Do solar plant workers need a heat stress survey?

Yes. Outdoor maintenance on solar fields in Northern Cape summers creates real heat stress risk. The Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 require heat to be assessed where it may affect employees.

Is sulphur dioxide in raisin processing a hazardous chemical agent?

Yes. Sulphuring dried fruit releases sulphur dioxide, a respiratory irritant with a low exposure limit. A chemical risk assessment and monitoring show whether controls are adequate.

Do packhouses need occupational hygiene assessments?

Usually a noise survey, a cold stress survey for stores, a chemical risk assessment for pesticides and fungicides, and an ergonomics assessment for packing lines.

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE IN UPINGTON

Upington is the Northern Cape's solar capital, surrounded by concentrated solar power and photovoltaic parks, and the centre of the Orange River's table grape, raisin and date farming.

Qualitas carries out occupational hygiene surveys for these employers: heat stress surveys, noise surveys, chemical assessments for sulphur dioxide and pesticides, and dust monitoring.

REACH OUT

Worker cutting steel with an angle grinder as sparks fly

WHERE WE WORK AROUND UPINGTON

Upington

Keimoes

Kakamas

Groblershoop

Kenhardt

Augrabies

Solar power plants and their construction and maintenance contractors: extreme heat, welding fume, dust and work at height.

Raisin and dried fruit processing: sulphur dioxide from sulphuring, noise, dust and repetitive packing.

Table grape, date and fruit farms and packhouses along the Orange River: pesticides, heat and cold stores.

Transport, logistics and engineering services in Upington.

THE HAZARDS WE MEASURE HERE

Heat, with summer temperatures often above 40 °C; sulphur dioxide in fruit processing; pesticides; dust; noise in processing plants; and cold in fruit stores.

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.