- What type of organization best describes you? AGC of Utah is a non-profit trade association for the commercial construction industry.
- Describe your organization. Our mission is to support Utah’s contractors by advocating for a safe, skilled, and sustainable construction workforce.
AGC of Utah is committed to promoting health and safety on job sites and in the communities we serve. Through education, workforce development, and industry collaboration, we help contractors build smarter, work safer, and improve quality of life across Utah.
We have a Southern Utah Air Quality Task force made up of contractors and city entities. We are currently seeking support for the installation of PurpleAir Monitors to help contractors and workers track air quality in real time — especially during wildfire season and high-pollution days. These monitors will assist construction teams in making informed decisions to protect their crews from harmful exposure and create a healthier work environment.
3. Describe your project. The AGC of Utah is launching a targeted initiative to distribute PurpleAir monitors throughout high-risk areas of Washington County to monitor and manage fugitive dust—an increasing concern due to rapid construction growth, arid conditions, and regional air quality challenges.
Fugitive dust, often generated by construction activity, can negatively impact both worker health and community air quality. By installing a network of PurpleAir sensors near active job sites and vulnerable residential areas, this project will allow us to:
- Track real-time dust levels
- Identify hot spots and trends
- Educate contractors and crews on best practices
- Provide actionable data to help reduce emissions
- Support local efforts to meet environmental and public health goals
This proactive approach will help the construction industry lead in environmental responsibility while protecting the health of workers and residents alike. We are seeking partners to help fund and expand this important air quality monitoring effort.
4. Which PurpleAir model(s) are you interested in and how many would you want for your project? We would prefer the PurpleAir PA-II-SD. * Dual laser particle sensors: Improves accuracy by providing redundant data.
- Wi-Fi enabled: Uploads real-time data to the PurpleAir map.
- MicroSD backup: Continues logging even if Wi-Fi is unavailable — ideal for remote sites.
- Indoor/Outdoor capable: Durable enough for construction zones with proper placement.
- Easy to install: Just needs a power outlet or portable battery system.
Optional: The PA-II-FLEX variant allows solar or PoE (Power over Ethernet) operation, which could be useful in areas without reliable power.
Washington County is roughly 2,400 square miles, but our focus is construction-related high-risk areas, not the whole county.
Here is our proposal
- Identify high-risk zones
Focusing on:
- Areas with ongoing or frequent construction
- High traffic/urban zones like St. George, Washington City, Hurricane, and Santa Clara
- Proximity to schools, neighborhoods, and medical facilities
- Sites with loose soils or frequent wind events
We estimate 10–20 high-activity zones across the county.
- Monitor placement strategy
1–2 monitors per large site or zone (to detect both upwind and downwind dust levels)
- Add buffer zone monitors in neighborhoods or public spaces affected by dust drift
Estimated Total: 15–20 Monitors
- 10 for construction zones
- 5–10 for surrounding public impact areas (buffer zones, schools, parks, etc.)
Thank you for this opportunity to apply.
Kathy Tolleson
District Manager, Associated General Contractors of Utah
ktolleson@agc-utah.org
435-628-1346