We service equipment for the mines in our own Rustenburg workshop. Which law applies?

Your workshop falls under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and you are responsible for assessing noise, welding fume, solvents and other exposures there. Work on the mine itself falls under the Mine Health and Safety Act.

Is chrome ore dust a hazardous chemical agent?

Yes. Chromite dust and the respirable dust and silica that come with it are hazardous chemical agents, and the risk assessment decides how often personal monitoring is needed.

How often does a workshop need a noise survey?

The Noise Exposure Regulations, 2024 require the noise risk assessment to be reviewed at least every two years, or sooner if processes or equipment change.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE IN RUSTENBURG AND BRITS

Rustenburg sits on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex, home to most of the world's platinum production and much of its chrome. Around the mines and smelters is a large base of contractors, engineering works and manufacturers, with an industrial cluster at Brits.

Qualitas carries out occupational hygiene surveys for these employers: noise surveys, dust and chemical monitoring, LEV tests and heat stress surveys.

REACH OUT

Worker cutting steel with an angle grinder as sparks fly

WHERE WE WORK AROUND RUSTENBURG

Rustenburg

Brits

Mogwase

Marikana

Mooinooi

Hartbeespoort

Platinum and chrome mines. Qualitas carries out occupational hygiene assessments on mines under the Mine Health and Safety Act (29 of 1996), and can hold the section 12(1) occupational hygiene appointment for surface operations.

Mining contractors and suppliers: engineering, rebuild and maintenance workshops with welding fume, grinding dust, noise and solvents.

Manufacturing in Brits and Rustenburg's industrial areas: automotive components, metal products and agricultural equipment.

Transport, haulage and plant hire: noise, diesel exhaust and whole-body vibration.

Agriculture and food processing in the Brits and Hartbeespoort area.

THE HAZARDS WE MEASURE HERE

Respirable crystalline silica and chrome ore dust, welding and cutting fume, solvents in workshops, noise above 85 dB(A), diesel exhaust, and heat in Bushveld summers.

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.