Heat-decomposed plastic releases a complex exposure mix. Measure what your workforce inhales.
Personal sampling for the principal decomposition products of common polymers — aldehydes, isocyanates from PU, HCl from PVC, styrene from polystyrene — with a controls review for moulding, extrusion and plastic welding.
- UK-wide since 2013
- Independent assessments
- ISO 9001 accredited
- Practical control advice
What this means for you
Evidence you can act on and defend.
Measured exposure evidence
Data suitable for HSE, insurers and audits.
Independent assessment
Occupational hygiene review of real exposure risk.
Practical control recommendations
Prioritised actions based on risk and operational practicality.
Compliance support
Evidence to support COSHH and internal governance.
Speak with a plastic fume specialist
0800 433 7914
sales@sysco-env.co.ukMon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 · Independent advice · Fixed-price scope
Typical response: same working day
What happens next
Most plastic-fume surveys complete in one shift.
We attend during representative production, sample operators by polymer process, evaluate LEV and report against the relevant WELs.
No unnecessary disruption. No generic paperwork. No unnecessary complexity.
Whether exposure is controlled
A clear yes or no, backed by measurement.
Where the highest risks are
Locations, tasks and roles ranked by exposure.
What actions matter most
A prioritised plan you can budget and schedule.
What you get
Four answers. One clear plan.
You need to know what your workforce is exposed to, whether your controls are effective, what actions matter most, and how to demonstrate control confidently.
That is exactly what we deliver.
Know what your team breathes
We measure real exposure on the people most at risk, using validated methods for plastic fume — no guesswork.
Know where you stand legally
We compare exposure to the EH40 WELs for the specific decomposition products identified by your polymer mix.
Know if your controls work
An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, RPE and work practices — what's effective and what isn't.
Get a report you can act on
Clear findings and a prioritised action plan suitable for HSE, insurers and operational management.
Why clients call
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
- 01
An auditor is asking
HSE, your insurer or a client wants evidence — not assurances
We provide measured plastic fume data and a clear technical report that resolves the issue quickly.
- 02
Your team is worried
Operatives are reporting concerns or symptoms
We attend site, quantify workforce exposure and provide clear evidence of current risk levels.
- 03
You suspect a problem
You know there's a risk and you want measured data before it becomes a crisis
We quantify exposure, assess it against current limits and provide a prioritised corrective action plan.
What we answer for you
Three questions, settled.
- Where your people are exposed
- We map the tasks, areas and shifts where plastic fume matters, then sample what your team actually breathes — not a generic site average.
- Whether your controls are working
- An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, PPE and work practices — what is effective and what requires improvement.
- What you need to fix first
- A prioritised, costed action list — the smallest set of changes that gets you compliant and measurably safer.
How we work with you
From your first call to your action plan.
- 1
We listen first — your site, your concerns, your deadline.
- 2
We walk the workplace with your team to see exposure as it actually happens.
- 3
We sample on the people most at risk, using validated occupational hygiene methods for plastic fume.
- 4
We assess your existing controls honestly — what's working, what isn't.
- 5
You receive a clear technical report suitable for operational, compliance and regulatory readers.
- 6
We hand you a prioritised action plan you can budget, schedule and defend.
Typical survey outputs
What you receive at the end of the engagement.
- Personal exposure monitoring data
- Plastic-fume personal sampling against EH40 limits
- Static / area sampling where required
- LEV and ventilation observations
- RPE suitability review
- Exposure risk mapping by task
- Prioritised corrective actions
- Defensible technical report
Client testimony
“Sysco's polymer-specific approach picked up a peak HCl event we'd never seen — addressed immediately.”
— Production manager
UK PVC extruder
Typical environments we assess
Wherever plastic fume risk affects your people.
- Moulding shops
- Extrusion lines
- Recycling facilities
- Plastic welding bays
- Composite shops
Background
Plastic fume exposure, in detail.
What is plastic fume?
Plastic fume is the aerosol and vapour mixture released when polymers are heated — during moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, hot-air welding and during burn-off cleaning of tooling. Composition depends entirely on the polymer: PVC releases hydrogen chloride and dioxin precursors, PU releases isocyanates, polystyrene releases styrene monomer, and most polymers release a baseline of aldehydes.
Sampling approach
We define the sampling suite based on the polymer mix and then deploy MDHS-validated methods for each species. Real-time direct-reading instruments are used for spot-screening peak emission events.
Practical controls
Canopy hoods over moulding machine nozzles, screw-vent extraction on extruders, captor hoods at trim and welding stations, plus process control to avoid burn-off and overheating.
Related services
Often assessed alongside plastic fume.
LEV testing (TExT)
Statutory thorough examination & test of extraction systems under COSHH reg 9.
Explore 02Hazardous substances (COSHH)
Full COSHH exposure assessments across solvents, dusts, fumes and bio-aerosols.
Explore 03Welding fume monitoring
Mn, Cr(VI), Ni and total particulate sampling for fabrication and steelwork.
Explore 04Diesel exhaust (DEEE)
Personal sampling and elemental carbon analysis for diesel-exposed environments.
ExploreCommon questions
Plastic Fumes — FAQs.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from operations, HSE and procurement teams.
- Which decomposition products do you sample?
- Determined by your polymer mix — aldehydes for most polymers, HCl for PVC, isocyanates for PU, styrene for PS, plus a real-time peak survey.
- Do you also test LEV?
- Yes — concurrent TExT to HSG258.
- Single-shift survey?
- Yes for most moulding shops; large extrusion plants may need additional visits.
- Where in the UK?
- Nationwide UK coverage.
- Do you cover composite layup?
- Yes — including styrene from open-mould GRP.
- Health surveillance?
- We provide exposure data for occupational health surveillance programmes.
Speak with a plastic fume specialist
Tell us your polymer mix. We'll scope the sampling.
Tell us
- the polymers and processes in use,
- current LEV setup,
- operator numbers and shifts,
- and your reporting deadline.
We will provide
- a clear scope,
- fixed quotation,
- proposed attendance strategy,
- and expected reporting timeframe.
Send us a brief
Outline the sites, tasks and timelines of concern — we'll reply with a clear scope and fixed quotation.
From the field
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