Measuring the silica content of a bulk sample of a material can be very complex. It is important to make sure that you select the correct type of laboratory to do the analysis.
Finding a laboratory with the qualifications to analyze a bulk sample for silica content – the following are two online sources:
- The American Industrial Hygiene Accreditation Laboratory Program’s website includes a list of accredited laboratories
- MiningUSA.com’s website includes a list of consultants and the type of testing services provided by each company
Types of questions to ask a laboratory:
- Does your company participate in the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s Industrial Hygiene Laboratory Accreditation Program?
- Does your company have experience working with construction contractors?
- Are you equipped to analyze bulk samples of materials for their silica content? If yes:
- How much experience does your staff have analyzing crystalline silica?
- What sampling method does your laboratory use?
- Does this method comply with accepted government requirements? If yes, which ones?
- Who will collect the samples? If the laboratory expects the contractor to collect the sample: Will your company provide guidance on how to make the collections?
- Will I receive a written report? Will there be a non-technical explanation?
- What is the cost for conducting a sample and what does it cover?