TABLE OF CONTENTS When doing any kind of sampling, you must provide for your personal safety. You should know the dangers and hazards of the material you will sample, the equipment you will use, and the setting where you will take the sample. In industrial settings, government regulations require minimal safety training and protective equipment. Personal protective clothing and equipment should be worn not to satisfy government regulations, however, but to protect yourself. Make sure you get instructions. Whether you are a company insider or outsider, you should not perform the sampling if you have doubts about your personal safety. You are best served by knowing what to look for and what questions to ask, by asking those questions, and then by making an informed decision.
This discussion is not designed to provide, nor can it provide, all the safety information you may need in various circumstances. There are too many specialized situations. The purpose here is to raise awareness and give some basic information.
Sampling extremely hot or cold material requires gloves for hand protection. Goggles for eye protection should be worn when sampling liquids that may splash or solids that may generate dust. A nose and mouth cover, like those worn by surgeons, can protect you from ingesting dust. A full face mask will be necessary near poisonous gases in a chemical or biological environment.
Special containers should be used for collecting samples under pressure. Ensure that the equipment and...
