Guide for sampling and analysis of bisphenol A (BPA) in industrial effluent: chapter 2

Chapter 2

2.0 Planning a Sampling Event

• 2.1 Logistics
• 2.2 Occupational Health and Safety

Planning and preparing for a sampling event is an important, time-saving step that typically reduces the number of obstacles that are encountered during sampling.

2.1 Logistics

The following basic steps are recommended to be used for planning sampling events. This guidance has been adapted from the Australian Environmental Protection Agency Guidelines Regulatory Monitoring and Testing: Water and Wastewater Sampling, June 2007, and has been modified based on recent BPA sampling experience.

During the planning stages, it is recommended that the individual collecting the samples undertake the following:

• Prepare a monitoring plan as discussed in Section 3, including the monitoring sites, sampling methods, number of samples required, and occupational health and safety issues;
• Identify all activities associated with the production, process, and release of BPAfrom the facility’s effluent (e.g., during production, cleaning or maintenance activities);
• Coordinate with the analytical laboratory to discuss foreseeable problems with procedures, containers or limitations (high dissolved or suspended solids, temperature, etc.). Facilities should obtain appropriate sample containers (i.e., containers suitable for collecting samples for BPA analysis);
• Schedule the monitoring event, including planning how and when the samples will be transported back to the laboratory. It is important to ensure that the samples are delivered to the laboratory within the conditions and holding time recommended by the laboratory. The sampling schedules should also take into consideration the facility’s activities, to ensure effluent content is representative of normal operating conditions associated with BPA;
• Organize and review site maps and locations to determine logistics of sampling. As discussed above, sampling may occur at several other locations outside of the scope of this guidance document. Facilities must be able to identify specific processes that contribute to the presence of BPA in their final discharge point;
• Obtain and prepare all of the required equipment (including sampling equipment and personal protective equipment [PPE]) for the sampling event. In addition, it is important to test all of the equipment prior to the sampling event to ensure that it is operational and calibrated; and
• Fill out as much paperwork as practical before the sampling event, such as the preparation of sample labels, to save time.

2.2 Occupational Health and Safety

A health and safety plan for the sampling event should be developed and included with the monitoring plan in order to mitigate the many hazards that can be associated with conducting fieldwork. The health and safety plan may include such elements as the following:

• Hazard identification and risk assessment:
  • exposure to hazardous substances (e.g., toxic gases);
  • temperature hazards (e.g., heat and cold stress);
  • working in high-traffic areas;
  • working adjacent to bodies of water; and
  • working in confined spaces.
• Actions undertaken to remove, mitigate or control risk; and
• Location of the nearest medical facility, and emergency procedures.

Due to the specific nature of the health and safety plans, a typical outline may include the following sections and/or pieces of important information:

• Purpose of the plan;
• Administrative information (project details, client information, project-specific health and safety personnel, etc.);
• Project description (site operations and physical description, type of fieldwork, scope, etc.);
• Primary responsibilities of project-specific health and safety personnel;
• Training requirements to carry out the fieldwork;
• Sign-in and sign-out procedure specific to the site;
• Preliminary assessment of potential hazards that may be encountered while working on-site (noise, moving equipment, traffic, etc.);
• PPE required while on-site;
• Emergency response procedure to follow while on-site;
• Map and directions to nearest hospital; and
• Health and safety plan approval information.

Please note that the above list does not represent a complete compilation of the information required for a specific site, but rather is meant to provide a general overview of typical requirements for guidance purposes.