Workplace Environmental Monitoring
What is Workplace Environmental Monitoring?
Workplace environmental monitoring involves the collection and assessment of data on important environmental factors at the workplace. The goal is to implement solutions that minimize health risks and prevent occupational diseases.
Purpose of Workplace Environmental Monitoring
Employers are required to conduct workplace environmental monitoring to establish legal and technical safety measures, maintain occupational hygiene, and ensure the health and well-being of employees. This includes implementing decontamination, sterilization, and disinfection practices for workers exposed to hazardous or infectious factors. A testing process is conducted to ensure that machinery and equipment meet safety standards and comply with legal regulations.
Who is Required to Conduct Environmental Monitoring?
All organizations, including companies, factories, hospitals, schools, automotive assembly plants, textile and wood industries, livestock and food sectors, steel, electronics, banks, supermarkets, and hospitals, must monitor their workplace environment if they employ staff.
Hazardous Factors to Monitor
- According to Article 35 of Decree 44/2016/NĐ-CP, comprehensive monitoring must address all harmful factors listed in the occupational hygiene records established by the workplace.
- For industries deemed hazardous and particularly hazardous by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the assessment must also consider the workload and specific ergonomic indicators outlined in Clause 3, Article 33 of this decree.
- The environmental hygiene record format is specified in Appendix I of Decree 39/2016/NĐ-CP. This document outlines the necessary monitoring locations, sample sizes, and types of samples to be collected.
- As per Appendix I of Decree 39/2016/NĐ-CP and based on the actual conditions of the business, the common environmental monitoring factors include microclimate, noise and vibration, radiation, inadequate lighting, fine dust, toxic chemicals, harmful microorganisms, and psychological and ergonomic factors. These factors are generally categorized as follows:
+ Microclimatic Factors: Temperature, humidity, air velocity, thermal radiation.
+ Physical Factors: Light, noise, vibration, industrial frequency electromagnetic fields, high-frequency electromagnetic fields, ionizing radiation (X-rays, radioactive rays), and non-ionizing radiation (UV rays).
+ Dust Factors: Total dust, respirable dust, fine dust.
+ Chemical Factors: Toxic gases and harmful chemicals in the workplace.
+ Biological Factors: Microorganisms present in the work environment.
+ Psychological and Ergonomic Factors: Technical, organizational, economic, social, natural, and cultural factors affecting work.
+ Work Organization Factors: Job layout, work methods, task performance, work and rest schedules, shift patterns, and working hours.
+ Psychological Factors: Physical workload, mental stress, sensory stress, working posture, and ergonomics.
Workplace Environmental Monitoring Process
1. Receive information from the client, conduct a site survey, and provide a quote.
2. Finalize the contract and schedule the environmental monitoring.
3. Carry out the environmental monitoring measurements.
4. Analyze and evaluate the results of the environmental monitoring.
5. Complete and deliver the environmental hygiene record (if applicable) and the environmental monitoring documentation to the client, along with recommendations.
For clients interested in workplace environmental monitoring, please contact Mr. Hung at +84 972783574.
