S&V Protect Magazine Vol15 No2 Second Quarter 2021
The only SA magazine aimed exclusively at the PPE end user.
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
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IN THIS ISSUE:
3 Bullet Resistant Vests
- The second in a series of articles by Deon du Plessis, MD of Bullet Proofing Technology, in which he outlines the soft and hard materials which go into BRVs.
11 Working at Height
- Fall arrest rescue - Protekta Safety Gear training manager Anderson Cilliers writes about planning considerations.
- Seven tips to prevent suspension trauma, by BBF Safety Group.
16 Safety Footwear - Effects of the Pandemic
- Local production up, imports down, pressure on prices.
- 'Our relationship with industry is good,' says National Regulator for Compulsory Standards.
- The NRCS needs to do what it's supposed to do, sourcing from China hasn't been a problem, and swing to lower priced boots, but demand is good. Rebel Safety Goods' Gavin Cooke looks at the issues.
- PPE budgets stretched, but sales up, says BBF's Ndlela Mazibuko.
- NRCS has an enormous task, but the process needs to be speeded up, says BBF's Eugene du Toit.
- Pandemic has helped us take market share from importers, says Bata SA's Michael Wyatt.
- Plan, support your customers, grow - that's the formula, says ProFit's Nick Bryant.
- Whe the shoe doesn't fit - why women need to demand female-specific safety footwear, by Sisi brand manager Predahni Rai Naidoo.
22 The Pandemic
- Mandatory Covid-19 immunisation in the workplace 'isn't that straightforward', writes law firm Adams & Adams.
- Another mask supplier falls foul of the Competition Tribubal.
- Sanitized T99-19 'offers 99.84% protection against Covid on textiles'.
24 Health
- Mental health and well-being have become the predominating H&S issues, write Prof. John Smallwood and Prof. Fidelis Emuze.
25 Disease
- World Tuberculosis Day - TB is a major workplace issue, writes Prof. John Smallwood.
26 Nutrition
- Understanding the eating habits of the SA population - a study by Knorr.
27 Innovations - The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
- Safety in water: An autonomous underwater robot saves people from drowning.
- Air purification and disinfection: New type of ventilator for virus-free air.
30 Recycling PPE
- Finally it's becoming an issue - turning the millions of masks and gloves into other products.
23 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety Group/Bova Harness (OFC), BBF Safety Group/Lemaitre Maxeco (15), Hi-Tec Interceptor (2), Protekta Safety Gear (5), Rebel SafetyGear (7), ProFit Safety Footwear (12), Selective International Footwear/Kaliber (9).
The next issue
Will be out on July 16.
- Materials used in Bullet Resistant Jackets (BRVs) or Body ArmourGenerally speaking, the lighter it is, the more it costs. This is the second in a series of articles on bullet resistant vests by Deon du Plessis, MD of Bullet Proofing Technology (Pty) Ltd, in which he outlines the soft and hard materials which go into BRVs. His business manufactures a wide range of body armour plates and vehicle armour, and supplies a number of other bullet resistant vest manufacturers. ...moreQ&A with Gavin Cooke, MD, Rebel Safety GearThe NRCS needs to do what it's supposed to do - Sourcing from China hasn't been a problem - Swing to lower priced boots, but demand is good. ...moreThey have an enormous task, but the process needs to be speeded upTo 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, it is still a relatively new category for them with an exhaustive number of both local and imported styles to consider. ...morePlan. Support your customers. Grow.Q&A with Nick Bryant, national sales manager, ProFit Safety Footwear ...moreWhen 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. ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- Canton: As big as everChina Import and Export Fair, also known as the “Canton Fair”, is the World’s No.1 Expo in terms of scale. Canton Fair will see its 137th session to be held from April 15 to May 5, 2025 in Guangzhou, China.With an exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, the 137th edition of Canton Fair converges 28,000+ exhibitors ...moreSkechers going private to compete smarter?Skechers has announced its acquisition by private equity firm 3G Capital for $63 per share — a 30% premium over its recent stock price — marking its shift from public to private ownership by Q3 2025. Once the deal closes, Skechers will be delisted from the NYSE, and public shareholders will receive a cash payout. CEO Robe ...moreTraditional Guinea Leppi fabric now officially recognised as a PGIPretoria, Gauteng, SA (15/04/2025) – Leppi fabric dyed using local plants is the traditional fabric of the Foutah Djallon region in Guinea. Its Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) designation, recently granted by the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI), safeguards the fabric from misuse inc ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Can incoming legislation bring opportunities for Africa?As global markets adopt stricter environmental, human rights and ethical regulations—particularly in the European Union—the African leather industry faces a pivotal moment. While new legislation around sustainability, traceability, and labour rights introduces compliance challenges, it also opens doors for African producers to access higher-value international markets. ...moreSA’s Agriculture Minister ‘demands immediate action’ to curb FMD spreadPretoria, Gauteng, SA (16 April 2025) – The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, requested the Department of Agriculture to urgently give attention to the needed action plans and steps to ensure inroads are made to effectively curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Kwazulu-Natal.During a recent visit to KwaZulu-Nat ...moreThe Fairs - Sam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourWe have just had the pleasure of the celebration of the world's major leather fairs, Lineapelle and APLF. Both fairs have been considered well attended though business was apparently not brilliant. However, have you noticed that the fairs are more and more shifting from the exhibition and business purpose to a conference venue, an instrum ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- WHO targets 15 countries for elimination of sleeping sickness by 2030A project is underway to eradicate ‘neglected tropical diseases’ (NTDs) in Africa.Among them is sleeping sickness, also known as nagana in domestic and wild animals.Sleeping sickness, known medically as human African trypanosomiasis, is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies, and is endemic in sub-S ...moreBeier Group, Department of Higher Education and SETA ‘better together’Pinetown, KZN, SA – The Beier Group, which includes the BBF Safety Group, in December hosted the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) and the FP&M SETA for an oversight visit to ensure that state funds are being used in accordance with the Sectoral Skills Plan.DHET deputy minister Dr Mimmy Martha Gondwe and SETA ...moreLengthy detentions: That’s just the way it is, says NCCS&V Protect asked the National Consumer Commission to comment on Treadsafe’s experience, and also whether other containers have been detained. Jabu Mbeje, Divisional Head: Enforcement & Legal Services, at the NCC, sent this response: ...more
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