Assessing workplace air quality is critical for ensuring employee safety and regulatory compliance. But should you collect air samples yourself or hire a professional industrial hygienist? At LCS Laboratory Inc., we help you navigate this decision with practical insights and professional support tailored to your needs.
FAQ: Can We Collect Air Samples Ourselves?
We would like to collect 10 air samples from our workplace and have you test them. Can you provide a quote and explain how we can order testing kits? If the process is straightforward, we hope to collect the samples ourselves as a low-cost way to assess our air quality. Depending on the results, we may request a thorough professional evaluation and report.
Sampling Air Quality Yourself: Things to Consider
Yes, collecting air samples yourself is possible, and we provide detailed manuals to guide you. However, there are a few key challenges to keep in mind:
- Learning Curve: If this is your first time, errors in sampling are common. Mistakes can lead to lost samples or inaccurate results, which may affect your assessment.
- Chemical Selection: There is no “universal test” for air quality. You must decide which contaminants to measure. Based on the nature of your business (as noted on your website), potential exposures might include:
- Carbon Monoxide
- Formaldehyde
- Acrolein
- Metalworking fluids and oils
- Inhalable and respirable dust
- Metal dust (e.g., Iron, Manganese)
- Other specific industrial chemicals
Selecting the right tests is crucial to obtaining meaningful results.
Cost and Process
Each individual test costs about $50-$150 (excluding your time for sample collection). To keep costs manageable, we recommend starting with your primary concern. Provide us with a narrowed list of chemicals, and we will design a custom sampling procedure tailored to your needs.
Here’s how the process works:
- Define Your Focus: Identify the contaminants you want to test for.
- Collect Samples: Follow our step-by-step manuals to gather air samples using our testing kits.
- Send Samples for Analysis: Return the samples to us for testing.
- Review Results: We provide a lab report detailing the concentrations of tested materials.
You’ll then need to compare these results to the Ministry of Labour (MOL) Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) to assess compliance and identify potential hazards.
Hiring an Industrial Hygienist
For a more streamlined and professional approach, consider hiring an industrial hygienist. They handle:
- Planning: Identifying the most relevant tests for your workplace.
- Sampling: Performing accurate sample collection.
- Reporting: Providing a detailed analysis and actionable recommendations.
Typical additional costs for this service range from $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the project’s complexity. They always provide a precise quote upfront, so there are no surprises.
Why Choose LCS Laboratory Inc.?
As a trusted Canadian testing laboratory, we offer:
- Expertise in Canadian Workplace Standards: Our services are tailored to comply with local health and safety regulations.
- Guidance and Support: Whether you’re collecting samples yourself or hiring a professional, we ensure the process is clear and effective.
- Cost-Effective Solutions: Save time and resources by choosing the option that best fits your needs.
Contact Us
Thank you for considering LCS Laboratory Inc. for your workplace air quality testing needs. If you’re ready to proceed or need assistance narrowing down your testing options, please email us at your convenience. We’re here to help ensure a safe and compliant work environment for your team.
