Environment
Good for the environment and for people.
With Vinçotte Luxembourg.
Environmental protection serves us all! The sustainable protection of the environment has become an absolute must, even for large companies, building projects and technical facilities. One of the reasons for this is that environmental protection is closely linked to the protection of staff, customers and partners. In the field of environmental protection, we have consistently expanded our service offering, making us a partner for numerous services – from pollution inspections and asbestos remediation to relevant certifications.
Occupational exposure limits: measuring for better prevention
Controlling the risks associated with chemical agents is a key issue in occupational health and safety.
In many work environments, the air may contain substances that can affect health without showing any immediate visible signs.
Measuring occupational exposure limits has therefore become an essential tool for assessing chemical risks.
It is an essential preventive measure.
Occupational exposure limits define the maximum concentrations of chemicals that must not be exceeded in workplace air.
Measuring these values is based on a simple principle: assessing exposure levels before they become critical.
Certain substances can have an impact on health in the event of repeated or prolonged exposure. Identifying these levels enables targeted and proportionate action to be taken.
Measurements are taken in real conditions.
Measurement campaigns are carried out directly on site under conditions that are representative of the activity.
These campaigns take into account the processes used, the substances handled, the duration of exposure, and the organisation of work.
The results obtained are analysed and compared with applicable reference values to identify risk situations that may be invisible in everyday circumstances.
Findings observed in the field
Measurements regularly highlight:
- high concentrations linked to insufficient ventilation;
- dust emissions during certain operations;
- underestimated occasional exposures;
- significant differences depending on the job or work phase.
These findings confirm the importance of objective assessment in order to adapt preventive measures.
This is a practice enshrined in the regulatory framework.
Measuring occupational exposure limit values is an integral part of an employer’s health and safety obligations.
It is a key element in chemical risk assessment and regulatory compliance.
We support companies and local authorities throughout this process by providing technical expertise that is tailored to local conditions.
In conclusion, better measurement means better protection.
Measuring occupational exposure limits strengthens prevention, improves working conditions, and reduces chemical risks sustainably.
It is a subtle yet effective way of protecting people and ensuring activities are carried out safely.
Statutory environmental control
Working for
a friendly environment.
Environmental protection is now a matter of course for companies, public authorities and the general public. When designing buildings, the focus is on low-energy houses free of pollutants and not impacting their occupants’ health. Vinçotte supports you in the sustainable development of your projects from A to Z.
We support you in planning new buildings, in your renovation or demolition projects, ensuring the lowest possible human and environmental impact, in measuring pollution in your company or in assessing the possible environmental risks of a facility.
We provide you with comprehensive and competent support:
In the planning phase with preliminary analyses, soil analysis, sound and vibration analyses.
In the implementation phase with the supervision of asbestos and soil remediation.
On project completion with an environmental building acceptance.
In the operational phase with
- Asbestos inventory, soil analysis, sound and vibration analyses
- Periodic inspections of buildings and facilities with regard to statutory provisions.
- Leak tests for tanks, pipes and oil and grease separators
- Exhaust gas measurements for industrial facilities, boilers, combined heat and power (CHP) or biogas plants.
- Measures to improve workplace health and well-being: Measurements of air pollution or indoor comfort, the collection of microbiological samples, analyses of pollutant evaporation from certain materials, the collection of mould and dust samples.
- Checks of CO2 emissions (industry) and air pollutants.
Risk assessments
We perform risk assessments regarding the environmental impact of a possible defect (SEVESO inspection, HAZOP study. We also perform other types of analyses and inspections such as material analyses, the measurement of electromagnetic fields, for example in mobile phone antennas, or the X-ray inspection of weld seams.
Pleasant working conditions
Environmental protection =
employee protection.
Good working conditions are the recipe for motivated and committed employees. And companies are also obliged to comply with statutory limits for health & safety reasons. Poor conditions regarding temperature, ventilation or air pollutants endanger the health and safety of staff and customers alike. Vinçotte Luxembourg helps provide your staff with optimal working conditions, quickly and reliably identifying and eliminating workplace aspects hazardous to health.
These include, for example:
- Thermal irregularities such as temperature, humidity or draughts.
- Noise pollution from roads, approach flight paths and machinery.
- Indoor air exchange in offices.
- Emissions of chemical substances, pollutant emissions from printers and copiers (volatile organic compounds), paper dust and other causes of the typical of Sick Building Syndrome symptoms.
Our environmental experts can perform a series of measurements on your premises to assess the well-being of users. In the industrial sector, air pollutant measurements must also be performed to determine whether occupational exposure limits (OELs) are being exceeded. OELs are regulatory values indicating levels of exposure that are considered to be safe (healthwise) for a chemical substance in the air of a workplace.
Air pollutant emissions
Clean air.
For everyone.
Industrial plants, combined heat and power (CHP) or biogas plants can emit greenhouse gases. Applicable regulations set strict maximum emission levels for these air pollutants. Our environmental experts will perform all emission measurements to check compliance with applicable emission standards. We will inspect facilities to determine whether they comply with national laws.
Customers using our services to measure and check air pollutants include:
- Energy suppliers
- Production and metalworking companies
- Mineral industry
- Paper and cardboard production plants
- Aviation companies
Asbestos
Asbestos remediation.
Safely and reliably.
A dangerous heritage! Mineral fibre asbestos was used extensively for years due to its good insulating properties and resistance to heat and rust. However, it is now clear that asbestos is extremely harmful to humans, with EU Directive 1999/77/EEC banning its use since 2005. Strict rules must be followed during asbestos remediation work and in the demolition of asbestos-contaminated buildings to minimise health risks. We will check whether a property contains material possibly releasing asbestos fibres, and are officially authorised to supervise remediation and demolition work.
With us, you are in the best hands when it comes to asbestos remediation. We will perform diagnostics and lab checks, search for asbestos-containing materials in buildings and compile a complete inventory. We help determine all necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of endangered persons and review the asbestos monitoring plan for the construction site concerned. During the construction/demolition work, we measure the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air on a daily basis. On project completion, we conduct the acceptance of the remediation zone and compile a record of the release of asbestos fibres.
Soil analysis
Professional soil analysis.
We get to the bottom of things.
Clean soil is an indispensable base! If soil, subsoil or groundwater is contaminated by pollutants, the affected area must be remediated before further use.
We determine whether and to what extent the soil, subsoil or groundwater is contaminated and, as an officially approved testing body, take responsibility for the monitoring and certification of the remediation area. Vinçotte Luxembourg accompanies and assists you throughout remediation:
- Soil sampling and site analysis
- Taking probes to map the contaminated zones
- Monitoring the excavation of contaminated soil
- Final inspection and measurement of any residual contamination
Noise study
Noise protection is
environmental protection.
Noise is a form of pollution! An often-underestimated form of pollution, noise can significantly affect health and well-being. There are many possible sources of noise – large production plants, road and rail networks, airports or more harmless noise such as loud music from your neighbour’s house.
Whether for production plants, companies, architects or private individuals, we check whether noise levels are within acceptable limits and help prevent and attenuate noise. We measure and calculate noise levels or vibrations in a project’s planning phase, performing a diagnosis including recommendations. At the end of the project, we measure levels of noise and vibration. We also calculate the sound insulation effects achievable through covers, changes to the architecture or acoustic renovations.