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Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)

Regulations

Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents, 2020

Annexures

Annexure 3 : Hazardous Chemical Agent Guidelines

Guidance on medical surveillance and biological monitoring

Mixed exposures

Examples

 

89. The operator works for 7 hours 20 minutes on a process in which he is exposed to an agent hazardous to health. The average exposure during that period is measured as 0,12 mg/m³.

 

R280 Annex 3 (89) (3)

 

90. The operator works for eight hours on a process in which he is exposed to an agent hazardous to health. The average exposure during that period is measured as 0,15mg/m³.

 

R280 Annex 3 (90) (4)

 

91. Working periods may be split into several sessions for the purpose of sampling to take account of rest and meal breaks, etc. This is illustrated by the following example:

Exposure is assumed to be zero during the period 10:30 to 10:45, 12:45 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 15:45.

 

Working period

Exposure (mg/m3)

Duration of sampling (h)

08:00 - 10:30

0,32

2,5

10:45 - 12:45

0,07

2

13:30 - 15:30

0,20

2

15:45  - 17:15

0,10

1,5

 

The 8-hour TWA therefore is:

R280 Annex 3 (91) (5)

 

92. An operator works for eight hours during the night shift on a process in which he is intermittently exposed to an agent hazardous to health. The operator's work pattern during the working period should be known and the best available data relating to each period of exposure should be applied in calculating the eight-hour TWA. This data should be based on direct measurement, estimates based on data already available or reasonable assumptions.

 

R280 Annex 3 (92) (6)

 

93. The operator works a 12-hour shift each day for five days, and then has seven days’ rest. The exposure limits are based on an eight-hour reference period in each 24 hours in which an exposure occurs; the seven days’ rest makes no difference. While at work, the operator is exposed to 4 mg.m3.

 

R280 Annex 3 (93) (7)