First Australian Asbestos Laboratory to Achieve NATA Accreditation to International Standards
Posted 14th January 2021, Carl Strautins
Safe Environments recently achieved accreditation to the highest level being accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to International Standards. International Standard ISO 22262-1 Air quality — Bulk materials — Part 1: Sampling and qualitative determination of asbestos in commercial bulk materials is the most current up to date method for asbestos testing in the world.
Safe Environments Epidemiologist and Certified Occupational Hygienist, Mr Carl Strautins said there was a need to update to the International Standard due to Australian Standard AS 4964 being some 15 years old and out of date. This ensures that our Sydney Occupational Hygiene Laboratory is operating at an international level of accuracy that Australian companies and consumers can rely upon to ensure they are safe from asbestos related disease through timely and accurate asbestos analysis.
The international standard uses polarised light microscopy including dispersion staining. In identifying asbestos the commercial bulk material is first viewed under a stereomicroscope whereby fibres are extracted and analysed under 100x magnification. five is again viewed under polarised light to confirm the asbestiform nature and crystalline structure that is unique for the commercial types of white, brown and blue asbestos.
In addition to polarised light microscopy, Safe Environments can provide advanced analytical techniques in asbestos identification through X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. These techniques of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are currently under assessment by NATA and anticipated that these be added to the scope next month.
Please contact Safe Environments Occupational Hygiene Laboratory for all your asbestos testing requirements.
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First Australian Asbestos Laboratory to Achieve NATA Accreditation to International Standards
Posted 14th January 2021, Carl StrautinsSafe Environments recently achieved accreditation to the highest level being accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to International Standards. International Standard ISO 22262-1 Air quality — Bulk materials — Part 1: Sampling and qualitative determination of asbestos in commercial bulk materials is the most current up to date method for asbestos testing in the world.
Safe Environments Epidemiologist and Certified Occupational Hygienist, Mr Carl Strautins said there was a need to update to the International Standard due to Australian Standard AS 4964 being some 15 years old and out of date. This ensures that our Sydney Occupational Hygiene Laboratory is operating at an international level of accuracy that Australian companies and consumers can rely upon to ensure they are safe from asbestos related disease through timely and accurate asbestos analysis.
The international standard uses polarised light microscopy including dispersion staining. In identifying asbestos the commercial bulk material is first viewed under a stereomicroscope whereby fibres are extracted and analysed under 100x magnification. five is again viewed under polarised light to confirm the asbestiform nature and crystalline structure that is unique for the commercial types of white, brown and blue asbestos.
In addition to polarised light microscopy, Safe Environments can provide advanced analytical techniques in asbestos identification through X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. These techniques of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are currently under assessment by NATA and anticipated that these be added to the scope next month.
Please contact Safe Environments Occupational Hygiene Laboratory for all your asbestos testing requirements.