How is benzene exposure measured?

With personal samplers worn in the breathing zone for the shift, analysed by an accredited laboratory, and compared with the occupational exposure limit. Short-term samples are added for tasks such as tank opening and sampling.

Do plastics converters need chemical monitoring?

Often, yes. Heating plastics can release fume, and some additives and cleaning solvents are hazardous chemical agents. The chemical risk assessment decides whether air monitoring is needed.

Who monitors contractors during a shutdown?

Each contractor is responsible for its own employees' exposure. Planning monitoring before the shutdown means the high-risk tasks are covered while they happen.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE IN SASOLBURG

Sasolburg is the Free State's chemical town: a large chemicals and polymers complex, a crude oil refinery, gas and fertiliser producers, and the contractors and engineering firms that service them.

Qualitas carries out occupational hygiene surveys for these employers: hazardous chemical agent monitoring including solvents and benzene, noise surveys, heat stress surveys and LEV tests, including during shutdowns.

REACH OUT

Worker cutting steel with an angle grinder as sparks fly

WHERE WE WORK AROUND SASOLBURG

Sasolburg

Vaal Park

Zamdela

Deneysville

Parys

Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging (see their own page)

Chemical and polymer manufacturing: solvents, monomers, ammonia, chlorine and acid vapours, and the extraction systems that control them.

Refining and fuel handling: benzene, hydrogen sulphide and hydrocarbon vapours, especially during tank cleaning and maintenance.

Shutdown and maintenance contractors: welding fume, insulation and refractory dust, noise and heat.

Plastics converters and packaging manufacturers: noise, heat from moulding machines and fume from heated plastics.

Engineering and fabrication workshops in Sasolburg and Vaal Park.

THE HAZARDS WE MEASURE HERE

Benzene, toluene and other solvents, ammonia and chlorine, hydrogen sulphide, welding fume, respirable dust from insulation and refractory, noise from compressors, furnaces and steam venting, and heat near hot plant.

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.