Biological monitoring is a way of assessing chemical exposures by measuring the chemical or its breakdown products in a biological sample (usually urine, blood or breath). Biological monitoring is particularly useful where chemicals can be significantly absorbed through the skin and where controls rely upon the use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks.
Many jobs involve using chemicals that can be harmful to health if not properly controlled. Biological Monitoring is a simple and effective tool for exposure assessment, it is a measurement of exposure – not a measurement of ill-health.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) employers have to look for the risks to their employees’ health from chemicals in the workplace.
For some chemicals, biological monitoring can be used to indicate how good control is and how much of the chemical has entered the body. It is a way of assessing exposure and health risks and involves measuring the chemical or its breakdown products in urine, blood or breath.
Why do Biological Monitoring?
Biological monitoring has a number of roles in exposure assessment:
To check that control measures are working
To check that work practices are protective
To check that training is understood and followed
Workers Health Ltd is an Occupational Health Service Provider accredited by the Faculty of Medicine (SEQOHS)with Constructing Better Health (CBH), specialising in providing quality services to the construction industry and adheres to HSE and CBH standards. Workers Health Ltd offers on-site biological monitoring. All biological sampling is tested and reported on by a fully accredited UKAS laboratory.
We can screen for the following:
SPMA/Benzene
Isocyanates (diisocyanates)
Lead
Nickel
Cadmium
Chromium
Chromium and nickel combined
Cobalt
Arsenic
Mercury
Toluene
For more information or to arrange Biological Monitoring for your workplace, please contact us on the telephone number detailed above or through the ‘contact us’ portal.
