Challenge
An international data management company needed to address industrial hygiene and safety risks associated with data destruction activities taking place within its high-volume data center operations. While data destruction activities required strict controls such as asset inventorying, NIST-compliant data wiping, physical destruction of storage media and documented chain-of-custody procedures, physical shredding of hard drives introduced additional challenges. High-energy shredding equipment generated airborne metals, fine dusts, VOCs from heated plastics and elevated noise levels, creating potential exposure risks for operators and nearby office staff. Handling and processing of shredded materials also raised concerns related to ergonomic strain, air quality, surface contamination and the overall effectiveness of existing ventilation systems.
Solution
TRC conducted a comprehensive industrial hygiene evaluation to assess and manage these risks. Our work included detailed exposure monitoring for airborne metals, dusts, VOCs and noise, with results evaluated against applicable Occupational Exposure Limits. We performed surface wipe testing to assess effectiveness of equipment maintenance and daily hygiene practices and determine the extent of contaminant migration beyond the shredding area. We also evaluated ergonomic risks associated with handling shredded materials and reviewed the performance of industrial and local exhaust ventilation systems, including their impact on adjacent occupied office spaces.
Results
The findings from our evaluation supported targeted improvements aligned with both immediate and long-term operational goals. We helped the client confirm areas of regulatory compliance and identify enhancements for personal protective equipment, work practices and cleaning protocols to reduce exposure and surface contamination. Our practitioners provided engineering guidance to improve ventilation performance in existing facilities and inform the design of future operations. Together, these actions improved air quality, reduced occupational risks, strengthened hygiene controls and helped the client maintain compliance while supporting safe and efficient data-destruction operations.