Environment

Local and international expertise support science-based limits and infrastructure responses to emerging contaminants of concern in South Africa Global infrastructure leader AECOM is urging the introduction of enforceable regulatory limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in South Africa, as a growing body of evidence highlights widespread PFAS detections across water systems and increasing divergence between existing local regulatory frameworks and internationally applied standards. The findings, detailed in a new article for publication in a leading scientific journal, authored by AECOM specialists across Africa and the United States, indicate that PFAS, a large family of highly persistent and mobile fluorinated organic compounds, are being detected in surface water, groundwater, wastewater, drinking water, and even rainwater across multiple provinces. Dr. Anthony Mader, Senior Environmental Scientist at AECOM Africa and lead author, says that multiple lines of evidence point to a need for regulatory intervention. “South Africa is no longer dealing with isolated PFAS detections. A national assessment, supported by multiple site?specific scientific studies, shows persistent PFAS contamination across water systems, driven by multi?source inputs and governed by complex physicochemical fate and transport processes,” notes Dr. Mader. “Although direct comparisons between local and international datasets require caution due to differences in analytical scope, at some hotspot locations across South Africa, concentrations exceed multiple international benchmarks, yet there is currently no enforceable regulatory framework to drive mitigation. Establishing clear, science-based limits is the most effective way to protect both public health and long-term water security,” adds Dr. Mader. PFAS are widely used in industrial processes Due to their surfactant properties and resistance to physical, biological, and chemical degradation, PFAS are widely …

As environmental risks become increasingly interconnected, organisations must move beyond compliance towards long-term resilience, adaptation and sustainable development, highlights global infrastructure leader AECOM on World Environment Day Climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, pollution, food insecurity and infrastructure resilience are increasingly connected, with impacts felt across economies, industries and communities worldwide. Observed annually on 5 June and led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day serves as a global reminder that environmental challenges are no longer isolated concerns. For Elisabeth Nortje, Director – Environment at AECOM, this year’s World Environment Day arrives at a particularly reflective moment. With Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday celebrations on 8 May 2026, Nortje found herself thinking about the environmental transformations witnessed over the past century and what the next century may hold. “I was reflecting on what changes he saw in his lifetime,” she says. “From the rise of the environmental movement to climate warming, biodiversity impacts and growing environmental awareness. Then I thought to myself what are we going to see in the next 100 years?” For Nortje, the timing of Attenborough’s centenary while the Artemis II mission renewed public fascination with seeing Earth from space offered a powerful reminder of the planet’s interconnectedness. “We cannot afford to be disconnected from our fellow people and from the rest of the planet. Our water, food, energy, air and environment all come from interconnected systems.” From environmental compliance to climate resilience According to Nortje, one of the most significant shifts in environmental management is that organisations are no longer only considering the impact they have on the environment but must also assess the impact the environment will have on their operations. “Traditionally, environmental …

Leaks rarely announce themselves. A drum seal weeps a little, a valve drips overnight, or a machine sweats oil onto the concrete while nobody is watching. By morning there is a slick patch on the floor, a slip risk for the next person walking past, and a stain that takes ages to scrub out. A simple catch basin under the source stops all of that before it starts. That is the job of a Drip Trays setup: a shallow, leak-proof base that sits beneath drums, machines, taps or pipework and holds whatever drips down. Instead of liquid soaking into the floor or running toward a drain, it pools safely in the tray where it can be cleaned up at a sensible pace. For a small outlay, a workshop gains a cleaner floor, fewer accidents and a lot less hassle with inspectors. What a drip tray is for A drip tray is a low, open container made to catch slow leaks and small overflows. It is not built for a massive spill; that is what bunds and spill kits handle. Its job is the steady, sneaky drip that adds up over days. Park a leaking gearbox over one and the oil collects in the base rather than spreading across the work area. Most trays are made from polyethylene plastic or steel. Plastic models suit acids, solvents and salty liquids that would rust metal, and they are light enough to move by hand. Steel trays handle heat and heavy loads, so they fit under hot machines or large drums. The choice comes down to the liquid, the weight sitting on top, and whether heat is involved. Many trays also come with a removable grate that sits just above the base. Drums or buckets rest on the grate while the liquid drips through and gathers below, out of contact with the items on top. That keeps the stock clean and makes the tray easy to empty. The kinds of drip trays you can pick from There is a wide range to suit different setups, and picking the right shape saves a lot of bother later. A single Drip Tray might be a small bench model for a workbench, a large floor unit for a row of drums, …

A splash of acid, a fleck of metal, a puff of dust blown back from a grinder. It takes barely a moment for something to land in someone’s eye at work, and the first seconds after that decide how bad the damage gets. Rubbing the eye or running to find a tap wastes the very time that matters most. This is why a fixed rinsing point, ready and within reach, is one of the smartest safety buys a site can make. Well-placed Eye Wash Stations give a worker a steady flow of clean water exactly when it is needed, with no fumbling and no delay. Flushing the eye fast can be the difference between a mild sting that clears up by lunch and a burn that scars the surface for good. For any site that handles chemicals, dust, hot work or flying debris, these units are not a nice extra; they are basic first aid. Why quick rinsing matters for the eyes The eye is delicate and reacts badly to harsh substances. A strong acid or alkali can start burning the surface in seconds, and alkalis are the worst because they keep eating inward long after the splash. The only way to limit the harm is to wash the substance out fast and keep washing for a good while, often a full fifteen minutes. That length of time is the part many people get wrong. A quick three-second rinse under a tap barely touches the problem. Proper flushing needs a gentle, steady flow that the person can stand at without holding anything, because both hands are often needed to hold the eyelids open. A purpose-built unit delivers that hands-free flow at the right rate, soft enough not to hurt the eye yet strong enough to clear it out. Speed and duration together do the real work. Getting to water within ten seconds and rinsing for the full count gives the eye its best chance. Everything about how these units are chosen and placed comes back to that simple goal: water on the eye, fast, for long enough. The main types of eye wash gear There is more than one kind of unit, and the right pick depends on the site. A plumbed …

Spills happen on almost every kind of work site. A drum gets knocked over, a hose splits, or a machine leaks oil onto the floor. When that happens, the speed of the clean-up makes a big difference to how safe the area stays. A small puddle of oil can turn into a slip hazard in seconds, and some liquids give off fumes or harm the skin. This is why having the right gear ready, before anything goes wrong, matters so much. Keeping a set of Spill Kits on hand means staff are not left scrambling for buckets and rags when a leak starts. A kit puts everything in one place: absorbents, gloves, bags and a clear set of steps to follow. That single box can save a worker from a nasty fall or a burn, and it can save a business from a fine or a shutdown. What a spill kit actually does A spill kit is a packed container or bag that holds the items needed to soak up and contain a leak. Most kits include absorbent pads, socks or booms that stop liquid from spreading, loose granules for soaking up the last of a puddle, protective gloves, goggles and disposal bags for the used material. The idea is simple. When something leaks, you grab the kit, block the liquid from spreading, soak it up, and bag the waste for safe removal. A good Spill Kit is built around the type of mess a site expects. A workshop that handles oil and fuel needs different contents from a lab that deals with strong acids. The point is to have the correct items packed and ready, not a random pile of clothes in a corner that nobody can find when the floor is already wet. Speed is the real benefit here. The longer a liquid sits, the further it spreads, the more it soaks into cracks, and the harder the clean-up becomes. A kit that is stocked and close by turns a ten-minute job into a two-minute one. Matching the kit to the liquids on site Not every liquid behaves the same way, so one type of kit does not suit every site. There are three broad groups to think about. General-purpose kits handle water-based …