AIHA APS Virtual Spring (2021) Technical Session & AGM

Presentations

• Validation Methods for Unattended Noise Exposure Measurements.

In our new isolated and home-based Post-Covid reality, the “Do It Yourself” approach to measure many
occupational hazards will become the new norm. In our Sound & Vibration realm, personal sound
exposure meters (dosimeters) will be set up by Industrial Hygiene Professionals remotely and then mailed to industries who will perform unattended full working day occupational noise measurements.  The inability to supervise such measurement puts a big emphasis on measurement validation. How do we know that the worker actually wore the dosimeter? How can we tell if the Sound Pressure Level measured was caused by a legitimate source or by a bump of the microphone or a non-occupational sound source event? How can any conclusion be drawn based on a measurement you did not oversee? This study will present the available resources in today’s noise dosimetry market.

• FTIR Gas Analysis: How to Identify & Quantify Unknown Toxic Gases.

FTIR (Fourier Transform InfraRed) spectroscopy is the most popular analytical technology for industrial applications requiring the continuous measurement of multiple parameters simultaneously.  Typically, FTIR analyzers are employed for process control and emissions monitoring, however, due to the robustness and flexibility of this technique, it can also be applied in a wide variety of different applications, including identifying and quantifying unknown toxic gases in the workplace.

Speakers

Adam Marczak, B.Sc., M.Sc. is the Regional Sales Manager for North America Svantek Sound & Vibration Instrumentation.

Jim Cornish, B.Sc is an instrumentation and sales support manager at Gasmet Technologies Oy.

Paul Bozek, B.ASc., MEng, MBA, PEng, CIH, ROH is an associate professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Program Director for the MPH degree field in occupational hygiene.  Current research interests in industrial hygiene include chemical exposure control technology, work population chemical exposure profiles and efficacy of masks/respirators for bioaerosol exposure control.