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

Regulations

Physical Agents Regulations, 2024

12. Indoor air quality

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(1) The employer or self-employed person must ensure that risk of exposure to hazardous biological, chemical and physical agents impacting indoor air quality is eliminated at the source, where reasonably practicable.

 

(2) Where the provision of subregulation (1) is not reasonably practicable, the employer or self-employed person must control indoor air quality to guidance levels as contemplated in Table 3 through the provision of either—
(a) natural ventilation; or
(b) an artificial ventilation system.

 

(3) For an artificial ventilation system contemplated in subregulation (2)(b), the employer or self-employed person must ensure that the system—
(a) complies with the air requirements for different types of occupancies listed in SANS 10400: Part O;
(b) is tested—
(i) by a competent person; and
(ii) at intervals as per the original manufacturer specifications but not exceeding 24-months; and
(c) is maintained as per the original manufacturer specifications: Provided that in the absence of the original manufacturer specifications, as per the physical agent exposure risk assessment.

 

(4) The physical agent exposure monitoring must take into account the following parameters as contemplated in Table 3—
(a) thermal environment, including—
(i) air temperature;
(ii) air velocity; and
(iii) relative humidity;
(b) airborne contaminants, including—
(i) carbon monoxide;
(ii) carbon dioxide;
(iii) other applicable hazardous chemical agents;
(iv) mould; and
(v) other applicable hazardous biological agents; and
(c) air requirements for different types of occupancies.