Occupational Hygiene Surveys

A preliminary survey, sometimes called an observational survey, involves a walking tour of the workplace (hence the more descriptive name, “walk-through”). Some of the benefits of a preliminary survey include:

  • obtaining an overview of the whole operation;
  • identifying the key hazards in each area; and
  • assessing the effectiveness of any control methods in place.

During a walk-through, the occupational hygienist will be asking:

  • Are measurements needed in this area?
  • If so, what hazards should be measured?
  • Where should they be taken?
  • Which workers should have their exposure assessed?
  • When should the measurements be made?
  • What conclusions might be drawn from the results?

The hygienist might then recommend a monitoring survey to obtain quantitative exposure levels or even a formal occupational health risk assessment.

For more Information about the Occupational Hygiene Surveys, contact:

Head of Occupational Hygiene
Ms Jeanneth Manganyi
Tel: +27(0)11-712-6500
Email: jeannethm@nioh.ac.za