Rayten Engineering

04/11/2026

04/11/2026

Episode 5: Does dust and heat affect instrument accuracy or maintenance? What do we do about it?

Yes. Dust clogs inlets and filters. Heat can make analysers drift and push shelter aircons to their limit. So we service more often, check calibrations closely and watch shelter temperatures.
What’s the most common misconception people have about air pollution?
“If I can’t see it, the air is fine.” The particles that do the most harm, PM2.5, are too small to see.

03/11/2026

Episode 4: Modise can answer thsi: How does extreme heat affect our field teams and equipment? Do we need a heat plan for site work?

Our teams work on open sites in full sun. Extreme heat is a real risk to people and to kit. Generators, batteries and instruments can overheat. So yes, we need a heat plan. That means early starts, shade, water, rest breaks and checking on each other. Here’s how we’re getting ready.

02/11/2026

Congratulations on your graduation Sabelo!!! Well done and enjoy this well-deserved celebration!!🍻

02/11/2026

Episode 3: Who gets hit hardest?

Bad air plus a heatwave is a rough mix. Young children breathe faster and are closer to the ground. Older people often have heart or lung conditions. Outdoor workers are out in it all day. People with asthma feel it first. If you look after any of these groups, this one’s for you.

01/11/2026

Episode 2(Part 2): Drought means more dust and veld fires. How much does that show up in our PM10 and PM2.5 data? Which sectors are most exposed?

Drought dries out soil, roads and veld. That means more dust and more fires, and both show up in particulate readings. The sectors we work with that feel this most are mining, quarrying, power generation, cement, smelting and construction. These are the ones dealing with dust control rules, emission limits and climate reporting. When conditions get worse, scrutiny goes up.

31/10/2026

Episode 2(Part 1): Drought means more dust and veld fires. How much does that show up in our PM10 and PM2.5 data? Which sectors are most exposed?

Drought dries out soil, roads and veld. That means more dust and more fires, and both show up in particulate readings. The sectors we work with that feel this most are mining, quarrying, power generation, cement, smelting and construction. These are the ones dealing with dust control rules, emission limits and climate reporting. When conditions get worse, scrutiny goes up.

30/10/2026

Rayten was invited by Rio Tinto to attend Richards Bay Minerals for their Arbor Day 2026 commemoration — planting indigenous trees and sharing how dust fallout and air quality monitoring helps protect the air around the operation. We were also privileged to attend the NACA event in Middelburg.

30/10/2026

Episode 1 (part 2): What is El Niño and what does a strong El Niño summer usually do to air quality in SA? Which pollutants get worse?

El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean that shifts weather around the world. For much of South Africa, it usually means a hotter, drier summer. Less rain means less dust gets washed out of the air. Hot, sunny days also cook up more ground-level ozone. So we expect more dust (PM10 and PM2.5) and more ozone. Veld fires add smoke on top of that. Watch this episode for the quick version.

28/10/2026

Episode 1: What is El Niño, and what does it do to our air?

El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean that shifts weather around the world. For much of South Africa, it usually means a hotter, drier summer. Less rain means less dust gets washed out of the air. Hot, sunny days also cook up more ground-level ozone. So we expect more dust (PM10 and PM2.5) and more ozone. Veld fires add smoke on top of that. Watch this episode for the quick version.