The Ministry of Labor and Social Security issued the Anti-Dust Regulation in 2013. According to the definition in this regulation, dust is defined as particles that have the potential to diffuse or spread in the workplace air. Dust measurements are the studies to determine the amount of dust in the workplace air according to gravimetric principles or the number of fibers in fibrous dusts.

The aforementioned regulation has been issued in order to prevent dust risks in workplaces and to determine the principles for measures to be taken in order to combat dust in terms of occupational health and safety and to protect employees from the effects of dust.

TS EN 481 Workplace atmosphere - Dusts are classified in five classes according to the standard of particle size measurements for airborne particle measurements:

• Breathable powders (these can be measured)
• Extra thoracic powders (these can be calculated)
• Thoracic powders (these can be measured)
• Thoracibronchial powders (these can be calculated)
• Powders reaching the alveoli (these can be measured)

Businesses with a high risk of dust exposure include: mining, foundry and other metallurgical activities, shipbuilding activities, glass, ceramic and stone objects production, chemical and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and woodworking.

In accordance with the aforementioned regulations, employers are obliged to carry out dust measurements at regular intervals according to the risk assessment results. In case of any change in the conditions of the workplace, employers must repeat these measurements. The measurement results are evaluated on the basis of occupational exposure limit values ​​given in the annex.

According to the regulation, these measurement studies should be carried out by the laboratories which are given pre-qualification or qualification certificate by General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety.

Total dust exposure measurements are also performed by authorized laboratories within the scope of personal exposure measurements. Laboratories must comply with the TS EN ISO / IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories in their activities.