How often must a foundry's silica exposure be monitored?

The Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents, 2021 link the monitoring interval to the risk, and Qualitas sets the interval in the report. Where exposure is well above the action level, monitoring is usually repeated within a year. Respirable crystalline silica has one of the lowest exposure limits of any dust.

Is heat stress near furnaces covered by the regulations?

Yes. The Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 require heat to be assessed where it may affect employees. Heat stress is outside Qualitas's AIA scope, but surveys follow the same quality system.

Our welding bay has extraction. Does it still need testing?

Yes. Extraction that controls a hazardous chemical agent must be examined and tested at least every 24 months, and a fan that runs is not proof that it captures the fume.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE IN EKURHULENI

Ekurhuleni is South Africa's densest belt of foundries, metalworks and engineering firms, with logistics growing around OR Tambo International Airport.

Qualitas carries out occupational hygiene surveys for employers from Germiston and Alberton to Kempton Park, Boksburg and Benoni: welding fume and foundry dust monitoring, noise surveys, LEV tests and heat stress assessments.

REACH OUT

Worker cutting steel with an angle grinder as sparks fly

WHERE WE WORK IN EKURHULENI

Germiston and Wadeville

Alberton and Alrode

Boksburg and Benoni

Kempton Park, Isando and Spartan

Edenvale

Springs and Nigel

Foundries and metal casting in Wadeville, Germiston and Benoni: respirable crystalline silica from moulding sand, metal fume, heat near furnaces and very high noise in fettling shops.

Engineering, steel fabrication and galvanising in Alrode, Boksburg and Elandsfontein: welding fume, zinc and acid fume, grinding dust and noise.

Chemical manufacturing and blending in Chloorkop and Germiston: solvent vapours, acids and alkalis, and the LEV that controls them.

Airport logistics and cargo in Isando, Spartan and Jet Park: noise, diesel exhaust and manual handling.

THE HAZARDS WE MEASURE HERE

Silica in foundry sand, metal fume from welding, cutting and melting, heat from furnaces and ladles, impulse and continuous noise from fettling and presses, and vibration from grinders and chipping hammers.

Interior of a large industrial warehouse with overhead cranes

INDUSTRIES WE SERVE

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.

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.