Monitoring is done on some jobs and is used on subsequent jobs as historical data. Intermittent operations pose the biggest obstacle in monitoring employee exposures during construction activities. Using respirators is the answer to intermittent operations. Small employers do not know anything about the risks of silica. Laboratories that conduct air quality analysis are difficult to find, and many are not well qualified.
Contractors typically select a laboratory based on price alone.
He stated that the use of historical data is necessary in construction. NIST must be urged to resume providing such standards in the near future. This wide range of variability must be improved. Respirable dust sampling is the most misunderstood method. Many consultants do not know the method and have little experience with it.