OHS News Feeds

1. Interview with Mr. MW Mapeka

   

   TheOccupationalHygienist.com had an interviewed with Mr. MW Mapeka. Here is a summary of his professional profile and biography:

   Mr Mapeka worked for eight years in the occupational hygiene field at an Approved Inspection Authority (AIA) by definition of South African Legislation and other business sectors. He obtained a national diploma in Environmental/Occupational Health at the Tshwane University of Technology, Legal knowledge certificate and other certificates in Occupational Hygiene; Conducted surveys on illumination, noise, ventilation/Indoor air quality, hazardous chemical substances.

    

   Services rendered to companies that range from small to medium enterprises and larger companies; typically these are from the fields of mining (e.g., coal and many others) and industry (smelters, vanadium products). His role has always been to advise the employers/clients to develop, implement occupational hygiene programmes aimed at protecting the health and safety of employees in the workplace as well as ensuring compliance with legislation. He is registered as an Occupational Hygiene Technologist with the South Africa Occupational Hygiene Association (SAIOH) which is recognized by the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA).

2. Interview with Mr. MG Kubheka

   

   TheOccupationalHygienist.com had an interview with Mr. MG Kubheka as one of the experts in the field of Occupational Hygiene. Mr. MG Kubheka has aB.Sc. in Human Physiology with 5 years of experience in the field of Occupational Hygiene. He iscurrently registered with the South African Institute for Occupational Hygiene(SAIOH) as an Occupational Hygiene Technologist and He is a member of the Illumination Engineering Society of South Africa (IESSA) and he is also registered with The Physiology Society of South Africa (PSSA) and the Public Health Society of South Africa (PHASA).

    

3. Ethics in Occupational Hygiene

   

   Ethics is associated with moral principles or values.  In the context of occupational hygiene, ethics means moral principles or values associated with the profession of anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of work related health hazards.

   The International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) is an organization that represents the global community of occupational hygienists.  It is an association of occupational hygiene organizations from across the world.  IOHA member organizations (like the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene in South Africa) have are dedicated to the discipline and application of the inherent principles of occupational hygiene.

4. Why elemental carbon (EC) in diesel particulate matter is an analyte choice in the NIOSH method 5040?

   Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is the term that is used to describe fine particles produced by exhaust from diesel engines. Diesel exhaust emissions can be in two phases, either gas or particulate where each contains both organic and inorganic components (EnviroMail #84: September 2014). The particulate phase of diesel exhaust includes clusters of respirable particles (i.e., particles small enough to  be inhaled into the lungs) that are composed mainly of carbon atoms. These respirable particles of carbon  are termed “diesel particulate matter” (DPM).

   Why do we measure DPM?

   The Handbook on Mine Occupational Hygiene Measurements clearly indicates that the primary purpose for measuring the workers exposure to DPM is to protect worker health by ensuring the level of exposure is as low as reasonably practicable. Measurements are also conducted to check the compliance with relevant Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) or standard.

   Health effects of DPM

   Sensory irritations and respiratory symptoms

   These involve irritation of the eyes, nose, and throats

   Immunologic effects (allergenic responses and asthma-like symptoms).

   Inappropriate change in the structure or function of the immune system.

   Premature death from cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, or respiratory causes

   Death that occurs before a person reaches an expected age such as 75.

   Lung cancer

   Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells which may start either from one lung or both lungs.

   Choice of analyte

   According to Chapter Q of the NIOSH Manual for Analytical Methods, where there is a mixture of compounds involved, as in this case of DPM, a surrogate must be identified to determine the toxicity. DPM is predominantly and typically 80% of carbon element usually contains 30% - 90% of this carbon. Organic carbon (OC) is not used to measure exposure because other sources of OC such as cigarette smoke and other combustion aerosols are common or often encountered in the workplaces. Elemental carbon was identified as the surrogate for DPM because it is a more selective measure of particulate DPM or more sensitive to DPM and usually contains 30% - 90% of this carbon. According to a position paper for DPM updated in July 2013 by the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Inc (AIOH), the irritant effect decreases markedly when workplace exposures are controlled below 0.1 mg/m3 DPM (as proposed elemental carbon).

5. The Occupational Hygiene Industry

   

   Occupational Hygienists work in various industries identifying, evaluating and controlling work related health hazards. Such hazards include excessive noise, exposure to chemicals, poor lifting of objects, exposure to excessive cold and heat, poor indoor air quality and ventilation, vibration, exposure to bullies and unreasonable job demands to mention a few.

   These health hazards are found in most workplaces and have a potential to cause harm to the health of workers. The job of Occupational Hygienists is to identify these hazards, evaluate the risk associated with them and come up with control measures that can prevent ill health on employees.

   To execute their tasks, Occupational Hygienists work closely with other professionals like Occupational Health Doctors, Occupational Health Nurses, Engineers, Safety Professionals, to name a few.

   Over the past seventeen years of working as an Occupational Hygiene Professional I have seen an increased awareness about the occupational hygiene profession. I have also seen the potential that the occupational hygiene profession has in contributing to the betterment of our society and in improving working conditions of employees.

   I have witnessed the contribution of occupational hygiene in developing sustainable businesses. In my own analysis the occupational hygiene profession provides a practical way for employers to show their commitment to sustainable businesses. This is critical in living the vision of the triple bottom line. By implementing occupational hygiene programs companies show their commitment to the safety and health of their employees and therefore, to the long term sustainability of their businesses. It is along these lines that I believe that occupational hygiene makes business sense!