Silica Monitoring (Respirable Crystalline Silica)
Protect Your Workers. Meet Nova Scotia Compliance Requirements.
Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) exposure is a serious occupational health risk—and a growing focus of enforcement across Nova Scotia. If you’ve received a compliance order or want to proactively assess exposure, Design 1 provides fully compliant silica air monitoring programs backed by technical expertise and regulatory alignment.
We don’t just collect samples—we ensure your project stands up to scrutiny.
What Sets Us Apart
Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH) Support: Most companies stop at sampling. That’s not enough anymore.
We work directly with a Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH) who:
- Reviews your sampling plan
- Ensures alignment with Nova Scotia orders
- Interprets results against exposure limits
- Provides defensible reporting for regulators
If you’ve received an order from the province, this is not optional—this is how you satisfy it properly.
Our Silica Monitoring Services
1. Personal Air Monitoring (Required for Compliance)
- Workers monitored using calibrated air sampling pumps
- Cyclones used to capture the respirable fraction
- Sampling conducted in the breathing zone
- Full or partial shift monitoring to calculate TWA exposure
2. General Area Monitoring (Supporting Data)
- Background particulate levels within the workspace
- Helps contextualize exposure conditions
- Not used for compliance—but strengthens your report
3. Full-Shift Observations & Documentation
- On-site presence during active work (cutting, grinding, polishing, etc.)
- Documentation of controls (wet methods, ventilation, PPE)
- Identification of high-risk tasks and Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs)
Laboratory & Analytical Methods
Designed for Nova Scotia Orders
Analysis conducted by accredited third-party laboratories. Methodology aligned with:
If you’ve received a provincial inspection or compliance order, your scope likely requires:
- NIOSH 7500 (XRD for crystalline silica)
- Multiple personal samples across worker groups
- ROH involvement
- Documented methodology and defensible results
Chain of custody and calibration fully documented.
We build your entire program to meet that order—not guess at it.
Who This Is For
Stone fabrication shops (cutting, polishing, CNC work)
Construction and demolition contractors
Concrete cutting and coring operations
Manufacturing and industrial facilities
Any workplace handling silica-containing materials
The Reality You Need to Understand
If you try to reduce scope or cut corners:
- Your results won’t be accepted
- You risk failing compliance
- You’ll end up paying twice
We structure projects correctly the first time.