MNO2608 Assignment 5 (Portfolio) Semester 1 Memo | Due May 2025

MNO2608 Assignment 5 (Portfolio) Semester 1 Memo | Due May 2025. All questions fully answered. QUESTION 1 [20] CASE STUDY ONE (1): Respirable Silica Dust Exposure and Heat Stress in an Underground Gold Mine. In 2022, twenty-five (25) mine workers at an underground gold mine in South Africa were exposed to dangerously high levels of respirable crystalline silica dust during routine drilling operations. The dust suppression systems, including water sprays and misting, were not functioning properly, and the underground ventilation system was underperforming due to delayed servicing. Exposure monitoring later revealed silica dust levels exceeding 0.25 mg/m³, which is more than double the legal limit of 0.1 mg/m³. Additionally, the underground working environment was extremely hot. Workers faced heat stress due to inadequate cooling systems and limited access to water in the work area. Prolonged exposure to heat stress, combined with poor air quality, put workers at risk for both heat-related illnesses and respiratory problems. Note: This case study is fictional and intended solely for portfolio assessment purposes. Any resemblance to actual persons or real events is purely coincidental. Make use of Case Study 1 and conduct additional research to answer the question. Remember to reference the sources of your information. 1.1. Identify the key failures that led to workers being exposed to respirable silica dust and heat stress. (5) 1.2. Discuss the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust and heat stress in an underground mining environment. (5) 1.3. Propose measures that should have been implemented to prevent exposure to respirable silica dust and heat stress. (5) 1.4. What role does worker involvement play in identifying and addressing occupational health risks such as silica dust exposure and heat stress? (5) QUESTION 2 [25] Case Study Two (2): Occupational Hazards in Sithandaw Construction Company, Eastern Cape. In 2023, Sithandaw Construction Company, located at 234 Osman Street, Eastern Cape, 1609, undertook the construction of a multi-story commercial building with a total workforce of 250 employees. During the project, several occupational hygiene stressors were identified on-site, including inadequate lighting, excessive noise, and poor ergonomics. These factors contributed to a workplace incident. Occupational Hygiene stressors Illumination Workers were exposed to inadequately lit areas, particularly in the stockrooms, where illumination levels measured only 60 lux using a calibrated lux meter. One electrical worker tripped and sustained an injury while lifting heavy cables in this poorly illuminated section. Noise The construction site operated with loud machinery (e.g., jackhammers and cranes), generating continuous noise levels above 85 dB(A) over a 9-hour shift, as measured with a Type 2 sound level meter. Hearing protection was inadequate. Ergonomics Workers engaged in heavy lifting and repetitive tasks without the aid of proper ergonomic equipment or scheduled rest breaks, resulting in musculoskeletal complaints. Note: This case study is fictional and intended solely for portfolio assessment purposes. Any resemblance to actual persons or real events is purely coincidental. As an Approved Inspection Authority, compile an Occupational Hygiene Report based on Case Study 2. Your report must address the following components. 2.1. Executive Summary (3) 2.2. Introduction (3) 2.3. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (7) 2.4. Findings and Analysis (5) 2.5. Recommendations (5) 2.6. Conclusion (2) QUESTION 3 [20] Case study three (3): Double standards: South Africans exposed to EU-banned pesticides. Diana Ndleleni’s story highlights a troubling reality for many farmworkers in South Africa, particularly women who are vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticide exposure. It is alarming that pesticides banned in the EU, due to their harmful health and environmental impacts, are still being imported and used in countries like South Africa. This situation underscores not only a public health crisis but also deep social and environmental inequities. The issue of pesticide exposure and its health consequences, such as lung damage, asthma, and even cancer, is compounded by the fact that farmworkers, especially seasonal workers like Ndleleni, often lack proper training and the necessary protective equipment (PPE). These workers are typically at the mercy of dangerous chemicals without sufficient safeguards, leading to long-term health problems. The Women on Farms Project’s efforts to raise awareness and push for regulatory change are crucial in addressing these concerns. Their work is vital in showing that women's labor is often overlooked, especially when they bear the brunt of health risks without the benefit of safety measures. By focusing on the 67 pesticides banned in the EU, they are building a case with medical evidence to hold authorities accountable and demand change. This advocacy is not just about the immediate health concerns of farmworkers like Ndleleni but also about creating a safer, more sustainable agricultural system in South Africa. It's heart-wrenching to think that a toxic substance that is banned in many parts of the world continues to be allowed in places where people’s livelihoods depend on the very land that is being poisoned. Ndleleni’s courage, alongside the efforts of the Women on Farms Project, speaks to a powerful movement for justice and safer working conditions. Make use of Case Study 3 and conduct additional research to answer the following questions. Remember to reference the sources of your information: 3.1. Define acute exposure and explain how it might apply to a farmworker like Diana Ndleleni, who was exposed to pesticides in the vineyard (2) 3.2. Describe what chronic exposure is and how prolonged exposure to pesticides could lead to chronic health effects for Diana Ndleleni. (2) 3.3. Describe how pesticide exposure might cause local effects on farmworkers, such as Diana Ndleleni. (2) 3.4. Define systemic effects and provide examples of how exposure to pesticides can lead to systemic effects in workers, such as Diana Ndleleni, who suffered long-term health damage (3) 3.5. Explain reversible effects and discuss how certain pesticide-related health issues could be reversible, as opposed to others that might be permanent. (2) 3.6. Explain irreversible effects and discuss how prolonged exposure to pesticides led to irreversible health issues for farmworkers, such as Diana Ndleleni. (2) 3.7. Describe what immediate effects are and give examples of the immediate symptoms a farmworker, like Diana Ndleleni, might experience following acute pesticide exposure. (3) 3.8. Explain what delayed effects are and discuss how long-term pesticide exposure, like that faced by farmworkers such as Diana Ndleleni, can lead to delayed health issues. (2) 3.9. What are allergic reactions? How might repeated exposure to pesticides cause allergic reactions in farmworkers like Diana Ndleleni? (2) [TOTAL: 65] REFERENCE