We hope you received our September newsletter earlier today, which included information about the upcoming Saeed Awan memorial lecture.  Please mark your calendars for this event on October 26, 15:00 PM (South African Standard Time) we will send registration information closer to the date. 

We want to let you know about a few other things: 

• You can get access at no cost to a recorded webinar from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) on Global Occupational & Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) non-profit organizations, including a presentation by WHWB President Jennifer Galvin. This webinar will provide insight into the efforts of OEHS professionals in seven global organizations and their impact in mitigating OEHS and public health risks.   Register here, and AIHA will send you the webinar link. 
• OK International is sponsoring a letter calling for continued funding for  the Global Fund for The Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support (SATBHSS) Project.  Please consider signing it.   
  

A message from OK International says: 

" We have recently learned that funding previously earmarked by the Global Fund for The Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support (SATBHSS) Project to target Tuberculosis (TB) efforts among high-risk mining communities, is expected to lapse next year. This model program that has been in place since 2016 is unique in applying a regional approach to address TB and occupational lung disease among the most vulnerable including informal sector miners and their communities. See https://nepad.org/microsite/southern-africa-tuberculosis-and-health-systems-supportsatbhss
To draw attention to the need for continued funding and resources to target silica-exposed workers with the greatest prevalence of TB and silicosis, we have prepared this sign-on letter for your consideration."
 

The WHWB Health Care group will sponsor a new session of our Noise in the Workplace course starting October 4.  If you have not previously filled out our Expression of Interest form for this course, you can do so here. If there is room in the course, we will send more information to those who fill out the form. 

Regards,

WHWB Team

The International Labour Organization has been collaborating with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to develop a new brief on Eye health and the world of work, drawing attention to healthy vision as being integral to safety and productivity at work.

The report will be globally launched through a global hybrid event (ILO Live) on 5 September 2023 13:30 – 15:00 SAST (South African Standard Time). More information and the link to view will be available here. We will have some interesting speakers and case studies.

Please feel free to disseminate this information any interested parties to your networks.

Regards,

ILO Team

It has come to our attention that a number of members have publicly held opposing views with the SAIOH position, requiring an NQF8 as a prerequisite for application for certification as a Registered Occupational Hygienist.

The South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) is responsible for the recognition of professional bodies and registration of professional designations for the purposes of the NQF Act, No. 67 of 2008.   It is a core function of SAIOH to register professional designations in terms of Occupational Hygiene and SAIOH is subject to SAQA directives.  The issue at hand is that SAQA relegated the BTech from an NQF 8 to an NQF 7.  SAIOH was not consulted on this, and the decision was entirely out of SAIOH’s control.  It is not possible for SAIOH to reject the status that a BTech has been revised from an NQF 8 to an NQF 7 and still maintain SAQA registration. 

This SAQA decision does not impact on any existing registration levels and all existing levels of registration will continue to be recognised.  This decision only impacts on the progression to the higher registration level of ROH. SAIOH records indicate that potentially 30 Occupational Hygiene Technologists hold NQF 7 level B Tech qualifications, and it is these 30 members who are potentially impacted by the requirement for an NQF8 to become an ROH.  SAIOH supports that those dissatisfied members approach SAQA for a review of the BTech NQF8 / NQF7 position.  SAIOH confirms publicly in this statement that if SAQA do reverse this NQF8 / NQF7 position, SAIOH will automatically adopt the stance held by SAQA.

As part of maintaining SAIOH’s SAQA and IOHA National Accreditation Recognition registration, SAIOH has an ethics code.  All members annually sign this code to maintain professional registration.  Within the code it notes that we build up the profession by “Carrying out the practice of occupational hygiene according to the highest moral standards and principles”.  Our discussions need to reflect this, ensuring that our profession is not damaged, but rather made stronger through our engagement. 

We have outlined in this letter that it is not in our power to recognise a B Tech as an NQF 8, and we ask that If you have further queries on this or anything else related to this issue, put your query in writing and we will respond. 

Regards,

Hennie van der Westhuizen

SAIOH President 2022

The Occupational Health Southern Africa Journal, January - February 2022

Edition, is now available for download

The latest issue of OHSA Journal has been added to the Journal's website downloads page.

The link to this is as follows:

http://occhealth.co.za/?/journalSaioh

All PDF's have been password protected with the following case-sensitive password:

saioh2022

The Wits School of Public Health (WSPH) is one of the largest Schools of Public Health in South Africa, with an international reputation for its teaching programmes, high quality and relevant research, community outreach and policy engagement activities.

LECTURER / SENIOR LECTURER (OCCUPATIONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH)

Permanent post

Among various teaching programmes, the WSPH runs a successful MSc in Exposure Science and an MPH programme with several fields of specialization, including Exposure and Health. The School also has a large interdisciplinary doctoral programme grounded in public and population health with strong links to social, clinical and quantitative sciences. Doctoral training is a major thrust of the School which jointly leads the trans-continental Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA).

The School of Public Health seeks to appoint a talented and committed academic in the Occupational Health Division, with excellent skills and experience in occupational and environmental health, occupational hygiene, and/or environmental exposure assessment to teach postgraduate students, supervise their research, and play a key role in running and strengthening doctoral training. The successful candidate will work with the Occupational Health Division and the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme.

Requirements:

• A PhD in occupational hygiene, environmental health, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, industrial physiology or a related field of science;

• Ability to teach and supervise postgraduate students;

• Ability to mentor PhD students (including scientific writing support);

• Evidence of experience in teaching and/or post-graduate research supervision;

• Evidence of research experience and at least 5 peer-reviewed articles;

• Broad knowledge of public health challenges facing Africa;

• Interest in, and commitment to, building research capacity;

• Excellent communication (including writing) and interpersonal skills;

• Ability to work constructively in a team.

Responsibilities:

This is a dual position, both a teaching post in the Occupational Health Division and an academic coordination post in the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme. The roles include:

• Coordinating and teaching of occupational/environmental health and hygiene courses;

• Supervising postgraduate students in the field of occupational and environmental sciences and occupational hygiene;

• Coordinating the selection of doctoral students;

• Mentoring of doctoral students;

• Operationalizing strategies to improve doctoral throughput and enhance academic and professional development;

• Contributing to research funding applications to expand the School of Public Health research portfolio (including occupational health research);

• Actively participating in the academic endeavors of the School.

Please note that all shortlisted applicants will be required to present their vision for doctoral training and public health research at the Wits School of Public Health.

Remuneration

The remuneration package offered will depend on qualifications and experience and is subject to the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg regulations.

To apply:

Closing date: 20 October 2021

External applicants are invited to apply by registering their profiles and applying on the Wits i-recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za

Internal applicants may apply directly on Oracle Self-Service.

Please include the following:

• A covering letter of motivation

• Detailed CV with names and current e-mail addresses of three referees

• Certified copies of qualifications and South African ID (or passport/work permit if not South African)

The University is committed to employment equity. Preference will be given to appointable applicants from the designated South African groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment, to re-advertise and to verify all information provided by candidates. Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates.

The Exposure Science programme addresses the interaction between stressors and workers, residents, and consumers with a focus on understanding the exposure pathway to control exposures. The short courses provide knowledge enrichment and continuous professional development.  These can be used to build a ‘Personal Learning Portfolio’ as well as for recognition by professional bodies.

General information:

Certificate of attendance:

• Entry Level NQF 7:  Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Technology or similar qualification in an appropriate field
• Full week course  (40 hrs) with 100 total notional study hours (excluding examination); exit level NQF 8

Certificate of competence:

• Entry Level NQF 8: Bachelor of Health Sciences with Honours, or Bachelor of Science with Honours, or a four-year tertiary qualification in an appropriate field
• Full week course (40h) with total notional study hours of 150 hrs (examination included); exit level NQF 9

Learning outcomes: interrogate the basic principles, examine the various methods, evaluate and apply knowledge to specific scenarios

Learning methods:  lectures; individual and group exercises; multi-media exposure; practical activities.

Please click here for the brochure.

Course fees : attendance R 6000; competence R 6500

Course names with dates

• Fundamentals of risk assessment: 02 - 06 August 2021
• Exposure control 1: 06 - 10 September 2021

Facilitators: WSPH MSc Exposure Science staff, including visiting lecturers

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, our short courses will be offered on an online basis.

For applications, contact:

Mrs Nomonde Malahlela (short course administrator); Email: nomonde.malahlela@wits.ac.za Tel: +27 11 717 2543

Please use this link for more information.

Regards,

Wits Team (as brought to you by SAIOH)

Section 16(6) of the Disaster Management Act released on the 29th April 2020 prescribes the establishment of risk management protocols including the appointment of a Compliance Officer to develop and implement a (risk assessment) plan and adhere to the standards of hygiene and health protocols relating to COVID-19 at your workplace.

The need for a thorough Risk Management Plan is not only your legal responsibility but, more importantly, the key to the sustainability of your operations.

In the event of an employee testing positive at your business,  your operations will likely be suspended pending an investigation by the Department of Employment and Labour inspectorate. This has already occurred on several occasions across South Africa. This investigation will include and immediate audit of your Risk Assessment, broad COVID-19 testing of your workforce, contact tracing and disinfection. There is a strong possibility that, if your Risk Management Strategies are not robust, you could remain closed beyond the quarantine period (14 days). Then there could another case, and the cycle is repeated.

In developing your Risk Management Protocols, you should know the answers to these questions:

1. Have you Identified and Risk Ranked your operations, facilities and tasks?
2. Do you have Training, Risk Zoning, Contact Demarcation and Awareness Campaigns in place?
3. Have you got social distancing included in your work organisation?
4. Do your sanitisation and disinfection programme cover high-risk areas adequately?
5. Are your colleagues using the necessary precautions at work, on the way to work and at home?
6. Are their families and friends doing the same?
7. How well are the schools that your kids attending managing their Barrier Controls?
8. Are your Supply Chains taking the same (necessary) precautions?
9. What happens when you get a COVID-19 positive case at work?
10. How does keeping healthy protect your job, your company and your livelihood?

While we accept that that managing this epidemic is everyone's’ responsibility, as an employer, you have been given specific duties in containing the spread of the disease, and a SAIOH member can help you.  SAIOH Members are the recognised professionals in Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessments. They are trained and examined on their ability to conduct Risk Assessments and as such have already been integrated into the National Department of Health COVID-19 Response Framework, developing protocols for both Risk Assessment and Personal Protective Equipment. They have additionally been specifically targeted to undertake facility risk assessments for the Department of Health and have already completed several Risk Assessments at government facilities, including Quarantine Centres, COIDA Offices and Laboratories.

For information on how to access a SAIOH Risk Assessment specialist, please contact our Chief Administrator, Kate Smart at info@saioh.co.za.

However, before an Occupational Hygiene Practitioner may return to work either you as a registered company (AIA,etc) or your employer needs to apply for an essential services certificate from the CIPC (the Commissioner of Companies & Intellectual Property Commission), for essential services, in terms of Table 1, H 9 (as confirmed by the Department Employment and Labour).  Some important advice, please wait a couple of hours after sending in the application and then download it from their Website, as it will not be send automatically.

Once in receipt of the CIPC Certificate either you as employer, or your employer must issue the necessary travel permits (please use the exact format as gazetted). Any person that travels anywhere (for OH work), must carry a copy of the CIPC certificate as well as the travel permit (Click here for a draft travel permit).

SAIOH would like to thank fellow member Mr Bertie Strauss for making all his company documentation available to assist fellow members and businesses to comply with legislation for the return to work (as essential service providers).  If you would like copies of these documents please kindly contact Kate Smart info@saioh.co.za for assistance.

Good luck.

Regards,

The SAIOH Team 

The COVID-19 global pandemic is changing our habits and increasingly most of the countries and populations are facing such threat to our lives. ICOH is greatly involved in the initiatives at national and international level, working closely with WHO. One of the major implications is the impact on health professionals who are being affected by COVID-19 and several are losing their lives. Also, the SC on OH for Health Workers is actively contributing in the WHO initiatives.

We hope to get back to our lives soon, but the planning of future activities is becoming hard and everybody is reconsidering the operational schemes.

You might have noticed that many scientific events have been temporarily suspended across the globe due to the uncertainty that is surrounding our planet. Such unprecedented and unexpected happenings generate their effect also on our organisation. 

Therefore, following the formal request presented by the ICOH 2021 Organisers, the Board has decided to reschedule the next ICOH Congress to February 6-11, 2022.

This is an unprecedented resolution that had become inevitable considering the emergency we are facing in most countries and territories around the globe. The decision was made taking into account all the implications in terms of venue accessibility, budget, governance, and overall sustainability.

Furthermore, consequently to the postponement of the Congress, the Board took the following decisions:

1. Postpone the end of current tenure until the Congress in 2022
   Therefore, the current ICOH Officers and Board will remain in office until the ICOH 2022 Congress.
   For reasons of management optimization, such extension will be applied also for the mandate of the National Secretaries and Scientific Committees’ Chairs and Secretaries.
   
2. Postpone the election process for ICOH Officers and Board. The election process will be initiated by no later than 6 February 2021, i.e. twelve months before the date of the Congress, in compliance with ICOH Bye-Law 6, section 1.
   
   
3. Postpone the bidding process for ICOH 2027 in compliance with the ICOH rules. The process and deadlines for bid submission will be rescheduled to 2021 according to the timeline indicated in the Guidelines for ICOH Congress Organisation. 
   

Further information on the ICOH 2022 Congress will be published on the ICOH website as soon as they become available.

This emergency situation has raised awareness of the importance of shared solutions and practices. We will work towards a successful Congress and look forward to meeting you in Melbourne in 2022.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Dr. Jukka Takala
ICOH President

Regards,

The SAIOH Team 

If you have any technical difficulties for download, please email to toxneuro@kosha.or.kr oroverseas@kosha.or.kr.

Regards,

The SAIOH Team 

We kindly ask you to communicate and publicize the attached message to your colleagues and/or employees.

We are part of the solution to this pandemic, and can help save many lives and illnesses, including Health Care Workers

Rene Leblanc

IOHA President

Regards,

The SAIOH Team 

It is not always easy to spot fake news on Social Media, on WhatsApp messages and information from friends and family. Some of these sources may seem credible to us, making it even more confusing to spot.

Although we can't stop misinformation and disinformation, we can actively counter it by not sharing it and by verifying the source. For more information please click here

Spreading fake news on the COVID-19 Pandemic is a serious criminal offense. Verify information before you share.

Regards,

The SAIOH Team

Interesting topics on Covid-19 from Occupational Hygienists specialising in hospitals and Health Care.

16.04.2020 at 11pm (Occuparional Hygiene in Hospitals)

27.04.2020 at 6pm (Control banding for COVID-19)

Please check your local time at https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.htm

At the WHWB April 16 meeting, WHWB member Tom Fuller will speak about the COVID-19 crisis from the perspective of a Hospital Occupational Hygienist and share what he has learned from hygienists currently working in health care.  Tom is a Professor at Illinois State University and worked as a hospital industrial hygienist during the SARS epidemic.  He is a Board member of OHTA (Occupational Hygiene Training Association) and IOHA (International Occupational Hygiene Association) and a co-author of the AIHA Pandemic Guide. 

At the April 27 meeting, WHWB Board member David Zalk will speak about control banding in relation to the coronavirus.  Dave literally wrote the book on control banding.  We will send details closer to that meeting. 

Log-in details for the April 16 meeting are below.  If you plan to attend on April 16, please RSVP here. 

Log-in/phone in information

Workplace Health Without Borders is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: WHWB COVID-19 Teleconference
Time: Apr 16, 2020 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/637507501 

Meeting ID: 637 507 501

Dial by your location
        +1 778 907 2071 Canada
        +1 438 809 7799 Canada
        +1 587 328 1099 Canada
        +1 647 374 4685 Canada
        +1 647 558 0588 Canada
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US
        +1 301 715 8592 US
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +61 8 7150 1149 Australia
        +61 2 8015 6011 Australia
        +61 3 7018 2005 Australia
        +61 731 853 730 Australia
        +61 861 193 900 Australia
        +33 7 5678 4048 France
        +33 1 7037 2246 France
        +33 1 7037 9729 France
        +33 1 7095 0103 France
        +33 1 7095 0350 France
        +27 87 551 7702 South Africa
        +27 87 550 3946 South Africa
        +44 330 088 5830 United Kingdom
        +44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom
        +44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
        +44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom
        +44 208 080 6591 United Kingdom
        +44 208 080 6592 United Kingdom
        +32 2 788 0173 Belgium
        +32 1579 5132 Belgium
        +32 2 290 9360 Belgium
        +32 2 588 4188 Belgium
        +32 2 788 0172 Belgium
Meeting ID: 637 507 501
Find your local number:https://zoom.us/u/adKDI8uwcp

Regards,

The SAIOH Team 

Take a Free Ergonomics Self-Assessment of Your Home Office Today!

• Online Training: Learn how to maximize the comfort and productivity of your computer workspace.
• Ergonomics Assessment: Take a quick self-assessment to get instant feedback and recommendations on your home office setup. 
  

Please share the link with anyone who may benefit from this resource. We hope you stay safe and healthy.

Get Started 

Regards,

The SAIOH Team 

If you have staff working from home the below brochures can be sent to all of them to assist in their health and safety. We think the last thing we all need is to have an increase of risk to our employees. 

Please see attached brochures:

-  Eat Well

-  Fire Safety

- Good to Talk

- Medical Emergencies

- Personal Plan

- Sleep well

- Stretching

-  Your Comfort

Regards,

The SAIOH Team

Furthermore, we support the following measures to respond to the Covid-19 crisis:

1. All OH equipment should be  disinfected before being used, as well as after it is collected.
2. OH staff have to be trained to take the correct precautions when conducting any surveys on your premises and will interact as little as possible with your staff (i.e. practice social distancing where-ever possible).
3. SAIOH have decided to suspend all face-to-face meetings, however we are investigating the feasibility to do aforementioned remotely, e.g. conduct on-line webinar training, etc..  This will enable your staff/people to meet in smaller groups/or as individuals. All they need is access to a computer and internet connection or meet in a room where there is a projector /or at least one computer/laptop with an internet connection, as well as sound. We feel that this is the most conservative approach that can be taken to prevent  or at least slow down the spread of this disease. 

Acknowledging Safetech's input in the above.

Regards,

The SAIOH Team

Overall Objective: 

The general objective of material produced around the world day is to raise awareness and stimulate national tripartite debate on safety and health at work. 

Main target audience:

ILO constituents at national level, particularly from developing countries: National authorities, employers and workers and their organizations, and OSH academics and practitioners, in addition to the general public. For more information please  click here

We kindly request that all our members who wish to contribute send their reflection pieces/videos to the ILO:

• Manal Azzi: azzi@ilo.org
• Lacye Groening: groening@iloguest.org

Regards,

The SAIOH Team

As we step into an unprecedented future, an unknown that we have never encountered, we now call on all experienced members to please offer assistance wherever possible. Now, more than ever, your risk assessment knowledge is of unimaginable benefit to assist the Government and their identified Covid-19 Test Laboratories to protect their employees’ health and work safely.

You will have recently received and read the email requesting assistance (pro-bono) to help the H&S Unit of the Department of Health in the COVID-19 crisis.  We trust that the response to this call for help, will receive the reaction we as a Country and compassionate human beings desperately need right now.

The SAIOH PCC Exco lauds this selfless undertaking and has taken to include, in the CPD guide, 1 CPD point per ROHP and per facility that is so assisted (a maximum of 5 CPD points allowed per SAIOH registered member, in this category), to each member who is able to demonstrate volunteering and rendering OH services, pro bono, during this period.

The PCC Exco take this opportunity to thank you and wish you and your loved one’s a healthy and Covid-19 free life

Regards,

The PCC Exco

Call for COVID19 support to Government.

We are supporting the H&S Unit of the Department of Health in the COVID-19 crisis. We received a call for urgent assistance with baseline health risk assessments for 4 laboratories (two in Johannesburg, one in Cape Town and one in Durban). This will need to be in kind / national duty. Department of Health will assist with access to the Facilities. Please nominate yourself if you are available to assist. We need urgent volunteers please.

All volunteers to contact Cas Badenhorst at cas.badenhorst@angloamerican.com

Regards,

The SAIOH Team

SANAS send out a notification to their assessment services to their OH AIA's: The Coronavirus (COVID -19) pandemic is leading to safety concerns and travel restrictions that are likely to affect SANAS accreditation activities. As we consider strategies to mitigate the negative effects of the outbreak, SANAS’ first concern is to maintain the health and safety of our customers, contract assessors, employees and all stakeholders at large, specifically by minimising social contact as far as humanly possible. All STC meetings are also cancelled until further notice.

Following the President’s address to South Africa on Sunday, 15 March 2020, whereby the virus was declared a “National Disaster”, South Africa has to respond responsibly by ensuring physical contact between persons is minimised drastically. Due to the evolution of this pandemic, there may be delays in scheduling assessments and SANAS may also seek to make changes in assigned teams as we aim to perform some scheduled assessments remotely. To this end, the following decisions have been made regarding Assessments, Assessors, Meetings and Travelling. Please click here for more information. 

Regards,

The SAIOH Team

Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease Act, 1993 (Act No 130 of 1993)

Notice on Compensation for Occupationally Acquired Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) under Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 130 of 1993 as amended.

Vuyo Mafata, Compensation Commissioner, after consulting with the Compensation Executive Committee, hereby make the following notice in terms of section 6A of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993 (Act 130 of 1993) as amended. The proposed notice is attached as Schedule A.

Best regards,

The SAIOH Team

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak conditions on businesses, workers, customers, and the public, it is important for all employers to plan now for COVID-19. For employers who have already planned for influenza outbreaks involving many staff members, planning for COVID-19 may involve updating plans to address the specific exposure risks, sources of exposure, routes of transmission, and other unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., compared to influenza virus outbreaks). Employers who have not prepared for pandemic events should prepare themselves and their workers as far in advance as possible of potentially worsening outbreak conditions. Lack of continuity planning can result in a cascade of failures as employers attempt to address challenges of COVID-19 with insufficient resources and workers who might not be adequately trained for jobs they may have to perform under pandemic conditions.

For more information please see attached Department of Employment and Labour Guideline - COVID- 19 Risk Assessment Workplace Preparedness.

Regards,

The SAIOH Team

IN THIS ISSUE…

  Background on the Ergonomics Regulations of 2019
  What is Ergonomics?
  What are the benefits of applying Ergonomics in the workplace?
  What is an Ergonomic Risk?
  What is an Ergonomic Risk Assessment?
  Who should conduct Ergonomic Risk Assessments?
  What is an Ergonomics Program?
  How to become a CPE/CEA?
  Becoming a member of ESSA
  Thanks from ESSA

Please click here to download the newsletter

Yours sincerely

SAIOH Team

Please find a link to a job opportunity for an Ergonomics Specialist at Toyota.

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/1690856921/?eBP=NotAvailableFromVoyagerAPI&recommendedFlavor=HIDDEN_GEM&refId=bb8ee35a-e144-45de-81b0-49c7c790fdbf&trk=d_flagship3_search_srp_jobs    

Thank you,

Kind Regards,

SAIOH Team