We have helped a multitude of clients responding to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims, internal Health and Safety team complaints, individual employee complaints, and provincial orders from the Ministry of Labor (MOL) investigations, as well as proactive employers.
Our unparalleled customer service will ensure project satisfaction at each stage.
Services We provide:
Some of the Industries We Serve:
• Automotive Manufacturing
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Metals Manufacturing
• Plastics Manufacturing
• Water Distribution and Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Construction Activities
First, our consultants will work closely with the client to gain a comprehensive understanding of the processes at the facility, potential sources of the pollution, and environments that may increase workers’ exposure to the pollution.
Should worker’s exposure to the pollution exceed regulatory limits, our team will develop recommendations for abatement solutions that are unique to each industrial environment, considering the technical and financial feasibility of each solution, as well as Client specifications. We are experienced in designing, commissioning, and managing ventilation and air pollution control solutions, as well as the implementation of administrative controls and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
To find out more about our Environmental Consulting, Occupational Health & Safety services, please fill out the form or call us at (905) 635-4063.
Rubidium Environmental is considered experts in assessing occupational exposure to air contaminants in accordance with Ontario Regulation (O.Reg) 833. It was made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure that employees are protected from potentially harmful exposure to biological or chemical agents.
Ontario Regulation (O.Reg) 833 specifies that employers have a duty to, and shall take all measures reasonably necessary to protect employees from exposure to a hazardous or chemical agent. Table 1 of O.Reg 833 specifies a list of over 100 substances and corresponding occupational exposure limits. In addition, a list of hundreds of substances included in the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) specifies substances and exposure limits that employers are required to comply with. Commonly sampled air contaminants include:
The regulation specifies two types of occupational exposure limits for air contaminants: a Time-Weighted Average (TWA) Limit, as well as a Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) / Ceiling Limit (C). A Time-Weighted Average (TWA) Limit corresponds to the average exposure that a worker can be exposed to over a work day or a work week. Typically, this type of assessment is conducted over a typical 8-hour shift. A Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) is the maximum allowable concentration of an airborne contaminant over a 15-minute period, and the Ceiling Limit (C) is the maximum airborne concentration that a worker can be exposed to at any time.
Occupational exposure to noise is regulated under Ontario Regulation 831/15. It was made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, specifies that employers shall take all measures reasonably necessary to ensure that workers are protected from hazardous sound levels.
Rubidium’s service stands out from others by drawing on our extensive experience assessing noise in various industrial applications, as well as our consultations with the client and site inspections to gain a complete understanding of processes emitting noise, and to recommend the most appropriate control strategies.
O.Reg 831/15, made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, specifies that employers shall take all measures reasonably necessary to ensure that workers are protected from hazardous sound levels. As the health risk posed by noise exposure is dependent on both the sound level and duration of exposure, sound level limits are specified by both a sound pressure level (SPL), and duration of exposure. The sound pressure level is specified by A-weighted decibels (dBA), corresponding to the loudness heard by the human ear.
The regulated limits defined in O.Reg 831/15, as well as comparable sound levels, is detailed below:
| Allowable Noise Level (dBA) | Maximum Permitted Daily Duration (hours) | Comparable Noise Level (Industrial) | Comparable Noise Level (Residential) |
| 85 | 8 | Milling Machine | City Traffic |
| 88 | 4 | ||
| 91 | 2 | Train | Food Blender |
| 94 | 1 | ||
| 97 | 0.5 | Compressor | Lawn Mower |
| 100 | 0.25 |
If the determined occupational exposure to noise is greater than the regulatory limits, measures that can be taken to reduce the exposure must be taken, including the implementation of noise-reducing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), administrative controls, maintenance activities, and process controls. Rubidium’s expertise in noise abatement solutions, and an in-depth understanding of industrial applications will ensure that the most cost-effective, technically feasible options are implemented.
Rubidium’s Environmental Consultants have gained extensive knowledge in noise-emitting processes in industrial environments as a result of the years of experience servicing industry. Rubidium draws on this knowledge, as well as consultation with the Client, to understand the unique industrial environment of each facility, and the noisy processes within. Based on this understanding, Rubidium develops a site-specific sampling plan to assess the noise production of the dominant processes, noise-insulating or noise-reflecting environment, and resulting occupational noise exposure to workers.
A combination of area samples and personal samples are used to gain a comprehensive understanding of the noise environment of the facility, corresponding to workers’ occupational noise exposure. Area samples are used to assess the noise from a specific process, as well as the surrounding noise environment. Depending on the construction of the surrounding area, such as the layout and building materials, the noise emitted from a process may increase or decrease. These area samples are assessed using a Class 3 Noise Meter, and are A-weighted. If required, a series of area samples will be combined to create a “noise map”, allowing the sound in an industrial environment to be visualized. Personal samples are collected from a personal noise dosimeter. The personal noise dosimeter is a device worn by a worker for the entirety of a shift. Sound pressure levels measurements are taken at specific intervals to assess the worker’s personal occupational noise exposure in accordance with O.Reg 831/15, and the table above. Commonly assessed noise-emitting processes include:
Rubidium’s team of Environmental Consultants compare the measured personal occupational noise exposure with the limits found in O.Reg 831/15 at each time interval to assess compliance with the regulation. Should it be determined that the occupational noise exposure results in non-compliance, Rubidium’s team will consult with the Client to recommend the most appropriate noise abatement solutions based on technical and financial feasibility to comply with O. Reg 831/15, and protect workers’ health.
Our team works closely with yours to develop a unique sampling plan to capture the sources of contamination and air contaminant exposure that are specific to your facility’s operations. This sampling plan will often include a combination of area samples and personal samples, and either a badge or sampling pump. Area samples are effective in assessing the air contamination from a specific source. For example, an area sample may collect an air sample in close proximity to a grinding machine to assess the particulate matter (dust) emissions from the grinding process. Typically, this type of sample will result in the maximum exposure that a worker will receive, as they are in close proximity to the source. Conversely, a personal sample is worn by workers to assess their actual occupational exposure over a typical shift, and will be lower than an area sample because of the changing environment that a worker is exposed to over a typical working shift
A sampling pump is used to capture contaminants as they pass through a filter and are entrained in the air stream. This sampling pump is typically set to collect air at the rate of a worker breathing, allowing for a comparison to the actual occupational exposure to an air contaminant that is inhaled. Once the sample is collected, an accredited laboratory analyzes the sample. The matter that has collected on the filter can be separated to identify specific contaminants, or weighed to determine the total mass of contamination collected, typically respirable or inhalable dust, depending on the size of the filter. A badge is used to assess contaminants such as VOCs that will react with the material of the badge. Similar to the sampling pump, an accredited laboratory analyzes the badge to determine the mass of contamination on the badge. Both the use of the sampling pump and the badge result in a quantification of the worker’s exposure to air contaminants.
Rubidium’s team of Environmental Consultants then compare the worker’s exposure to air contaminants to the contaminant-specific limits found in O.Reg 833 (described above). Should the worker’s exposure exceed the regulated limits, Rubidium’s team will then work with your team to recommend abatement solutions to reduce worker’s exposure to air contaminants to comply with O.Reg 833, and protect worker’s health.
Noise abatement solutions range in cost, effectiveness, size, complexity and technical feasibility. In consultation with the client, Rubidium’s team of Environmental Consultants balances these aspects of each abatement solution to recommend the most appropriate combination that will meet the client’s goals of mitigating the risk to workers’ health and regulatory compliance. Common noise abatement solutions include a combination of the following:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) can include a variety of earplugs or muffs to reduce workers’ occupational exposure to noise. Each type of earplug has a noise reducing rating (NRR) based on the type of fit, thickness, and material of the plug, and the cost varies with each parameter. While the cost and noise reduction of each plug varies, and it is often the most available and comfortable plug that is the most effective as they will be worn by workers more often.
Administrative controls reduce the duration and intensity of exposure and can be implemented easily. This can involve rotating the processes that employee work on such that a worker is not at noisy processes all day, or ensuring that workers are not in close proximity to noisy processes. Educating workers on the health risks posed by occupational exposure to noise, options to reduce their occupational exposure to noise, and posting warning signs in the workplace reinforces the importance of reducing exposure to noise, and often increase the effectiveness of the chosen abatement solution.
Maintenance activities are an inexpensive solution that may drastically reduce worker’s occupational exposure to noise. Rotating equipment, such as fans, axels, and blowers can emit significant intensities of noise if they are off-specification as a result of extended use. Often, the maintenance activities require re-aligning the equipment, lubrication, or parts replacement.
Process controls can reduce the noise emissions significantly, but are also often high in cost. Isolation of the noisy processes is a common process control and can involve housing the process in noise-insulating materials. Alternatively, changing the layout of the process line can reduce the intensity of the sound produced by optimizing the surrounding environment. As process controls are more complex than the other, they often require significant project design, management, and commissioning, which Rubidium brings years of experience to. Rubidium’s ability to manage each portion of the project ensures that the project is executed to the specifications required by the unique industrial environment.
Abatement solutions are recommended based on Rubidium’s comprehensive understanding of the unique environment that workers are exposed to air contamination, the industrial processes resulting in air contamination, as well as Client consultation. The technical and financial feasibility, as well as any other Client specifications is considered in recommend the most appropriate solution. These abatement solutions often include a combination of the following:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) involves the use of respirators to control exposure. The recommended respirator can involve physical filtration, chemical filtration, or a combination of both. These masks can be personally fit to each worker, or a generic fit, and vary in effectiveness, cost, and comfort. Rubidium’s team will consult with the Client to recommend the most appropriate type of respirator.
Administrative controls can be more effective than PPE, but may limit productivity. Limiting the time that a worker is involved with contaminant-emitting processes, or limiting the proximity to the process, are both effective administrative controls to reduce workers’ exposure to air contaminants. In addition, educating workers on the risks posed by exposure to air contaminants, and posting warning signs increase the effectiveness of these administrative controls. Rubidium has prepared educational materials for many manufacturing settings, and delivered the material on-site to ensure that the message is conveyed effectively.
Air contamination may be a result of machinery not operating properly as the continuous day-to-day wear and tear degrades the quality of parts, misaligns components, and effectively emits contamination. If suspect air contamination and the associated air exposure is determined, Rubidium will review the potential sources for maintenance activities. In many scenarios, these maintenance activities are the most cost-effective abatement solution, and may also increase productivity or the lifespan of machinery.
Process controls are the most effective abatement solution, but often the most expensive as well. The goal of process controls is to evacuate the air containing the contamination from the area that workers are present, or reduce the concentration of contamination in the air. Commonly, process-targeted ventilation, or pollution control devices are used to achieve these goals, respectively. Rubidium has extensive experience designing both ventilation systems and pollution control devices, including project management and commissioning.