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Laboratory · Health · Safety · Environment

Safety is
by design,
not default.

HANDSOME Consulting delivers expert OHSE consulting, auditing, and training across laboratories, universities, high schools, wine farms, frail care facilities and corporate environments — grounded in 20+ years of hands-on practice.

ISO 45001 Aligned NEBOSH Qualified SAIOSH Graduate Member
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HANDSOME Consulting
20+
Years OHS Experience
40+
Clients Served
15+
Short Courses
12×
UCT Excellence Awards
Who We Are

Expert OHSE Leadership
With Real-World Roots

Led by Monique Muller, HANDSOME Consulting bridges the gap between regulatory compliance and operational excellence — across laboratories, campuses, and corporate environments throughout South Africa.

Monique Muller
Monique Muller
Laboratory Health, Safety & Infrastructure Specialist

Monique Muller

Appointed as a Chemical Safety Officer (2013), and currently a Laboratory Health, Safety & Infrastructure Specialist at the University of Cape Town since 2021, Monique holds three Master's degrees (Microbiology, Environmental Management, and Business Administration), a NEBOSH International Diploma, and a BA in Disaster and Safety Management.

With over two decades of hands-on OHSE experience spanning research and analytical laboratories, health, manufacturing, and wine farms, including infrastructure management, Monique brings rare strategic and operational depth to every engagement — from the ISO 45001 management system to day-to-day compliance implementation.

She is a SAIOSH Graduate Member, a certified Ergonomics Risk Auditor and Assessor, the founder and manager of UCT Chemistry's first dedicated OHSE division — the CEM OHSE Unit. Her work has been recognised with three UCT Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Service Excellence.

  • N
    NEBOSH International Diploma — OHS Management Professionals (2022)
  • M
    MBA — University of the Free State (2004); plus MSc Microbiology & Masters in Environmental Management
  • B
    BA in Safety & Disaster Management — Lyceum College (2020)
  • S
    SAIOSH Graduate Member — SAQA Registered OHS Professional (2019–present)
  • E
    Ergonomics Risk Auditor & Assessor — Certified, Ergomax (2018)
  • E
    Google AI Professional & Assessor — Google on Coursera (2026)
2024
UCT Vice-Chancellor's Award for Service Excellence
2022
UCT Vice-Chancellor's Award for Service Excellence
2019
UCT Vice-Chancellor's Individual Award for Excellence
What We Do

Core Services

From system design to on-site audits, HANDSOME Consulting delivers practical OHSE solutions that hold up under regulatory scrutiny and real-world pressure.

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OHSE Auditing & Inspections

Comprehensive OSHE audits, laboratory safety inspections, and compliance assessments aligned to ISO 45001, the OHS Act, and sector-specific South African regulations.

OSHE AuditsISO 45001Lab Safety
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Hazardous Chemical & Waste Management

Expert consultation on chemicals coding, storage, and inventory systems management, SDS set-up and database management, waste disposal protocols implementation — including testing of unknown substances.

Chemical SafetyWaste DisposalSafety Data SheetsHAZCOMChemical Hygiene Plan
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Risk Assessment & SOP Development

Hazard Identification Risk Assessments (HIRA), Hazardous Chemical Agents Risk Assessment, and Standard Operating Procedures development tailored to your laboratory or operational environment.

HIRAHCARASOPRisk RegisterControls
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Ergonomics Risk Auditing

Certified ergonomics risk audits and assessments for the laboratory operations and workstations, plus office environments — professional ergonomics assessment reports containing practical reduction and avoidance strategies, also be used for COID claim purposes.

Workstation AssessmentWRULD Risk ReductionCOID claims
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Biorisk Management

Biosafety and biosecurity assessment, biosafety programme development, biosafety cabinet protocols, biosafety awareness training

BSL AuditingBiorisk assessmentCDC GuidelinesSANDIA National LabsCWA 16393:2012 Guidelinesy
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SHE File Compilation & OHSE Systems

Full SHE file setup for contractors and organisations, emergency response plans, evacuation routes, and OHSE management system implementation for regulatory compliance.

OSHE FilesEmergency PlansOHSE SystemsContractor Management
Build Competence

Training Courses
& Workshops

Accredited short courses designed for laboratory professionals, safety representatives, supervisors, and operational teams. Practical, compliant, and built from real field experience.

1-Day Course

Health & Safety Fundamentals in a Chemical-Orientated Laboratory

UCT Science Faculty accredited. Covers chemical safety essentials for students, technical staff, and laboratory personnel entering chemical work environments.

  • Hazard identification and risk assessment
  • Hierarchy of controls
  • Preparing for emergencies
  • Basics of GHS and SDSs
2-Day Course

Laboratory & Research Chemical Safety & Storage

UCT Science Faculty accredited. Comprehensive chemical safety and storage course for researchers, post-graduate students, and technical officers.

  • Chemical hazard communication systems
  • Chemical hazards within each GHS chemical group
  • Introduction to toxicology and health risks
  • Chemical inventory and storage system
  • Chemical incompatibilities
  • Waste management strategies
  • Spill Response
1-Day Course

Basic Laboratory & Office Workstation Ergonomics

UCT Science Faculty accredited. Designed for OHSE representatives and supervisors. Covers assessment methodology, documentation, and corrective actions.

  • Ergonomics Basics
  • WRULDs
  • COID Claims
  • Laboratory ergonomic risk management
  • Office ergonomic risk management
  • Ergonomic risk assessment tool
1-Day Course

Laboratory OHSE Representative Training

UCT Science Faculty accredited. Equips newly appointed and existing OHSE representatives with knowledge and tools to fulfil their legal duties effectively in laboratory environments.

  • OHSA legislation
  • Duties of OHSE representatives & committees
  • Causes of incidents
  • Incident investigation basics
  • Hazard identification & risk assessment
  • OHSE laboratory inspection tool

Additional workshops available: AI Prompt Engineering Basics · AI How Can it Assit You · Biosafety in Research · Hazardous Substances Communication · Chemical Hygiene Plan · Emergency Response & Evacuation · HIRA · Health & Safety for Supervisors · Office Safety · Basic Project Management · COID Act · Incident Investigations · and more.

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Track Record

Selected Projects
& Achievements

A cross-sector record of complex, high-stakes OHSE projects delivered at institutional and operational scale.

2021–present University

UCT CEM OHSE Unit — Establishment

Founded UCT Chemistry's first dedicated occupational health and safety division from scratch — including logo, website, MS Teams structure, accredited short courses, YouTube H&S Toolbox channel, and online induction system on Amathuba.

2025 Consulting

Emergency Water Quality & Safety Audit

A critical safety investigation was lodged across two buildings to address compromised water quality and pressure in Emergency Shower and Eye Wash (EWE) stations.These were exhibiting high-turbidity discharge and potential biofouling. Through a two-phase forensic analysis involving chemical metal testing and microbial assessment, widespread contamination, including heavy metals and Legionella bacteria, was successfully identified, linking these hazards to potential biofilm accumulation within the infrastructure.

2025 Infrastructure

Water Leakage & Urine Odour Investigation

Following persistent water ingress and acute air quality complaints (ammonia-like odours) affecting the laboratory, a comprehensive forensic investigation into the cause was conducted. This identified infrastructure deficiencies of the temporary wooden structure overhead of the laboratory, systemic waterproofing failures and unsealed ventilation paths. It was deducted that the urine smell was either due to wood rot or air vent filters.

2024 Infrastructure

Toxic Laboratory Ventilation Remediation

Following an acute safety incident involving toxic fume exposure, an urgent investigation was conducted. This identified both hazardous chemical storage failures and systemic mechanical deficiencies within the facility’s ventilation infrastructure. The critical negative pressure and air exchange standards was restored, enabling the safe reopening of the facility and ensuring the ongoing protection of all laboratory personnel.

2024 Infrastructure

Chemical & Waste Stores Facility Remediation

Following years of persistent leaks and a critical flooding event in 2024 that caused severe structural water damage and hazardous mould growth within the stores' areas, an urgent investigation was conducted that traced the failure to a fundamental lack of roof drainage together with failing roof waterproofing. A comprehensive facility renovation followed. The complex logistics of relocating sensitive chemical and gas storage assets were professionally managed.

2023 University

Science Faculty Business Continuity Plan

Designed UCT Science Faculty's Business Continuity Plan (BCP), including risk registers, business impact analyses, and recovery procedures.

2020–2022 COVID-19

Return-to-Research Programme

Designed and led UCT Science Faculty's complete COVID-19 return programme — risk assessments, action plans, inductions, venue inspections, shift booking systems, and PPE protocols adopted faculty-wide.

2019 Laboratory

Laboratory Epoxy Flooring Project

Project managed the full renewal of laboratory and solvent store epoxy flooring — scope definition, procurement, contractor management, and sign-off.

2010 Consulting

Cape Town Harbour — Liebherr Crane Installation

SHE Officer for the installation of two 993-tonne Liebherr container cranes — SHE plan, daily toolbox talks, inductions, site inspections, and full regulatory compliance management.

Insights & Knowledge

OHSE Blog

Practical insights, regulatory updates, and field-tested guidance from over two decades of occupational health, safety, and laboratory management experience. Articles, checklists, and practical OHSE guidance drawn from 20+ years of field experience — written for safety professionals, lab managers, and operational leaders across South Africa.

COID

COID Basics — Your Essential Workplace Safety Net

The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) is a vital safety net designed to provide a system of "no-fault" insurance for employees.

June 21, 2026 Read More
COID

Incident Alert! Immediate Steps After a Workplace Accident

When an accident happens at work, every second counts. An "accident" is defined as an incident arising out of and in the course of employment resulting in injury or death.

June 24, 2026 Read More
COID

Silent Hazards—Managing Occupational Diseases

Not all workplace injuries are sudden. Occupational diseases are illnesses contracted due to the nature of the work environment. Examples include Occupational Asthma, hearing impairment from noise, and HIV/AIDS contracted through needle-stick injuries.

June 27, 2026 Read More

New Blog Posts

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Publications

Published Work

Selected publications and professional contributions by Monique Muller across safety, chemical management, and microbiology.

Safety Publications

2015
Nanoparticles: Why are they dangerous?
National Safety Magazine (Safety First Association), 75(3): 20–23
2014
"Hydrargyrum" — pretty liquid silver, how dangerous you are!
National Safety Magazine (Safety First Association), 74(5): 18–20
2015–2019
Prepublication Book Reviews — Health & Safety Topics
CRC Press / Taylor & Francis (7 reviews)
2000
Overview of hazardous waste: management and disposal of medical waste
Master's in Environmental Management Thesis, UFS

Academic Publications

1997
Effect of C:N ratio on gamma-linolenic acid production by Mucor circinelloides
Systematic and Applied Microbiology 20: 158–164
1996
The effect of acetic acid concentration on the growth and production of gamma-linolenic acid by Mucor circinelloides
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 13: 81–87
1995
Production of gamma-linolenic acid by Mucor circinelloides and Mucor rouxii
Biotechnology Letters 17(9): 933–938
Let's Work Together

Get in Touch

Whether you need an audit, a training session, system documentation, an interactive system tool or ongoing OHSE support — reach out directly.

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Chat on WhatsApp+27 083 640 6706
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Address
HANDSOME Consulting5 Oyster Street, Richwood
Cape Town, 7441