Introduction to DustWatch

The introduction of the Mine Health & Safety Act 1996 calls for the appointment of qualified practitioners at every operating mine and other non-operational mines where closure certificates have not been issued by the controlling authorities. The Occupational Hygiene and Environmental conditions to be monitored can be undertaken by an outside authority obviating the need for a full time appointment by the mine and therefore resulting in considerable cost saving.

It is probable that the Occupational Health and Safety Act revisions will similarly call for regular monitoring of occupational hygiene factors under the same conditions as those under the Mining regulations. With mining operations and industry being pinched by escalating costs and narrowing margins, the availability of an independent monitoring and occupational hygiene consultancy staffed by experienced qualified personnel to undertake routine inspections, annual audits and problem solving could offer substantial cost saving, design and supply service to all clients, monitoring of environmental conditions as well as system optimisation.

DustWatch cc

The company – DustWatch CC – commenced operations in June 2008, in Piketberg in the Swartland, Western Cape as an operation ideally suited to service mining and industrial concerns in the Cape West Coast and Swartland areas. Expansion of the operation into Namaqualand, Bushmanland, Botswana and Namibia has become a natural extension to the original target area and the client base extended to the entire country as well as the neighbouring countries. A Cape Town branch of DustWatch was opened in 2010.

The supply of our patented DustWatch fall-out dust monitoring equipment, assessment facilities and a full in-house laboratory service providing a service throughout South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. DustWatch CC controls sales of the units and systems, the servicing of client requirements, dust monitoring training, assessments and dust monitoring programmes, in addition to the operation of an assessment laboratory servicing a countrywide client base.

Personnel

Our principal, Gerry F. Kuhn, holds the Chamber of Mines Certificate in Mine Environmental Control, the recognised qualification satisfying the Minerals Act and Regulations, and the Mine Health and Safety Act 1996, and is a Fellow of the Mine Ventilation Society, of which he is a former council member.

He is also a professional of the Institute of Occupational Hygienists of South Africa (IOHSA), satisfying requirements for registration as an authority on behalf of client operations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993. He is a design specialist in the fields of dust control installations, fume, heat and other extraction and ventilation requirements, including refrigeration, pneumatic conveying, pressurisation, air conditioning and evaporative cooling, having served the mining industry in this capacity for 30 years.

In addition, experience in the petro-chemical hydraulic field, cement industry, and diamond recovery process is offered to potential clients.

Our Chemical Engineer, Mr. Christopher Loans (Pr. Eng) has a Chemical Engineering degree and brings specialist knowledge of process engineering, chemical stress and systems optimisation and computer programming. His background in the pulp and acid industry has proved to be valuable in our spheres of operation. Chris has registered as a professional through the Engineering Council of South Africa. (ECSA) (1st of November 2001).

Our occupational hygienist/air quality analyst, Richard F. Kuhn, is the holder of the Chamber of Mines Practical and Intermediate certificates in Mine Environmental Control, in addition to the certificate in Air Quality Analysis. He has experience of mine and plant monitoring procedures, having served on several large gold mines – Elandsrand, Free State Saaiplaas, Durban Deep Roodepoort and Unisel.

He has assistant membership of the Institute of Occupational Hygienists of South Africa (IOHSA), Associate membership of the MVS of SA, and his duties include gravimetric sampling filter assessments, auditing, site assessments and drawing preparation. We are in a position to undertake stack isokinetic sampling and stack emission chemical analysis.

Our laboratory assistant is Suzanne Booysen.

Resources

Dust Monitoring Equipment – DustWatch CC specialises in Fallout Dust Monitoring and Fallout Dust Monitoring Services in South Africa and other countries.

Expansion Policy

Being service providers to the mining and industrial process industries, DustWatch CC is committed to providing an efficient service to local and remote clients, while remaining abreast of current trends.

Our research and innovation programme strives to retain a position at the forefront of environmental problem solution.

Our site agents within South Africa enjoy a unique working environment with flexible hours.

DustWatch cc specialises in Fallout Dust Monitoring and Fallout Dust Monitoring Services in South Africa and other countries. Fallout Dust Monitoring Equipment. Dust Monitoring Equipment – Supply and Services of Dust Monitoring Equipment. Dust Buckets. Dust monitoring training courses. Dust Watch.

DustWatch - Model ASTM D1739 -Unit Type E