Industrial Hygiene

Monitoring allows a facility to characterize the type and amount of hazards or pollutants being emitted to the environment or affecting the work area. Spring Environmental provides a wide variety of monitoring services to assist our clients in both regulatory compliance and the promotion of healthy work environments.

Indoor Air Quality Assessments

Many environmental factors have been linked to worker comfort, health, and productivity. Air Quality in our facilities can be influenced by both outdoor and indoor pollutants that may include:

    • Tobacco Smoking Particles and Gases.
    • Mold and Bacteria growth from damp surfaces.
    • Combustion Contaminants from furnaces, generators, and gas or kerosene space heaters.
    • Toxics or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from paints, stains, solvents, adhesives, wood preservatives, pesticides, cleaners and other pollutant containing materials.
    • Formaldehyde found in particle board, plywood, cabinetry, furniture and fabrics.
    • Soil gasses such as radon, sewer gasses or methane.
    • Particles and Fibers from printing, paper handling, combustion, outdoor sources, construction / renovation, vacuuming, or insulation.
    • Ozone emissions

Spring Environmental provides monitoring and testing to identify potential indoor air quality problems and find solutions to create a safe and healthy indoor environment.

Project Examples:

      • Exactrix Global Systems is a farm and agricultural machinery manufacturer in Spokane, WA that contacted Spring Environmental amidst concerns of air quality in their production facility. Spring Environmental performed an Indoor Air Quality assessment and developed a sampling strategy that was communicated to Exactrix management. Sampling was conducted, results were analyzed and reported to company officials, and abatement recommendations were submitted.
      • Honeywell Electronics Materials is a leading supplier to the worldwide electronics industry with a production facility located in Spokane Valley, WA. Spring Environmental was contacted to perform an Indoor Air Quality Assessment and air and surface sampling due to water damage concerns. Samples were taken, analyzed, and a final report was drafted and discussed with company Environmental, Health, and Safety managers.

Toxics Exposure Monitoring

Exposure to toxic materials can have a negative impact on worker health and the work environment.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established exposure limits for approximately 400 chemicals listed in Part 1910.1000 of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standard.  Washington Labor & Industries also publishes exposure limits in Washington Administrative Code 296-841.  Acute and chronic illnesses can result from exposure to these materials.  It is important to identify and control the exposure risks that may be affecting your personnel.

Spring Environmental is committed to helping businesses provide a safe workplace for their employees.  We will work with process managers to determine the best sampling strategy, whether personal monitoring and/or area monitoring, to identify potential hazards.  Once results are evaluated, we can assist in building a program to keep worker exposure below regulated and recommended levels.

Project Examples:

      • Honeywell Electronics Materials is a leading supplier to the worldwide electronics industry with a production facility located in Spokane Valley, WA.  Spring Environmental was contacted to develop and conduct a personal monitoring plan for various metals, total particulates, and VOCs involved in processes at the facility.  Results were evaluated to ensure compliance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC), OSHA standards and other occupational exposure limits.
      • Performance Contracting, Inc contracted Spring Environmental to perform exposure monitoring during mixing and application operations of sealant during new building construction processes.  A monitoring plan was developed and carried out that included personal monitoring and area monitoring to determine exposure of workers directly and indirectly involved in the process.  Coordination with lab services for analyzation was accomplished and a full report was discussed and provided to the company.

Noise and Sound Level Monitoring

High noise levels can create distractions or disrupt communications which may contribute to accidents in the workplace.  High noise levels also pose hazards to worker health, contributing to hearing system damage and loss.

Spring Environmental provides personal noise level monitoring as well as area sound level monitoring to determine compliance with Part 1910.95 of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standard.  Results are evaluated and engineering controls, administrative controls, and recommendations for personal protective equipment are incorporated into a facility’s Hearing Conservation Program.

Project Examples:

      • National Food Corporation contacted Spring Environmental, Inc. to conduct a noise survey of the processing area of their Lind facility to ascertain the noise levels throughout the facility and to determine compliance status relative to the Washington State Department of Occupational Safety and Health’s Hearing Loss Preventions standard codified in Chapter 296-817 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). A noise survey was conducted, results and recommendations were outlined in a detailed report and information was delivered to process management personnel for consideration.
      • Spokane Community College offers career and technical programs in high-demand professions with its main campus located in Spokane, WA.  Spring Environmental was contacted to perform a third-party verification of noise levels in a main campus building after concerns about the volume and duration of fire alarm systems.  A noise assessment was conducted to ensure levels were compliant with the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) regulations and a final report was issued to the process manager.