What should be monitored to prevent health risks during boiler operation?

Monitoring steam pressure and water levels is critical to preventing health risks during boiler operation. Maintaining the correct steam pressure ensures that the boiler operates efficiently and safely, preventing incidents like over-pressurization, which can lead to explosions or equipment failure. Additionally, monitoring water levels is vital to avoiding dry firing, where the boiler operates without sufficient water, potentially causing overheating and catastrophic damage to the boiler itself.

While other factors, such as water pH levels, temperature of the surrounding environment, and the color of smoke emitted, can provide useful information about boiler operation and efficiency, they do not directly address the immediate health and safety risks associated with the boiler's critical functions. Water chemistry is important to prevent corrosion and scale buildup, but it is secondary to the immediate operational parameters that directly affect safety, like steam pressure and water levels.