14 Ways an IOH Solutions Occupational Hygienist Can Help Your Business
As an employer, you are required by law to ensure the reasonable safety and wellbeing of your employees. To meet the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993 and ISO/IEC 17020:2012, an employer needs to reasonably anticipate, recognise, evaluate, communicate, and control environmental stressors that are present in the workplace and may result in the impairment, injury, or illness, or impact the wellbeing of an employee or a member of the community. For this, you’ll need the services of an occupational hygienist.
Workplace Stressors
These are divided into categories, such as:
- Biological
- Chemical
- Physical
- Ergonomic
- Psychosocial
IOH Solutions has an occupational hygienist available to assist employers with various services across these categories. This includes the design, development, and maintenance of health and safety systems, as well as the analysis, documentation, communication, and regulatory compliance needs associated with these systems.
How This Service Can Help Your Business
There are a number of ways in which this service can enhance your safety and benefit your business. Inspections can include:
- Asbestos identification: We can assist you with an asbestos risk assessment to determine the risk associated with exposures, as well as the development of a work plan.
- Chemical compatibility: We focus on the handling of reactive materials and the prevention of reactive interactions, as well as data and safeguards needed to control these hazards.
- Hazardous biological sampling: This includes identifying biological hazards in hospitals, food processing and preparation plants, farming, and more.
- Hazardous chemical substances: An occupational hygienist will help you to identify harmful chemicals that your employees may be exposed to through inhalation.
- Health risk assessments: This is to identify and mitigate any potential risks in your workplace and should be done every two years.
- Illumination: All workplaces should be illuminated in accordance with the minimum illuminance values laid out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993.
- Indoor air quality: This is to ensure that the quality of air is acceptable relating to health and comfort of occupants.
- Noise monitoring: A hygienist will conduct occupational noise surveys in terms of the Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Regulation.
- Office ergonomics: We will conduct an assessment to ensure that tool and workstation design minimises the need for unnecessary physical strain that could lead to injuries.
- Thermal stress: Surveys are conducted by hygienists to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements relating to the temperatures employees are exposed to in the workplace.
- Ventilation: This is to determine compliance to ventilation requirements as stipulated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act No. 85 of 1993.
- Vibration (WBV and HAV): This is to manage the effects of both hand-arm and whole-body vibration to avoid injury or harm.
- Water sampling: We will determine whether the quality of potable water meets government regulations.
- Legionella water sampling: It is essential to sample cooling water systems at least once per year to see if the growth of the Legionella bacteria is inhibited.
Make sure that the health and safety of your employees are taken care of, and that your business meets the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. To book the services of a qualified and experienced occupational hygienist, contact IOH Solutions.