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Introduction South Africa is putting the final touches in place for hosting one of the largest sports tournaments in the world, the 2010 FIFA World Cup from 11 June to 11 July 2010. The official matches will take place in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria and Rustenburg. The National Institute […]

Government Notice 66 in Government Gazette 32930 of 5 February 2010 In June 2008, the Department of Labour, amended the Occupational Exposure Control Limit for Silica in from 0,4mg/m3 to 0,1mg/m3 and required all industries handling, manufacturing and producing products that could cause exposure to silica dust to submit bi-annual reports indicating:   Level of

Silicosis is an incurable respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of dust containing crystalline silica. The disease is common and serious in the South African mining industry, particularly in gold and coal mining. In addition, the risk of tuberculosis is increased among people exposed to silica dust as well as among those with silicosis. In

Risk assessments are the foundation on which the control of occupational health and safety risks are based. It is therefore essential that all occupational health and safety (OHS) practitioners should be proficient in this technique.     Free State Occupational Health Co-ordinators   A one-day training course in OH&S risk assessment techniques has been presented

The National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) hosted the first in a series of 3 courses on Asbestos. Module 1, entitled Understanding Asbestos, was held on Thursday October 15 2009. The course was developed and presented by 2 experts from Occupational Hygiene Division at the NIOH: Mr. Adriaan Greyling and Mr. Gabriel Mizan. Adriaan Greyling

The National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), a WHO Collaborating Centre (CC) in Occupational Health (OH), hosted the international course WHO Modules in Occupational Health: risk assessment and management of chemical and other exposures in agricultural, industrial and health sectors, from 28 September to 2 October 2009. The course was designed to contribute to the

A fun filled learning experience for the 32 University of Johannesburg students who recently came to the NIOH for practical occupational hygiene training which formed part of their curriculum.   The Occupational Hygiene section of the NIOH hosts students once a year for 2 days as part of their curriculum. Sixteen students were hosted on

Both the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) and the Department of Labour (DoL) have committed to the International Programme for the Elimination of Silicosis.   The Occupational Hygiene Section of the NIOH can now offer direct-on-filter (DOF) analysis of respirable crystalline silica by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) or X-ray diffraction (XRD) using the latest

Often clients want to have their facilities "tested" for "bad indoor air quality". However, testing the air is usually not the best first step that a responsible occupational hygienist should take. A great deal of thought should be given to the problem before testing the air.   First, Identify the Problem If you don’t really

Construction and renovation projects can release contaminants such as dust, gases, organic vapours, odours and microbiological agents into the air.   Often these projects are carried out while the buildings or nearby premises are occupied and it is important to maintain an acceptable indoor environmental quality to protect the health of these occupants. 1. Initial