Footwear - Leather - PPE Industry News & Articles
- When the shoe doesn’t fit – why women need to demand female-specific safety footwear in the workplaceOver the years, women have begun to make up a greater proportion of the workforce, and this includes sectors that have typically been male-dominated such as mining, manufacturing and construction. This increase in women workers in more physical industries shines a spotlight on the need for female-specific safety gear, especially footwear. ...moreFall arrest rescue: planning considerations“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin. In the working at heights industry, the focus in always to ensure the competency of the workers exposed to that high-risk environment, ensuring they know how to use the correct equipment to prevent them from falling. BUT incidents happen, and thus we must always prepare for the worst-case scenario... ...moreAn autonomous underwater robot saves people from drowningThe Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, headquartered in Germany, describes itself as the world’s leading applied research organization. With its focus on developing key technologies that are vital for the future and enabling the commercial exploitation of this work by business and industry, Fraunhofer plays a central role in the innovation process. Health, safety and PPE are frequently part of its research. ...moreNew type of ventilator for virus-free airThe danger of becoming infected with the coronavirus is especially high in enclosed spaces. This is because aerosols – which play a key role in the transmission of COVID-19 – increase the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor spaces. ...moreRecycling technology turns masks and gowns into school chairsThe millions of masks, gloves and other PPE generated by the pandemic have created a global waste problem, with many of them ending up in our oceans. In April, BBC News and Sky News reported developments to recycle at least some of them. ...moreLocal production up, imports down, pressure on pricesSafety footwear has so far survived the pandemic relatively unscathed - no life support from government, and apparently no casualties. ...moreSeven tips to prevent suspension traumaSuspension trauma – or harness hang syndrome – is a life-threatening condition that occurs after a fall when the human body is held upright without any movement for a period of time. The good news is that it can be avoided with the right knowledge and training. Here are seven tips on how you can prevent suspension trauma. ...more'Our relationship with industry is good', says NRCSMirriam Moswaane, head of communications and marketing at the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS), responded to our questions ...moreMandatory COVID -19 immunisation in the workplace: 'It’s not that straightforward'This article was contributed by Adams & Adams, an internationally recognised and leading African law firm that specialises in providing intellectual property and commercial services. Its primary offices are in South Africa, with branches and associate offices in a number of African countries. ...moreGauteng PPE supplier, accused of excessive pricing of face masks, agrees to donate essential goods to charity and contribute to Solidarity FundIssued by the Competition Tribunal of South Africa. Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (April 15, 2021) - A Gauteng-based online supplier of personal protective clothing and safety equipment has agreed to donate essential goods to a charity and contribute to the Solidarity Fund, after the Competition Commission accused it of allegedly charging excessive prices for FFP1 and FFP2 face masks in February and March 2020. ...moreSanitized T 99-19 'offers 99.84% protection against SARS CoV-2 on textiles'Burgdorf, Switzerland (April 22, 2021) - The nearly 100 % antimicrobial protection of Sanitized T 99-19 against the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been confirmed by independent labs in France (basis: ISO 18184:2019). ...moreMental health and well-being have become the predominating H&S issuesBy Professor John Smallwood, Professor of Construction Management, NMU, and Professor Fidelis Emuze, Research Associate, Central University of Technology, Free State ...moreWorld Tuberculosis (TB) DayFirst AIDS, now Covid-19, have been seen as major threats to human health in South Africa. Yet neither has killed anywhere near as many people as lowly and often forgotten tuberculosis which, according to The World Health Organisation, killed 63 000 people in SA in 2018, while 310 000 contracted it. TB is a slow killer, so the two figures aren't a comparison, but it is clear that TB is a far more deadly disease then Covid-19, despite the facts that it is far better understood than Covid-19 or AIDS, and much more easily preventable than either of them. ...moreUnderstanding the eating habits of the SA populationJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (May 24, 2021) – Unilever food brand Knorr released findings from its 2021 study on ‘Understanding the eating habits of the SA population’ compiled by market measurement firm, NielsenIQ, during the annual Plate of the Nation virtual roundtable event 2021. ...moreEffects of the pandemic: Local production up, imports down, pressure on pricesMore than any other footwear category in South Africa, safety footwear has so far survived the pandemic relatively unscathed - no life support from government, and apparently no casualties. It helped that its status as part of PPE, and therefore an essential service, allowed it to operate, albeit on a reduced scale, during the strictest p ...moreRebel Safety Gear - Q&A with Gavin Cooke, MD- The NRCS needs to do what it's supposed to dorn- Sourcing from China hasn't been a problemrn- Swing to lower priced boots, but demand is good ...morePPE budgets stretched, but sales upQ&A with Ndlela Mazibuko, BBF Safety Group sales managerHow well has the safety footwear market held up over the past 18 months? Are there any noticeable changes in the quantities your customers are buying, in the price points that they're buying, or in the end customers that they're supplying? (e.g. is mining down but some other sect ...moreThey have an enormous task, but the process needs to be speeded upEugene du Toit, BBF Safety Group technical managerTo start, we’d like to acknowledge the work the NRCS is doing with regards to safety footwear and the PPE categories they regulate. The enormity of the task is sometimes overlooked but, taking into account that safety footwear only came into the NRCS portfolio a few years ago, ...morePandemic has helped us take market share from importersQ&A with Michael Wyatt, MD Bata SAHow happy or otherwise is your business with the NRCS? Do you have numbers for all your styles? What are the problems, for safety footwear suppliers, with what the NRCS is doing? Bata has a good relationship with NRCS. However, South Africa would benefit from speeding up the turnaround time of ne ...morePlan. Support your customers. Grow.Q&A with Nick Bryant, national sales manager, ProFit Safety FootwearYou have said that ProFit Safety Footwear has secured 18% growth year on year through Covid-19. How do you get shipping berths? This is the crystal ball part of the game. The “Magic 8 Ball” gets a shake as we ask the question…will the vessel be ...more© S&V Publications