SAPEMA 'concerned' by non-compliant PPE surge

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA - Shortages of facemasks and coveralls caused by the pandemic have resulted in many PPE distributors and resellers "turning a blind eye" to checking that the products they sell meet required standards, according to Deleane Luzzatto, chairperson of the Southern African Protective Equipment Marketing Association (SAPEMA).

"To some extent, it's been a case of putting compliance to one side," she said, "to saying that 'if it works to some degree, leave it'. But this isn't a situation that can continue.

"Noncompliance is a problem we've always faced, but now it's been exacerbated tenfold, and SAPEMA will have to address this situation as a matter of urgency."

She said while around 65% of the respiratory equipment approved by the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) was supplied by SAPEMA members, "there are lots of newcomers - people who have come into the industry since the pandemic started, many of whom have no experience and little knowledge, but who believe it's just a business opportunity. From being a grudge purchase, PPE has become a high profile industry. Few people knew what it stood for - now it's a household term."

While the main problem with noncompliant product has been with respiratory protection - specifically N95 respirators and up - there have also been issues with coveralls and surgical gloves. Neither of those products is regulated by the NRCS, but there are ISO specifications for both.

With global demand putting pressure on normal supply channels, local manufacturing has become increasingly important, and she said all local manufacturers of N95 masks - BBF, Draeger, (please provide a full list) had been "working flat out" since the start of the pandemic.

[Is there any information about expansion of local production facilities?]

A difficulty they have faced has been sourcing raw materials.

 

SAPEMA turns 60 this year. We will look at some of the highlights in the next issue.