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

Regulations

Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, 1987

5. Ventilation

 

(1) An employer shall ensure that every workplace in his undertaking is ventilated either by natural or mechanical means in such a way that—
(a) the air breathed by employees does not endanger their safety;
(b) the time-weighted average concentration of carbon dioxide therein, taken over an eight-hour period, does not exceed one half per cent by volume of air;
(c) the carbon dioxide content thereof does not at any time exceed three per cent by volume of air;
(d) the prescribed exposure limits for airborne substances therein are not exceeded; and
(e) the concentration therein of any explosive or flammable gas, vapour or dust does not exceed the lower explosive limit of that gas, vapour or dust.

 

(2) Where the measures prescribed by subregulation (1) are not practicable, or where there is a danger of unsafe air in the breathing zone of an employee, the employer shall provide every such employee with, and ensure that he correctly uses, respiratory protective equipment of a type that reduces the exposure of the employee to a safe level and the employer shall, further, inform him of the dangers of and the precautionary measurers against excessive exposure.

 

(3) The provisions of subregulation (1)(b) and (c) shall not apply in respect of workplaces where the ambient pressure differs by more than 20 percent from atmospheric pressure at sea level.

[Regulation 5(3) amended by regulation 3 of Notice No. R. 1754 dated 18 August 1989]