NEWS

INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN

It was 2017 and a packed up coil needed cleaning. So, a young appie assisted his boss with the process, using caustic soda. Although he wore gloves, they were not the right kind and provided insufficient protection against the dangerous chemical he was working with.

His second mistake was not reacting quickly enough to washing off the corrosive acid afterwards, and not seeking professional medical attention soonest— all issues that could have been avoided by proper training beforehand. The chemical had eaten away parts of his flesh on his hand.

After almost two weeks of trying to treat the chemical burns at home( with no success), they finally sought the help of a doctor. Just over two weeks later, he went back to work and kept his hands in his gloves the entire day to try and protect his wounds … Bad news: this just made the wounds worse.

He was forced to have surgery eventually to clean the wounds, the cost amounting to almost R32 000. Still, his woes were not over, and treatment was ongoing.

The unit that was being cleaned when the incident happened.

The initial chemical burns after the incident.

By not wearing proper PPE and waiting too long to seek medical help, the problem got much worse.

COLD LINK AFRICA Content manager: Benjamin Brits benjamin @ interactmedia. co. za Editor: Ilana Koegelenberg ilana @ interactmedia. co. za

OPERATIONS Operations manager: Chantelle van Deventer chantellevd @ interactmedia. co. za Process controller: Estelle Thurtle estelle @ interactmedia. co. za Design / Layout: Trevor Reid trevor @ interactmedia. co. za Subeditor: Elaine Enslin elainee @ interactmedia. co. za

ADVERTISING SALES Director and sales: Dale Macnamara sales @ interactmedia. co. za External sales: Paul Engelbrecht Paul. Engelbrecht @ interactmedia. co. za

HEAD OFFICE Tel: + 27( 0) 11 579 4940 Fax: + 27( 0) 11 450 1920 PO Box 695, Edenvale, 1610 13A Riley Road, Bedfordview, 2008 Email: admin @ interactmedia. co. za

FINANCE Financial / operations director: Sean Macnamara, CA( SA) sean @ interactmedia. co. za Financial manager: Laetitia Arnott laetitia @ interactmedia. co. za

MANAGING DIRECTOR Richard Bicker Caarten

PRINTER Typo Colour Printing Specialists + 27( 0) 11 402 3468 / 9 cnr Bezuidenhout & Beauford St, Troyeville, Johannesburg, 2094

DISTRIBUTION / MAILING CAB Holdings + 27( 0) 11 615 6572 1 Trein Street, The Gables, Cleveland, 2001

DISCLAIMER Whilst every reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the advice and information given, neither the Editor, Publisher, Proprietor, Staff nor any official body represented or published in this issue, will accept responsibility for any damages, loss, injuries or false claims that may arise or be made in the content.

Disclaimers by individual companies are hereby overridden. Reproduction of any of the content is expressly forbidden in terms of the Copyright Act of 1987 with all amendments. All requests to reproduce must be made in writing to the Publisher and such confirmation must be given in writing before proceeding. A copy of where the reproduction was published must be supplied to the Publisher at the above address. No reasonable request will be refused provided all conditions are met. All Publication and Exhibition titles are registered as trade marks in terms of the Trade Marks Act of 1993 and are held by Interact Media Defined( Pty) Ltd, Reg No 2014 / 092774 / 07.

This publication subscribes to the Advertising Standards Authority( ASA) Code of Conduct which represents truthful advertising. Should any reader feel / believe that advertising in this publication lacks substantiation, is dishonest or misleading in anyway they may refer to the ASA. www. asasa. org. za.

The wounds got worse after returning to work and putting gloves on.