Is carbon dioxide in a wine cellar a hygiene issue?

Yes. Fermentation releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, which collects in tanks, pits and low areas. It is a hazardous chemical agent and an asphyxiant, so cellar work needs a risk assessment and often monitoring.

Do bottling lines need a noise survey?

Usually. Bottling, labelling and canning lines often run above 85 dB(A), which triggers noise zoning, hearing protection and monitoring under the Noise Exposure Regulations, 2024.

Do farm workers spraying pesticides need a chemical risk assessment?

Yes. Pesticides are hazardous chemical agents. The assessment covers mixing, spraying, re-entry and storage, and the protective equipment provided.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE IN PAARL AND WELLINGTON

Paarl and Wellington are at the heart of the Cape Winelands' food and drink industry: wineries and distilleries, fruit and juice processing, canning, packaging and the industrial area of Dal Josafat.

Qualitas carries out occupational hygiene surveys for these employers: noise surveys, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide monitoring, cold stress surveys, chemical risk assessments and ergonomics assessments.

REACH OUT

Worker cutting steel with an angle grinder as sparks fly

WHERE WE WORK AROUND PAARL

Paarl

Dal Josafat

Wellington

Franschhoek

Stellenbosch

Klapmuts

Wineries, distilleries and cellars: carbon dioxide from fermentation in tanks and confined spaces, sulphur dioxide, and cleaning chemicals.

Fruit, juice and canning plants: noise from lines, cold stores, ammonia refrigeration and repetitive work.

Packaging, glass and paper converters: noise, dust and heat.

Farms and packhouses: pesticides, manual handling and heat.

Manufacturing and engineering in Dal Josafat: welding fume, solvents and LEV.

THE HAZARDS WE MEASURE HERE

Carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide in cellars, cold in packhouses and stores, noise on bottling and canning lines, pesticides and cleaning chemicals, and repetitive packing work.

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.