Workplace Air Monitoring

Workplace air monitoring doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Different working environments pose different risks, and understanding exactly what’s in the air is essential before control measures can be evaluated.

We monitor and assess exposure to a range of airborne substances, including:

• Inhalable and respirable dusts such as silica, wood dust, flour dust and metal particulates, commonly found in construction, joinery and production work.
• Welding and diesel fumes, which carry fine particulates and harmful gases that can accumulate over time in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), solvents, and other chemical vapours, frequently used in labs, paint spraying, adhesives and chemical processing.
• Isocyanates, a potent sensitiser found in 2-part paints and glues.
• Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and general indoor air quality indicators which are often relevant in office environments, warehouses, or anywhere that ventilation and occupancy levels may be out of balance.
• Bioaerosols such as mould spores, bacteria and organic dusts, commonly found in waste processing or composting environments.

Every monitoring plan we create is based on a site-specific assessment and tailored to the substances, equipment, and activities present in your workplace.

Workplace air monitoring may be legally required under COSHH Regulation 10 if you’re using substances with known exposure limits, or if existing controls haven’t been shown to be effective. But many of our clients also come to us for peace of mind, either because they’ve introduced new materials, received employee complaints, or want to proactively manage risk before problems arise.

Monitoring is especially recommended when:

• Working with respirable crystalline silica (RCS), wood dust or other known carcinogens and sensitisers.
• Processes generate fumes or vapours in enclosed areas.
• You’ve recently updated control measures and want to verify their effectiveness, or you’re looking for information to inform purchase of new controls.
• You need evidence of compliance for internal audits, insurers or regulatory inspection.
• There are signs of poor indoor air quality affecting comfort, productivity, or wellbeing.

Airborne hazards such as dusts and chemical vapours present serious risks not only to worker health, but also to business operations. These hazardous exposures often cause health problems over time, leading to preventable illnesses including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational asthma, silicosis, and even fatal cancers. The consequences include increased absenteeism, compensation claims, and the loss of experienced staff, all of which affect productivity and create lasting financial and reputational impacts.

Even where risks are known, adequate control measures are often inconsistently applied. In fast-changing environments such as construction sites or production areas, updates to materials, processes, or ventilation can quickly render existing controls ineffective. The Health and Safety Executive frequently cites failures in dust control, LEV maintenance, respiratory protective equipment programmes, and health surveillance in their reports - issues that are especially common in sectors where dust exposure is routine, and when your processes handle chemical agents such as solvents or heavy metals.

The risks are further compounded when hazards are process generated, such as welding task, or interaction between products. These exposures are rarely accounted for in standard risk assessments, yet they pose significant risk to worker health.

Failing to act early puts companies at increasing risk of enforcement action, workforce attrition, and long-term illness within their teams. These outcomes not only undermine compliance, but also threaten long-term operational resilience.

Routine workplace air monitoring plays a central role in preventing this by identifying risks, validating existing controls, and supporting targeted interventions that protect both people and business performance. By delivering clear, proportionate recommendations based on accurate exposure data, we help organisations move beyond reactive compliance and take meaningful steps toward sustainable occupational health management.