Good measurements are only useful if the records show what was done, where and why. Clear reporting helps you prove compliance, spot trends and act early when controls drift.

What to record every time

• Who: assessor and workers present.
• Where: site, zone, task and location map or description.
• When: date, time, duration and conditions (indoors/outdoors, ventilation status).
• What: material, tool/process, controls in use (extraction, water, RPE).
• How: instrument make/model, serial, calibration date, sample method and averaging time.
• Results: mg/m³ values, PM fractions measured and uncertainty if known.
• Interpretation: compare to WELs and internal targets; note exceedances and likely causes.
• Actions: immediate fixes, follow-up tasks, responsible person and deadline.

Simple, credible reports

Keep the body of the report brief: objective, method, results table and conclusions. Add appendices for raw data, photos and calibration certificates. Present time-series charts to show peaks during specific tasks; this makes controls easier to optimise.

Retention and access

Under COSHH, keep exposure monitoring records for at least 5 years; retain health surveillance records for 40 years. Store reports centrally with version control. Share summaries with supervisors and toolbox talks, not just compliance teams.

Triggers for action

Set threshold rules: stop work if visible dust appears; investigate if spot checks exceed targets; review LEV if results trend upward. Document the decision, fix and re-test date so the next auditor sees a closed loop.

Air monitoring is most powerful when paired with maintenance logs and LEV test records; together they show that control measures perform as intended.