Holidays in South Africa

Taking a vacation in the beautiful South Africa is a great Idea. The clear skies, white sandy beaches and the wildlife is an experience that you will never forget. We at Information Desk offer you the easy way of planning a trip to South Africa by offering you an easy access to Accommodation Establishments in South Africa.

Today I want to recommend three destinations that will give you the opportunity to see something different about South Africa.

Accommodation Tzaneen

Tzaneen is a small town in the Limpopo province of South Africa with exceptional forests. You can also access the Kruger National Park from there. This is my favourite holiday destination, mainly because I can hide away in the bushes where nobody can find me and my cell phone never rings

Accommodation Amanzimtoti

One of the greatest South Coast towns in Kwa Zulu Natal. There is a lot to do in the form of activities, view the bird farms or just relax under the Souoth African sky on the white beaches. Amanzimtoti also let you experience some of the Zulu Culture of South Africa

Accommodation Ballito

Find yourself a little further up the North Coast and you can experience the warm summer sun of Durban and surroundings. This is one of the best beaches in South Africa and you will have the holiday of a lifetime. If you need some nightlife experience, Durban is just around the corner..

Enjoy your stay in South Africa. I am sure you will remember this holiday for many years. If you are around in 2010 – then come and check out the 2010 World Cup Soccer on South Africa soil.

FSBO

A Guide to Safely Undertake Asbestos Removal

Introduction

In recent years the effects of failing to manage the handling of asbestos in a secure and safe manner has increased dramatically on the health and safety agenda.

Employees who over many years worked in confined spaces where asbestos materials were present, or in the manufacture of materials or items which included asbestos as a key component have faced serious health issues. It is now widely recognised that the greatest single work related cause of death is asbestos. It is for this reason, that health and safety information highlighting the dangers of incorrect control and the need for safe management and disposal of asbestos contaminated products is high profile.

What is asbestos?

There are generally three forms of asbestos known as brown, blue and more common white asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre and is mined in various Countries but particularly in Russia, the largest producer, Canada and South Africa. Because of its unique resistance qualities, such as being resistant to heat, electricity and noise, it can be employed in several ways for industrial use or in building construction and also a key component for items such as brake linings and insulation.

Asbestos became widely used in the construction industry in the late 19th Century. Hospitals, factories, schools and farm houses were all built with asbestos containing materials. Its qualities of being resistant to heat, flame retardant and a good insulator meant that it was widely recognised as very good construction material. Although asbestos today is rarely used in building development, many old buildings including long established hospitals, schools, farm barns and houses still contain asbestos in ceilings and walls. It was also widely used as a lagging material to wrap around steam pipes and boilers. Some household products such as early electric ovens also contained asbestos material, due to its excellent heat resistant qualities. Indeed I seem to recall the use of it in a very early electric oven at my grand parent’s house in the mid-late 1960′s. Just think of all those Shepherd Pies she used to make.

Nowadays to find that asbestos is still present within a building, is likely to cause alarm amongst those people residing in it. People living close by are also likely to be concerned and very quickly an entire local community will becomealarmed over the dangers of having asbestos close by.

However, as long as the asbestos is well maintained and is not releasing any fibres, there is no hazard to health. Asbestos becomes a health hazard and is most dangerous when it is moved and if you breathe in asbestos fibres, it is this which creates the health hazard.

Asbestos is toxic and it is the dust being inhaled which can lead to serious illness such as breathing difficulties and in some cases forms of cancer, particularly lung cancer. From the mid-1980′s, countries within the European Union and some of the world’s other most developed countries have banned asbestos due to its high health risk concerns.A simple task such as laying roof insulation, should always be undertaken whilst wearing a protective face mask to avoid inhalation of asbestos dust and particles.Some interior projects require partial demolition enabling new design styles to be developed internally.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

The breathing in of asbestos fibres is the cause of life threatening disease. So, if you work in an environment where many hundreds of asbestos-related particles exist in the atmosphere, unless you wear the appropriate face mask protection, you are putting your health in danger.

Of course, many years ago the dangers were unknown and whilst asbestos related disease does not affect you immediately, in later life the effects will become more apparent. Currently asbestos is responsible for approximately 4000 deaths per year and every week, it contributes to the deaths of almost 40 tradesmen, including plumbers, electricians, carpenters and joiners. These trades are particularly at risk because the tradesmen will have been employed in environments where asbestos will have been present. The refurbishment of plumbing work in factories, hospitals, schools, houses and factories will have been a common requirement in recent years. Equally, electricians, carpenters and joiners will have been exposed to similar work in their professional fields.

I used to work for a compressed air equipment manufacturer. The company’s main manufacturing site also included the offices, the manufacturing and assembly plant, the foundry and workshops. The whole site was constructed in the early 1900s and inevitably had used asbestos products within its construction. In the 1990s with much of the manufacturing moved overseas, it was decided to sell the site for redevelopment and the site has now been entirely demolished, ready for reconstruction. But just think how much of the construction material would have contained asbestos.

Before major demolition works could commence, a full site survey including an asbestos survey would have been required to identify and assess how to manage the removal of the asbestos material across the site. Each specific area would have required the advice of an approved asbestos management contractor and assurances of how the asbestos materials would be safely removed and disposed of. Due to the size of the site, this would have been a major task and also a costly one, but an essential requirement to ensure that all regulations relating to the management of asbestos material were adhered to.

Where is Asbestos Found?

If you visit an old building built prior to the 1950s, it is worth taking a look around to see where asbestos has been used and the types of materials which might contain asbestos.

Asbestos cement products, such as large sheets of a corrugated material are likely to be asbestos cement sheets. It is distinguishable as a hard grey coloured material in which asbestos has been mixed with cement. It is likely that if the sheets have been used on the roof, that similar flat sheets will have been used for wall cladding.

If a wall has been given a textured coating, then many old wall coating materials contained an asbestos mix to create the texture. On the floor, floor tiles made from asbestos may also be in place. Recognised for its fire retardant qualities, an asbestos spray may also have been used to coat wooden roof beams. Asbestos sprayed on walls and ceilings will have a high content of asbestos and is known to be easily disturbed just by movement and will give off fibres. Then there will be asbestos used as a lagging material on pipes and plumbing equipment. So be vigilant when in old buildings, it is likely that asbestos will be present in some formEven at home, it is essential to employ a licensed and experienced asbestos removal contractor, to safely handle the task.

Managing and Disposing of Asbestos

Since the banning of using asbestos took effect, the most common method by which asbestos is now disposed is through the use of landfill sites. There are however very strict guidelines on how asbestos should be managed and disposed of.

First you must decide how big a challenge the job is. If you have asbestos removal to undertake in the home then the best advice to remove asbestos safely is to employ a fully licensed asbestos removal specialist. The basic requirements for protection, including the wearing of a dust mask and a disposable overall, are not suggested as the limit of safety precautions and you will be will be much safer trusting this work to a specialist contractor. If you are removing sheets of asbestos for example from an old garage or shed, simply breaking one sheet up will release potentially harmful asbestos dust and fibres. As long as there are no electrical cables and connections nearby, the asbestos removal specialist may treat the asbestos to be handled with water spray before commencing the removal of the material, but this kind of thing is not for the novice DIY enthusiast and should be left to an experienced specialist contractor at all times. Removed asbestos cannot simply be placed within your domestic waste for collection, it must be treated separately and either bagged or placed in a dedicated skip for safe disposal by specialists. Personally, I would always seek the advice of an approved asbestos removal contractor, for any work involving asbestos or even the potential for asbestos.

When the requirement for asbestos removal is much larger, the work should always be undertaken by a licensed commercial asbestos removal specialist. These companies have received relevant training and certification and will have the correct equipment to manage the task effectively, safely and in accordance with the correct regulations. Older buildings may require a dismantling process to carefully remove any asbestos and this work is likely to involve the use of scaffolding or cranes to be able to undertake this work safely. The most important point to remember is that as the customer, asbestos is on your premises. You are responsible for the removal, handling and safe disposal of the asbestos so ensure that you appoint an approved contractor.

To ensure that dedicated skips are used in the disposal of asbestos some waste management contractors operate skips of a dedicated colour and ensure that these are used only for asbestos disposal. I know of one leading UK waste management company who have a two tone yellow and red painted skip used solely for the safe transportation and disposal of asbestos. As asbestos is classed as a hazardous waste material, only landfill sites licensed to take hazardous waste material are permitted to accept asbestos into the site.

I recall a large automotive company going into administration and thousands of brake lining pads had to be removed as part of a major site clearance project. Although they were all boxed, the fact that asbestos had been used in their manufacture meant that a specialist contractor was brought in to manage the removal and disposal of the stock.In today’s environment where recycling is a buzz word, it is very difficult and costly to recycle asbestos. A high temperature process can transform asbestos fibers into a harmless silicate glass or an industrial microwave thermal treatment process can transform asbestos waste into ceramic bricks or tiles. Complete an asbestos survey report and inform senior management of the findings before commencing any work.

Health and Safety Issues when Working with Asbestos

Before commencing any work, if it is considered that asbestos may be present, the contract manager must undertake a complete project plan. No employee should be placed at risk, in an environment where asbestos is potentially located.

Through a complete site survey, it must be established if materials containing asbestos are present and the work must be planned to either avoid disturbance or the need to dismantle and remove these materials.

If the asbestos materials are to be removed, it is essential that the work should be undertaken by an [approved|licensed} asbestos contractor, who has completed the appropriate asbestos awareness and training courses and is certificated.

It is also important to note, whether the premises will need to be vacated whilst the work is to be undertaken. If people remain in or near the area where asbestos is to be removed, disturbance of the material will place anyone in the close vicinity of the project in danger. Other considerations and decisions will need to be taken as well, particularly if there is a need to work at height and identify precisely what equipment is to be required to complete the task safely.

All major projects, should be supervised throughout and inspected at various stages to ensure that the work complies with regulation and at the end of the task, and that it is safe for employees to return to the premises.

Of course, throughout the project, the project manager must ensure that arrangements have been made for the safe disposal of all asbestos waste. For those undertaking the job, vigilance will be required throughout the project to protect their own health. Face masks will be worn, as will appropriate clothing such as a disposable all in one overall. Clean as you go is a strategy employed by asbestos removal specialists as they work through the project to limit the amount of asbestos dust spreading to other parts of the building.

Conclusion

The strict regulations which now surround the handling and management of asbestos will in nearly all cases require that any project involving the dismantling of asbestos materials is managed by a specialist asbestos removal contractor.

Without specialist knowledge, awareness and the correct equipment, any project involving asbestos removal brings potential health risks. Not just health concerns, but for the company and contractor, the need to ensure that the rules and regulations which govern the management of projects where asbestos is present are complied with. Also any company engaging a contractor who does not comply with the correct legislation will be responsible themselves, not the contractor.

Often referred to as the hidden killer, improved knowledge and awareness of the devastating effects that asbestos can have upon one’s health is now well documented. It is hoped that in the coming years we will begin to see a decline in asbestos related disease or illness. Unfortunately until the mid-1980s, for those who had worked in or around environments where asbestos was present, the worry of asbestos related death or illnesses remains.

Whichever way you look at it, asbestos is a pretty unpleasant substance if inhaled and brings cause for concern if it is present in your premises, so seek the advice of a specialist asbestos removal contractor to ensure the effective and compliant management of the removal of your asbestos.

Load Dependant Sterility Concerns in Hospital Autoclaves (South Africa)

The need for sterilization by steam under increased pressure arises from the fact that the spores of many common and dangerous bacteria are strongly resistant to dry heat. The most effective way of killing these spores is by means of steam at high temperature and high humidity which will condense into their substance and moisten them thoroughly.To bring about this affect all parts of the load to be sterilized must be free of air, so that it may be permeated by the steam and the steam must be not only hot 121OC or 134OC but nearly saturated that is, it must be at a pressure so high that in spite of its high temperature it is close to the point of condensing to liquid water. Steam in this condition is termed Just Dry. Departures from this condition result in inefficient sterilizing operation!

Autoclave Pours Cycle Requirements:Air Removal:The adequate removal of air is the first essential in the sterilisation of textiles; air is removed by a vacuum pump which reduces the absolute pressure of air in the chamber to a value of a few millimetres of mercury column before steam is admitted. This is often described as drawing an almost perfect vacuum, and it means removing more than 98 percentof the air initially present. It must be emphasised that during the preconditioning stage it is imperative that the set vacuum points are met via actual chamber vacuum and not via a timing source as vacuum set points are load dependant and load variable. Departures from the recommended means of measuring vacuum set points can cause inadequate air removal.

Timing:When the steam has reached the correct set sterilizing temperate, sufficient time must be allowed for the physical changes that kill the bacteria and their spores to take place throughout the load; it is these changes that constitute the sterilizing process. Times corresponding to different temperatures have been given by Perkins as follows: 2min s at 132OC and 12min s at 121 OC.To allow for deviations in steam quality a further (safety) period is added. Adapting Perkins figures (above) Medi-Clave recommend the following times and temperatures as a minimum:4 min s at 134OC and 15 mins at 121OC.

Drying:At the end of the sterilizing phase it is necessary to dry the load without re-contaminating it.The state of dryness of the load will be fixed by the equilibrium established between the vapour pressure over the load and the pressure in the chamber the lower the chamber pressure the more rapid will be the boiling off of the water. At this stage practically no air should be present in the chamber. If dressings have not been made grossly wet by inadequately dried steam, the mere attaining of the vacuum should be sufficient to achieve drying without a need to maintain it! Medi-Clave found that with a high-vacuum sterilizer operated with dry steam, the load was back at its starting condition as regards to temperature and humidity, at the end of the sterilizing cycle.Wet Steam is a frequent cause of incomplete sterilization. It causes the dressings in the sterilizer to become soaked with moisture, usually early on in the sterilizing process. Moreover, the subsequent drying of the wet dressings is unaccomplished and it carries a serious risk of recontamination by airborne organisms that can re penetrate in to the pack.

Vacuum-Break:Air must be admitted to break the vacuum before the sterilizer is opened. This air must be drawn from a clean source through a bacteriological filter. More detail on autoclaves can be found at Medi-clave website

By: Johann Hoffman Medi-Clave

Pure Hoodia Gordonii Extract

Hoodia gordonii is a plant grown in South Africa which is transformed into the most popular diet pills today. The locals use it to treat infection and indigestion. In America it is used as a weight loss supplement. The diet pills work by naturally suppressing the appetite of an individual. If you have problems with eating and gaining weight then why not stop eating at all? 

The Hoodia Liquid Extract basically works by tricking the brain and making the individual feel full. It works in the satiety center located in the hypothalamus. It releases a chemical compound that acts on the hypothalamus which signals to the brain that it has eaten enough.

This way the individual will be able to eat less and control his cravings. Less food intake means fewer calories to burn. You don’t have to follow recipes and prepare meals. You don’t have to calculate portions and calorie intake. All you have to do is take a Hoodia Liquid Extract and you won’t become hungry the rest of the day.

You don’t need to exercise your willpower and crave for carbohydrates and sweets. You don’t have to prepare pint sized meals from the food pyramid. You don’t have to force yourself from eating blanch foods.

The pill is made from a plant which makes it 100% natural. It’s not chemically formulated unlike other drug supplements. It does not contain ephedra, caffeine and other stimulants. It does not have any side effects and works naturally in your body. Original products prove to be effective in reducing weight.

Hoodia Liquid Extract has been featured in several television shows such as Oprah, BBC, The Today Show and 60 minutes. Studies and testimonials have proven that it does work.

If you want a safer and less hassle way of loosing weight Hoodia diet pills is for you. Made from a natural ingredient, it will not produce harmful effects on your body just for the sake of burning those fats. Nature still provides us with the best answers why not take advantage of that?