Training Catalogue
WWISE

    OH S

    Occupational Health and Safety Testing

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    Occupational Health and Risk Assessment

    Occupational Health and Risk Assessment:

    This is an evaluation of anything that might cause harm in a work environment. It is designed to evaluate whether precautions have been taken to prevent occupational illnesses. It is a legal requirement.

    Laboratory services

    Occupational Hygiene Audits:

    This is where occupational hygiene and its systems and practices are critically analysed. These systems need to be managed systematically and follow an occupational health management system.

    Occupational Hygiene Surveys

    Occupational Hygiene Surveys:

    This is simply a walking tour of the workplace, also known as a walk-through. During a walk-through, the occupational hygienist will ask:

    1. Are measurements needed in this area?
    2. If so, what hazards should be measured?
    3. Where should hazards be taken?
    4. Which workers should have their exposure assessed?
    5. When should the measurements be made?
    6. What conclusions might be drawn from the results?
    Occupational Hygiene Testing

    Occupational Hygiene Testing:

    This includes vibration, noise, thermal stress, ventilation, air quality, and illumination testing using the specific and relevant measuring equipment.

    Occupational Hygiene Survey is done in a 7-phase approach.

    1. Request for a quotation – provide information i.e., size of organisation, scope, hazards and risks.
    2. Accept quotation and pay a 50% deposit.
    3. WWISE comes to the premises and sets up the monitoring devices.
    4. Records the results.
    5. Develop a detailed report with recommendations based on the results.
    6. Second invoice for the outstanding amount.
    7. Project completed.

    Site safety inspections are formalised and documented procedures that are often carried out by a health and safety specialist to identify potential risks, hazards and to assess the level of compliance to legislative requirements. These workplace inspections frequently involve a checklist that helps inspectors carefully evaluate each area or potential hazard, as well as identify specific instances that may cause safety issues. A health and safety inspection program is a hands-on leading indicator and forms part of building a good health and safety culture. They are a critical part of any Health and Safety Management System.

    BENEFITS OF SITE SAFETY INSPECTIONS:

    Site safety inspections have shown a decrease in the number of incidents and accidents which benefits employers. WWISE recommends that you are proactive with safety rather than reactive and waiting for an accident to happen.

    The following are some of the benefits of Site Safety Inspections:

    • To evaluate your organisations current level of compliance with the legislative requirements.
    • An increase in employee satisfaction - as regular safety checks give employees an increased sense of safety.
    • Organisations can save money - when assessing the condition of equipment, inspectors can point out when something needs repairs, even if it is only minor ones. Some equipment might be in use for a longer period until the damage is noticed, which may result in higher costs for repairs.
    • Frequent inspections create a high-performance safety culture across the workplace.
    • To verify that your procedures are complying with organisational policies and regulations.
    • To determine if you are documenting your Health and Safety program activities properly.
    • You can evaluate the adequacy of your employees’, as well as your supervisors' safety performance and training.

    HOW FREQUENTLY MUST A SITE SAFETY INSPECTION BE CONDUCTED?

    The purpose of a Site Safety Inspection is to keep the workplace free from hazards. A schedule should state when to inspect each area or item within the workplace, who carries out the inspection and what degree of detail to inspect each area of the item. It is recommended that a Site Safety Inspection is done by an external inspector at least annually.

    The frequency is usually determined by the following:

    • Past incident records;
    • The number and size of different work operations;
    • the type of equipment and work processes - those that are potentially hazardous;
    • New processes implemented or new machinery; and
    • Legislative requirements.

    HOW CAN WWISE ASSIST YOU?

    We at WWISE can assist.

    Our proposals vary from client to client as they are site-specific proposals. We will conduct a site inspection based on the legislative requirements and issue a SAIOSH certificate for compliant organisations.

    WWISE can act as an independent inspector and conduct inspections on your organisation’s behalf. We also assist with the implementation of a Health and Safety Management system, as well as the maintenance thereof.

    Certificate

    Sample of Certificate

    Orange Img

    Analytical Services:

    The analytical services provided surround occupational hygiene, clinical laboratory testing and biological monitoring. Additionally, these services contribute to research and health hazard evaluations.

    Asbestos information, identification, counting, monitoring and evaluation:

    The Asbestos Regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 require asbestos and asbestos-containing products and materials to be carefully monitored.

    Bioaerosol monitoring:

    This unit specialises in hazardous biological agents (HBAs) in the workplace detecting and identifying hazardous biological agents (HBAs) such as latex, spices, flour dusts, endotoxins, and TB. This monitoring greatly contributes to the identification of risks.

    Compensation services:

    These are reliable services for compensating mine workers for disease suffered while employed in mines. It spans the entire compensation process from registration and examination to certification and payment.

    Electron Microscopy Service:

    This service uses a transmission and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The main intention behind using this microscope is to identify asbestos and asbestos-related diseases. After this analysis and subsequent data analysis, the compensation process begins.

    Epidemiology Surveillance:

    This involves conducting research, monitoring trends in occupational health, identifying occupational health problems and teaching Occupational Epidemiology. This also includes advisory services and the use of open software in database development.

    Ergonomics:

    This unit conducts ergonomic related research about the risk factors associated with the development of musculoskeletal disorders. This is an illness that:

    • Constitutes the aggravation of ligaments, bones, blood vessels, joints, nerves, intervertebral disks, tendons, and muscles.
    • Can cause disorders of the upper shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand.
    • Results in pain, numbness and tingling in specific areas

    These are work-related injuries.

    Genotoxicity:

    This unit is able to screen compounds such as chemicals and nanomaterial. Genotoxic tests are designed to establish how and if compounds can affect genetic material (DNA).

    Health Risk Assessment:

    The Toxicology Section has the capacity to perform toxicological reviews. Another name for this is a risk assessment. It identifies and measures the potential exposure to harmful agents.

    Information services:

    This is a support system for the research, teaching and training activities of an organisation. It collects, accesses, and disseminates information.

    Lung autopsy examination services:

    The Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act (Act 78 of 1973) allows for the examination of cardio-respiratory organs of deceased miners regardless of the clinical cause of death.

    Nano and Microparticle Toxicity Unit:

    This unit assesses hazards and exposure to engineered and incidental nano and microparticles using tailored techniques and specialised equipment for cytotoxicity testing.

    Occupational Allergy Unit:

    Allergies in the workplace are not uncommon and are a growing concern. In South Africa workplace agents are assigned to help link workers’ symptoms to substances found in the workplace. Some of the tests performed to identify and assess allergies include:

    • Skin prick tests.
    • Determining Aeroallergens.
    • Blood tests.
    • Commercial occupational allergens.
    • Preparation of workplace samples.
    • The accessibility of an occupational skin disease clinic.

    Respirator fit testing:

    Respirators are readily used to prevent work-related illnesses such as TB. They are used as a means of exposure or infection control. It is often the primary or only means of protection where resources are strained.

    Toxicogenomic Unit:

    This unit deals with the collection and analysis of data when it comes to gene protein activity. The studying of this activity within a particular cell, tissue or organism is to determine how it will react to exposure to toxic substances.

    Waterborne pathogens:

    This unit focusses on understanding the nature of waterborne pathogens and aims to increase the understanding of how they operate and behave.

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