Dust Monitoring and Exposure Assessment

• Wear the personal sampling pump correctly in your breathing zone during monitoring.
• Continue your normal work activities during sampling so results reflect real exposure.
• Compare monitoring results against the relevant workplace exposure limits.
• Record all monitoring results with date, location, task, and controls in place.
• Use real-time monitors to identify peak dust exposure periods during the shift.
• Improve dust controls immediately if monitoring shows exposure exceeds the WEL.
• Keep personal exposure records for at least 40 years as required by COSHH.
• Monitor at the site boundary to confirm dust is not affecting neighbouring properties.
• Brief workers on the purpose of monitoring and share the results with them.
• Repeat monitoring after any change in process, equipment, or control measures.

• DON'T remove or reposition the sampling pump during the monitoring period.
• DON'T change your work practices during monitoring to get a better result.
• DON'T ignore monitoring results that exceed workplace exposure limits.
• DON'T assume controls are adequate without monitoring to confirm it.
• DON'T destroy monitoring records; they must be kept for at least 40 years.
• DON'T rely on visual assessment of dust to judge whether exposure is safe.
• DON'T delay improving controls if monitoring shows the WEL is being exceeded.
• DON'T forget to monitor after changing tasks, equipment, or control measures.
• DON'T keep monitoring results from workers; they have a right to see them.
• DON'T treat monitoring as a one-off exercise; regular checks are necessary.

See also: Construction Dust Awareness | Health Surveillance for Dust Exposure