AIHA: Healthier Workplaces | A Healthier World
AUGUST 2020
CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTORS
MIKE BRISSON, FEATURE AUTHOR
Michael J. (Mike) Brisson, MS, PMP, FASTM, is a fellow technical advisor at Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina.

STEVEN VERPAELE, FEATURE AUTHOR
Steven Verpaele is an industrial hygienist with the Nickel Institute in Brussels, Belgium, and a member of the AIHA Sampling and Laboratory Analysis Committee.  
THOMAS C. SMITH, FEATURE AUTHOR
Thomas C. Smith is president of 3Flow in Cary, North Carolina, and a member of the ASHRAE 110, ASHRAE TC9.10, ASSE Z9, and ASSE Z9.5 committees.


ON AIHA.ORG
LATEST NEWS
COMING IN SEPTEMBER:
Protecting Stained Glass Workers from Lead Exposure | Pandemic Product Stewardship | Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in the Oil and Gas Industry | PSX 2020 Preview
The Synergist's mission is to provide AIHA members with news and information about the occupational and environmental health and safety fields and the industrial hygiene profession. The Synergist focuses on industry trends and news, government and regulatory activities, key issues facing the profession, appropriate technical information and news on association events and activities.
The Synergist's objective is to present information that is newsworthy and of general interest in industrial hygiene. Opinions, claims, conclusions, and positions expressed in this publication are the authors' or persons' quoted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, AIHA, or The Synergist.


WHAT’S ON YOUR WORKPLACE SURFACES?       
SURFACE SAMPLING, CONSENSUS STANDARDS, AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS
Recent developments have put greater emphasis on the need for surface sampling and standard protocols for such sampling. This article describes available surface sampling methods, with a focus on consensus standards, as well as caveats to consider when sending these samples to a laboratory for analysis.

BY MIKE BRISSON AND KENN WHITE
»
MEASUREMENT OF TRACE METALS AND METALLOIDS
DELIBERATIONS FROM AN ASTM WORKSHOP
In light of impending reductions in limit values for metals and metalloids such as antimony, beryllium, manganese, and nickel, all aspects of validated measurement methods, including sampling, sample preparation, and instrumental analysis, may need to be reviewed. To debate these issues, an ASTM workshop on the measurement of trace metals and metalloids at workplaces was held in October 2019.  

BY STEVEN VERPAELE AND OWEN BUTLER
»
FUME HOOD PERFORMANCE TESTS      
METHODS TO VERIFY PROPER FUNCTIONING      
People working in laboratories rely on proper performance of fume hoods as their primary means of protection from overexposure to hazardous airborne chemicals generated during scientific activities. This article describes methods to verify that fume hoods are functioning properly. 
  
BY THOMAS C. SMITH
»
What's on YOUR Workplace Surfaces?
Surface Sampling, Consensus Standards, and Laboratory Analysis