1. EHS Newsletter
August 2016
WE PROVIDE A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT SERVICES
TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS
THAT INCLUDE:
• EHS Risk Assessments
• Occupational Hygiene
Surveys
• Ergonomics Surveys
• EHS Management
System development
and implementation
• Environmental
Monitoring
• Identification of EHS
Legal Requirements
and Compliance
Audits
• Internal Auditor
Training
• General EHS Training
Newsletter compiled by
Lee Rands
HW592A1000508
OH0049
Safetrain cc t/a Safetech is a SANAS Accredited Inspection Body, Nr. OH 0049. Refer to www.sanas.co.za for Directory Accredited Facilities, Inspection Bodies for
schedule of accreditation.
DoL Approved Inspection
Authority (OH0049-CI-09)
AUGUST
29th Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations
SEPTEMBER
7th ISO 14001:2015 Overview
8th Fire Prevention
13th & 14th HIRA *
20th Introduction to Environmental Legislation
21st & 22nd Incident Investigation **
26th Contractor Management
27th Introduction to OHS Act
28th & 29th Advanced OHS Act
* HWSETA Accredited
** Unit Standard Aligned
Non-Prescription/Prescription Safety Glasses
Although they may look like normal dress eyewear, they are designed to
provide significantly more eye protection. They provide eye protection for
general working conditions, i.e. dust, chips or flying particles. Side shields
and wraparound-style safety glasses can provide additional side
protection.
Goggles
Provide protection from impact, dust and chemical splashes and are highly
impact-resistant. They provide a secure shield around the entire eye and
protect against hazards coming from any direction. Goggles can be worn
over prescription glasses and contact lenses.
Many people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented
with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection. Losses not only include physical injuries,
but also lost production time, medical expenses and worker compensation.
Eye & face protection must be provided whenever necessary to protect against the following hazards
 Chemical  Environmental  Radiological  Mechanical Irritants
Face-Shields/Helmets
Full face shields protect workers exposed to chemicals, heat or blood-borne pathogens. Helmets are used
for welding or working with molten materials. Face shields and helmets should not be the only protective
eyewear but can be used in conjunction with safety glasses or goggles, so the eyes are protected when
the shield is lifted.
Special Protection
Helmets or goggles with special filters to protect the eyes from optical radiation exposure should be used
for welding or working with lasers.
Particle or Foreign Material
Don't rub the eye. Pull the upper lid down and blink repeatedly. If particle is still there, rinse with eyewash.
If rinsing does not help, close eye, bandage lightly and seek medical attention.
Cut or Puncture
DO NOT wash or touch your eye or lift the upper lid of your eye. Seek immediate medical help, even if it
seems minor.
Chemical Exposure
Don’t rub the eye. Flush the eye with plenty of clean water. Don’t bandage the eye. Get
medical help.
A Blow to the Eye
Use a cold compress, but don’t apply pressure. If there is bruising, bleeding, change in
vision or pain when the eye moves, consult a Doctor immediately.
FIRST AID FOR EYES
Port Elizabeth
Public Courses
www.safetech.co.za
http://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries

2. Southern Office:
PO Box 27607
Greenacres
Port Elizabeth
6057
Tel: +27 (0)41 365 6846
Fax: +27 (0)41 365 2123
info@safetech.co.za
Northern Office:
PO Box 80171
Doornpoort
Pretoria
0017
Tel: +27 (0)82 4111 571
Fax: +27 (0)86 6579 864
carlita.westoby@safetech.co.za
HW592A1000508
OH0049
Refer to
www.sanas.co.za
for Schedule of
Accreditation
EHS Newsletter
August 2016
DoL Approved Inspection
Authority (OH0049-CI-09)
Ammonia is a colourless gas with a sharp, pungent odour. It can be manufactured but is also produced
naturally by bacteria, decaying plants and animals, and animal waste. In its natural form, ammonia is
found in water, soil and air, and is a source of nitrogen for plants and animals. It is commonly sold in
liquid form and is a corrosive chemical.
AMMONIA
 primary use = fertlizer
 synthetic fibres
 textiles, pulp
& paper
 pesticides
 explosives
 smelling salts
 cleaning products
 rocket fuel & fuel cells
 chemicals manufacture
 metal treating
 chlorine water treatment
 rubber industry
 petroleum industry
 control of fungal growth in fruit during warehousing
 refrigerant in industrial facilities
 dairy & ice cream plants
 wineries & breweries
 juice & soft drink processing facilities
 cold storage warehouses
Safetech's PE staff visited
the Zanethemba Charity
Foundation in July. We
spent time fixing some
things around the home
that needed repairs... A
bonus was getting to
spend a little time with
the kids too.
 Exposure to extremely high levels can
cause death, coma, blindness, lung
damage, collapse and seizures.
 Exposure to high levels can burn the
eyes, skin, throat and lungs.
 Breathing high concentrations can
cause fluid in the lungs to build up
and possible lung damage.
 Breathing lower concentrations can
cause coughing, wheezing, shortness
of breath, laryngitis, headaches,
fever, nausea, vomiting, pink frothy
phlegm, chest pain, asthma, rapid
pulse and increased blood pressure.
 Swallowing the chemical can burn
your mouth, throat, and stomach and
cause severe abdominal pain.
 Skin contact with concentrated
ammonia can cause blisters, severe
burns or dermatitis.
 Eye exposure may cause
conjunctivitis, corneal irritation or
damage and temporary or
permanent blindness.
Where is it used?
Anhydrous (without water) Ammonia
Is a low-cost, highly effective, nitrogen-based fertilizer but
is also used commercially in large freezing and
refrigeration plants. In its natural form, in the open air, it
is a gas, but for commercial and agricultural use, it is
compressed into a liquid and kept at low temperatures. It
can explode under the right conditions.
Ex-po-sure
NOUN the state of having no protection
from something harmful
http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/ammonia_general.htm
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-04/what-anhydrous-ammonia-chemical-found-site-west-texas-explosion
www.safetech.co.za
SIXTY SEVEN MINUTES
FOR MANDELA