Safety - Field Sampling: Principles and Practices in Environmental Analysis - page 99

chemicals we would be using that day were not particularly toxic or
dangerous. A student spoke up and said that if she drank a beaker of one of
the chemicals she would die. I answered that that was true but that my
comments were intended to be understood in relationship to using the
chemicals in the manner and amounts appropriate to the laboratory exercise
they were to be doing and that in any case drinking in the laboratory is
prohibited!
4.7. MONITORING
Monitoring will be an important component in any field sampling plan. Monitoring will
be of both the environment and the personnel doing the sampling. Methods of monitoring
will be different for each situation.
4.7.1. Environmental Monitoring
Environmental monitoring will involve monitoring both air and water. The air in and
around the field will need to monitored for dust and escaping gases. In many cases these
monitors will not need to be elaborate and may be electronic gas and particle detectors
incorporated into a field weather station. In addition to air sampling water sampling may
also be needed. This will entail installing one or several monitoring wells and sampling
the water frequently. It may also involve sampling surface runoff water if there is
significant rainfall in the area or the area is irrigated.
4.7.2. Personnel Monitoring
Personnel may need sampling devices on their person to measure their exposure to
contaminated materials. This may be as simple as making sure that persons working in a
field do not get contaminated materials on their skin. It may also mean making sure they
are not exposed to harmful vapors or gases.
If exposure does occur the affected part of the body is washed thoroughly with soap
and water. Thoroughly means that water is allowed to wash over the affected area for at
least 5 min. If massive exposure occurs all clothes must be removed from the person—
without regard for modesty—and the person washed in a shower. The clothes then need
to be disposed of properly or washed thoroughly.
Portable gas sensors are readily available and vary from a simple chemical test to
sophisticated electronic sensors. Indicating badges or tubes filled with indicating
materials are easy to use. Some indicators require air to be pulled or pushed through
them, while others are passive. There are also several types of electronic gas sensors
available. If gas sensors are deemed necessary, then gas mask or respirators, either half or
full face, must also be readily available at all times. Gas masks and respirators come with
a variety of filters designed for various types of gases or vapors, thus the type of filter
chosen must match the types of vapors likely to be encountered.