The new standardized operation method for risk assessment.
Indoor air quality remains one of the most neglected issues and less detailed than other within the scope of occupational safety. It has done quite strange because it is common knowledge that better air quality has a positive impact on health.
The A.R.I.A. operating method has been studied and developed in collaboration with the University of Udine in order to standardize the procedures for the Risk Assessment of air conditioning systems as required by the Decree No. 81/2008 annexes IV.
The acronym A.R.I.A. means “Assigning Risks Installation Aeraulic“. It is an innovative tool that can size the hazard potential of the system and highlight its priorities for action on the one hand, and to indicate the types of intervention on the other.
Main purpose: to minimize the degree of subjectivity of the evaluator.
The new risk assessment A.R.I.A. Operating Method is structured in three different levels of investigation, which are the preliminary inspection, visual inspection and technical inspection. Let’s see them in detail.
PRELIMINARY INSPECTION
In this first phase, data and background information are acquired about the building linked to the plant layout and the context in which is located the facility installed; the purpose is to check the status of various system components by controlling their hygienic condition and their functionality. The Legislative Decree No 81/2008, art. 64, obliges the employer to ensure that the facility is actually subjected to regular maintenance and cleaning.
VISUAL INSPECTION
The purpose is to verify the status of the various components of the system through the visual control of their hygienic condition and of their functionality. The inspection must be done by qualified personnel and provides a periodicity. The inspection findings are collected into a specifical checklist which, combined with the register of the work on the system, it is a tool that allows you to assess over time the hygienic state.
Some of the items presents:
- filters in good condition, sufficiently clean and free from fungal contamination
- dirt or limestone on the hot water recovery
- fouling, sediments on cooling towers
- dust, dirt and mold in the ducts
Completed the visual inspection, in the case in which the hygiene requirements are complied, it records the activity and the following inspection program. But if it is not clear what corrective action must to be implemented, it will be necessary to perform a more thorough check, through what is called technical inspection.
TECHNICAL IGIENICAL INSPECTION
In this last phase are used measurement instruments and data acquisition system to allow thorough analysis of the plant. Subject of this inspection are:
- the filters
- the heat exchange batteries
- the cooling tower
- the dampers
- the air ducts
As stated in the Agreement State-Region of 2013, about AHU are to be assessed the differences in flows upstream and downstream of the filter media, to rule out blockages. They are then carried out of the sampling in the case where water is present in the humidification section. In the air ducts should be conducted gravimetric sampling to evaluate whether the hygienic conditions are within acceptable limits provided by guidelines for the definition of technical protocols for predictive maintenance of aeraulic systems.
After the end of technical inspection, the results should be reported in the appropriate report, to be attached to the register of maintenance. Any non-compliance or irregularities found during the technical inspection, also in accordance with art. 64 of Legislative Decree No. 81/2008, must be investigated and removed.