Air Monitoring Instrumentation

Book excerpt: Air Monitoring Instrumentation A Manual for Emergency, Investigatory, and Remedial Responders Carol J. Maslansky / Steven P. Maslansky Hazardous emergency responders and safety personnel take note—if you’ve ever needed a hands-on manual that gives easy-to-understand, step-by-step instruction on the function, use, operation, and limitations of air monitoring instruments, Air Monitoring Instrumentation is that manual. This straightforward guide is written by two noted consultants in the field, who have had many years of experience utilizing and teaching the proper use of air monitoring equipment. While many books address the theory and science behind air sampling, this is the only sourcebook that actually teaches the proper use of many different types of instruments, while also providing information on properly recording and interpreting readings. The instruments covered here are some of the most popular pieces of equipment in use today, and include: combustible gas indicators • electrochemical sensors • colorimetric detector tubes • photoionization detectors • flame ionization detectors • toxic gas leak detectors • radiation meters. With the help of numerous examples drawn from actual field operations, Air Monitoring Instrumentation demonstrates how to evaluate, operate, and interpret instrument responses during emergency, investigatory, and remedial operations. You can improve your comprehension of each piece of equipment and its application through learning objectives, review questions, and problem sets found throughout the book. Carefully presented examples, diagrams, and photographs also help to build your understanding of the equipment and its proper use. Air Monitoring Instrumentation’s uniquely practical, useful coverage gives you a vital understanding of: the pros and cons of different manufacturers, models, and designs, including older discontinued models still in common use, and modifications available to basic models strategies for choosing the best air monitoring devices for specific applications, including emergency response, industrial situations, confined space hazards, and hazardous waste site operations specific limitations for the most commonly used devices, including information not found in manufacturers’ manuals and much more When you use Air Monitoring Instrumentation, you’ll also get access to extensive checklists, conversion tables, and field report forms—vital parts of instrument deployment. This extremely practical, expert guide will be an essential working tool for hazardous material responders, industrial hygienists, safety professionals, health departments, and industrial and manufacturing site workers.