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6.0 AirMonitoring/PPE 6.1 Air Monitoring Air monitoring must be performed on all sites in accordance with CB&I practices. Organic vapor and/or concentrations are monitored in the field with either a photoionization detector (PID) or flame ionization detector (FID). Flammable vapors and/or gasses are monitored with an oxygen/combustimeter (02/LEL) real-time instrument. Airborne dust/particulate concentrations are measured with a real-time aerosol monitor (using a scattered light photometric sensing cell) when there are visible signs of airborne dust. Both area and personal air monitoring readings are to be taken to characterize site activities. Air monitoring results must be documented on the Air Monitoring Forms (see Appendix A) or in the field logbook. Calibration and maintenance of air monitoring equipment must follow manufacture specifications and must be documented. Re-calibration and adjustment of air monitoring equipment must be completed as site conditions and equipment operation warrant. Record all air monitoring equipment calibration and adjustment information on forms in(see Appendix A)or in the field logbook. Air monitoring action levels (see Table 4) have been developed that stipulate the chemical concentrations in the breathing zone that require an upgrade in level of PPE. Action levels are typically set at one-half of the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limits (REL), or the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV). The rationale for establishing action levels is based on the available data that characterizes COCs in soil or water. All on-site workers must be properly fitted with PPE (i.e., respirators) and have been trained in their use (i.e., donning and doffing). Air monitoring measurements will be taken in the breathing zone of the worker most likely to have the highest exposure. Transient peaks will not automatically trigger action. Action will be taken when levels are consistently exceeded in a 5-minute period. Similarly, if chemical odors are detected that are a nuisance, bother-some, or irritating, an upgrade in respiratory protection can provide an extra level of comfort or protection when conducting site activities. See Section 4.1.1 for guidelines for frequency of air monitoring. See Table 2 for a description of PPE levels. See Table 3 for task-specific protection level and task-specific air monitoring requirements. Air movers or other engineering controls that exhaust or dilute solvent vapors emanating from monitoring wells or present when conducting intrusive activities can be used to down-grade PPE requirements. 6.1.1 Air Monitoring Frequency Guidelines Conduct periodic monitoring when: • It is possible that an immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) condition or a flammable atmosphere has developed,or • There is an indication that exposures may have risen over established action levels, permissible exposure limits, or published exposure levels since the last monitoring. Look for a possible rise in exposures associated with these situations: - Change in site area-work begins on a different section of the site. - Change in contaminants—handling contaminants other than those first identified. - Visible signs of particulate exposure from intrusive activities such as drilling/boring and excavation. 6-1