Marchwood adds respirable crystalline silica to accredited occupational hygiene analysis services

Marchwood has added respirable crystalline silica analysis to its already comprehensive range of UKAS accredited occupational hygiene analytical tests. This test enables businesses to meet HSE regulations, reduce exposure levels, and safeguard employees.

‘Exposure to respirable crystalline silica, or RCS, causes hundreds of thousands of deaths across the world every year,’ said Jenny Wraith, Business Development Manager at Marchwood. ‘This makes RCS exposure similar to asbestos exposure, particularly as these substances are only dangerous when disturbed, they affect workers in similar industries, and they target the lungs. However, RCS may be worse than asbestos. Whilst asbestos tends to affect those going into retirement, RCS affects young workers with dependent children and their whole working lives ahead of them. This is why we found it important to gain UKAS accreditation for this test. Ensuring businesses protect their employees and meet HSE regulations as accurately and reliably as possible will help customers’ workforces stay healthy throughout their lives.’

Marchwood’s decades of expertise and investment in state-of-the-art equipment provides customers with high quality, accurate analytical services for occupational hygiene and air quality. All occupational hygiene analysis services, including RCS analysis, come with free sample media, comprising equipment unique to the service ordered, and pre-paid return labels and bags. This makes the sampling process as easy and efficient as possible.

‘We actually have the lowest limit of detection (LOD) for RCS exposure in the industry,’ continued Jenny. ‘Occupational hygienists and businesses must test regularly to ensure the workplace exposure limit (WEL) does not exceed 0.1mg/m³ in the UK, or 0.05mg/m³ in Ireland. Our LOD is 0.005mg/m³, which not only helps businesses safeguard their employees far more effectively, but it also means that we don’t have to sample for as long, saving our customers money and time.’

Exposure to RCS causes many adverse health effects, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and silicosis. In In 1996, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified crystalline silica in the form of quartz or cristobalite dust as a Group 1 carcinogen. Due to these health risks, taking steps to monitor and control the risks of RCS exposure, as well as to review control methods, is required by law.

‘The team has worked exceptionally hard to become UKAS accredited for this service, as well as to provide customers with the lowest LOD in the industry,’ said Declan Burns, Managing Director of Cawood Environment. ‘We are focussed on providing reliable and accurate analytical services to help our customers meet and maintain compliance whilst supporting a safer, healthier planet. This accreditation also serves to further cement Marchwood’s position as the UK’s leading specialise laboratory for occupational hygiene and air quality analysis.’

For more information on our occupational hygiene analysis services, contact us.