SAIMC


SAIMC: From the office of the CEO

November 2021 SAIMC


Johan Maartens.

Covid-19, vaccination and 5G are both culprits when it comes to the subject of rumours, false information and scare-mongering. I will not be talking about Covid as this is a highly controversial subject. It reminds me of a person who once said that he knows absolutely nothing about politics, but that does not prevent him from having a strong opinion.

Now back to 5G. Claims have been made about a link between 5G and Covid-19. This comes not only from countries where the education systems are known to be ‘not so up- to-date’, but from countries such as the UK and the Netherlands as well.

The ICNIRP Guidelines on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields are for the protection of humans exposed to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields in the range 100 kHz to 300 GHz. The guidelines cover many applications such as 5G technologies, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile phones and base stations. These supersede the 100 kHz to 300 GHz part of the ICNIRP (1998) RF guidelines, as well as the 100 kHz to 10 MHz part of the ICNIRP (2010) low-frequency guidelines.

It is important to note that these guidelines are based on the best science currently available and will be reviewed from time to time as new information becomes available. It is also worth noting that the medical field has largely been excluded as qualified medical practitioners have to weigh up the pros and cons of using electromagnetic-based treatments, as these can indirectly cause harm by interfering with implantable medical devices (see ISO 2012).

Therefore, people can rest assured that there are specialists studying the impact of 5G and beyond on humans and the environment. The consensus is that while companies adhere to these guidelines, these electromagnetic fields are safe.

But are they really 100% safe? There is no conclusive evidence either way, but that does not mean that 5G causes Covid-19.

Each one of us needs to ensure that the messages we forward come from a reliable source and not from ‘a boetie’ who has personally read it in a WhatsApp message sent by a masked rumour-monger.

ECSA registration

Time is running out for those who are doing engineering-type work (technicians, technologists and engineers) and whose surnames begin with the letters A-K – you only have next year to register. If you have not started your paperwork yet, chances are you might not finish in time for this first batch. You will then have to wait until all others have registered and work under the supervision of a registered person while you wait your turn.

Yours in automation,

Johan Maartens.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

SAIMC’s May 2026 KS4I event to spotlight AI-driven industrial automation
SAIMC SAIMC
SAIMC’s May 2026 KS4I event will focus on practical and forward-looking approaches to AI-enabled automation and intelligent industrial connectivity.

Read more...
SAIMC: From the office of the COO
SAIMC SAIMC
We are failing young engineers - not just in classrooms, but as a society.

Read more...
SAIMC: Johannesburg branch
SAIMC SAIMC
Jenine Jansen van Vuuren from Comtest delivered a presentation at the SAIMC Johannesburg technology evening, focusing on electric vehicle charging stations and the key metrics that govern their functionality.

Read more...
SAIMC: Durban branch
SAIMC SAIMC
At the monthly meeting of the Durban branch of the SAIMC, Smunye Memela, project manager and switch gear specialist at Gubhuza 3 Trading presented on the subject ‘From sensors to insights: predictive maintenance in action’.

Read more...
SAIMC’s May 2026 KS4I event to spotlight AI-driven industrial automation
SAIMC
SAIMC’s May KS4I event will focus on practical and forward-looking approaches to AI-enabled automation and intelligent industrial connectivity.

Read more...
SAIMC presents knowledge-sharing session on predictive maintenance
SAIMC
SAIMC is presenting another upcoming knowledge-sharing event as part of its Knowledge Sharing for Industry (KS4I) series, aimed at advancing technical insight and collaboration across the engineering sector.

Read more...
SAIMC knowledge sharing event
SAIMC SAIMC
SAIMC will host a technical knowledge-sharing session by Hendrik Spies from SICK Sensor Intelligence, who will share his insights into ‘From Condition Monitoring to Predictive Maintenance: The Digital Journey’.

Read more...
SAIMC Durban
SAIMC
: At the SAIMC Durban monthly meeting, James Adams from Adroit Technologies presented to a full house on the subject of ‘The intelligent factory: AI, digital twins, zero-defect production, and cybersecurity in modern automotive manufacturing’.

Read more...
SAIMC: From the office of the CEO
SAIMC SAIMC
AI has become part of our productivity platforms, our operations and our decision making environments. The SAIMC NPC Power Hour series is one such initiative.

Read more...
SAIMC: Johannesburg branch
SAIMC SAIMC
The March SAIMC Johannesburg technology event was proudly hosted by Matech and focused on business intelligence made simple.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved