basic understanding of how OSHA and NIOSH methods and others can be used to develop efficient, cost-effective sampling strategies. Active and diffusive sampler use will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Learn to navigate the maze of sampling media possible to use for exposure assessment, and why there are so many different ones available.
• Learn the basic differences between active and passive sampling including advantages and disadvantages of both type of media, and when they can and cannot be used.
• Identify the instruments used by Industrial hygiene chemistry laboratories and the capabilities of these instruments.
• Develop an understanding of the relationship between the properties of chemicals and the types of sampling media used to accurately measure their exposure.