Occupational & Hygiene Audits

With the Act specifying that "significant risks" be monitored after assessment, we note that the concept is fine if one can define "significant risk".

The new, or at least the latest revision to the draft regulations has now defined this "significant risk" as an eight-hour basis exposure of 82 dBA.

The value has been derived on the basis that the exposure of any person to this level will reflect about a 10% value of the limit of 85 dBA.

Arguments along the above lines only serve to accentuate the necessity of ensuring that exposed persons wear hearing protection devices (HPD`s) and that this be enforced using the disciplinary code route if necessary.

The difficulty of reflecting noise exposure values on medical records could also pose several logistical problems. Dosimetry appears to be favoured by some inspectors but we point out that dosimeters are not manufactured to the required class 1 noise instrument accuracy. This has proved a necessity and thus some sort of workstation assessments are likely to be favoured in the future.

For more information see our Noise assessment sections

Gravimetric Dust Sampling

As with noise, a "significant risk" level of 10% of the dust or pollutant present has now been specified.

Illumination

The draft regulations have a published list of required illuminance values, which is welcomed as various recommendations including the Occupational Health and Safety Act list have been applied. Many of these lists differ from one another, leading to confusion.

While we measure illuminance levels and indicate these we point out that averaging should be applied in general. We also consider factors like the actual activity illumination and not the general area, which the lists ignore at their peril.

The actual illuminance requirements differ from person to person and also with age. This means that any assessment should be task related and not just a blind interpretation of values shown on a list.

For more information see how we "shed a little light on the subject"

Ergonomics

The department of Minerals and Energy have placed a greater emphasis on ergonomics in recent years and while one has to make do with existing ergonomics on old equipment, adjustments can do wonders.

Heat & Thermal Stress

The draft regulations have now established criteria for heat stress in both confined or underground areas as well as in open exposed pits and quarries. In addition, emphasis has now also been made on requirements for chill factors and cold condition exposures.

HIV/Aids

While this has been defined conveniently as a "health" issue and thus not an occupational risk, a recent litigation case resulted in a substantial pay our to a worker who was infected rendering assistance to an HIV infected co-worker.

With this precedent now set, on the job infection or cross-infection has effectively become an occupational risk leading to potential damage claims. We have now added an HIV/Aids section to all our reports.

Air Quality for divers and other relevant persons

This describes the requirements and safety precautions that should be adhered to when supplying air for divers and for sandblasting personnel.