Does an abattoir need a hazardous biological agents risk assessment?

Yes. Workers handle animals, blood and tissue that can carry zoonotic infections, so the Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents, 2022 require the risk to be assessed and reviewed at least every two years.

Do deboning rooms need a cold stress survey?

Where staff work long periods in chilled rooms, yes. The Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 cover cold, and the survey looks at temperature, air movement, time worked and clothing.

What ergonomics risks are typical in meat processing?

Repetitive knife cuts, awkward reaches on the line and lifting carcass portions. The Ergonomics Regulations, 2019 require these to be assessed and reduced.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE FOR ABATTOIRS AND MEAT PROCESSING

Abattoir and meat processing workers handle live animals and carcasses that can carry zoonotic diseases, work long shifts in chillers and deboning rooms, use powered saws and knives all day, and wash down with strong chemicals.

Qualitas carries out the occupational hygiene assessments red meat and poultry abattoirs and meat processors need: hazardous biological agent risk assessments, cold stress surveys, noise surveys, chemical monitoring and ergonomics assessments.

REACH OUT

Worker cutting steel with an angle grinder as sparks fly

WHERE WE WORK

Red meat abattoirs

Poultry abattoirs and processing plants

Game and ostrich abattoirs

Deboning and meat cutting plants

Meat processors and cold stores

Feedlots with slaughter facilities

The Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents, 2022 require employers whose workers handle animals or animal products to assess the risk of zoonotic infection and review the assessment at least every two years.

The Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 cover cold in chillers, freezers and deboning rooms. The Noise Exposure Regulations, 2024 apply to stunning, saws, conveyors and compressors.

The Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents, 2021 cover ammonia refrigeration and chlorine-based and caustic cleaning chemicals, and the Ergonomics Regulations, 2019 cover repetitive knife work and lifting.

THE HAZARDS WE MEASURE IN ABATTOIRS

Zoonotic agents such as those causing Q fever, brucellosis and anthrax, from contact with animals, blood, tissue and aerosols.

Cold in chillers, freezers and deboning halls.

Noise from saws, stunning, conveyors and refrigeration plant.

Ammonia from refrigeration systems.

Cleaning and sanitising chemicals during wash-down.

Repetitive knife work, carcass handling and lifting.

Interior of a large industrial warehouse with overhead cranes

WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES

Foundry workers in protective gear pouring molten metal

WHY QUALITAS

Qualitas Occupational Consulting is a Department of Employment and Labour Approved Inspection Authority (AIA) and a SANAS-accredited (ISO/IEC 17020) inspection body for asbestos, lead, noise and hazardous chemical agents, and applies the same quality system to all its assessments. Biological agent, cold stress and ergonomics assessments are outside our AIA scope but follow the same quality system.

Every assessment is led by Christo de Wet, an occupational hygienist registered with the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH), with 15 years of experience.

We work nationwide, and Qualitas has also carried out assessments in Botswana and Kazakhstan. Travel is quoted upfront.

You receive a professional, audit-ready report that stands up to inspection by the Department of Employment and Labour.