Air sampling measures contaminant concentration through personal monitors worn by workers or area monitors placed in the workspace. Results are reported as time-weighted averages over a sampling period.
Personal sampling better reflects individual exposure than area sampling.
Alternative Names:
Exposure Monitoring Data, Air Monitoring Records
Why it Matters?
The distinction between personal and area sampling matters because area monitors placed away from the work being performed systematically understate what a worker breathing in the immediate work zone encountered. Sampling records also indicate what the employer knew about exposure levels, which supports notice arguments against the employer in third-party contribution contexts and against product manufacturers who received the data.
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Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How do personal and area sampling differ?
What else does sampling data establish?
