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

General

Purchase

79.

The majority of OELs listed in Tables 2 and 3 of Annexure 2 are for single compounds or for HCAs containing a common element or radical, e.g. tungsten and compounds, and isocyanates. A few of the limits relate to HCAs commonly encountered as complex mixtures or compounds, e.g. white spirit, rubber fume and welding fume. However, workers are frequently subject to other mixed exposures involving solids, liquids, aerosols or gases. These exposures can arise as a result of work with materials containing a mixture of agents, or from work with several individual HCAs, simultaneously or successively, in a work shift. Mixed exposures require careful assessment of their health effects and the appropriateness of control standards. The following paragraphs provide a brief summary of the advice on the application of exposure limits in these circumstances. In all cases of doubt, specialist advice should be sought.