Statistical evaluation of the results of measurements of occupational exposure to air contaminants. A suggested method of dealing with short-period samples taken during one whole shift when noncompliance with occupational health standards is being determined.

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Abstract
The problem of the representative sampling of short-period samples of air contaminants in the breathing zone of 1 employee during 1 shift is discussed. Different types of error and different sources of variation in sampling and the analysis of such samples are dealt with. Noncompliance with the time-weighted average limit can be established by a combined test procedure: when a direct comparison between the observed mean and the standard is made and the observed mean is above the standard, noncompliance is established; if the observed mean (.hivin.x) is below or equal to the standard, noncompliance is also established if the observed SD is too large when compared to .mu. .hivin.x, where .mu. is a value above the standard. The consequences of the suggested combined test in establishing noncompliance are discussed. The criteria are considered to be simple to use and comprehensible, which is a demand since the results of observations of air contaminant concentrations in the workroom are used by employees and laymen. The choice of the criteria imply certain tolerance limits of the population of observations during a shift. These tolerance limits are considered to be in reasonable accord with excursion factors above the time-weighted average limits.

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