,MNO2608 Assignment 5 (Portfolio) Semester 1
Memo | Due May 2025.
MULTIPLE CHOICE,ASSURED EXCELLENCE
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
Memo | Due May 2025.
MULTIPLE CHOICE,ASSURED EXCELLENCE
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
