S&V Protect Magazine Vol17 No2 Second Quarter 2023
The only SA magazine aimed exclusively at the PPE end user.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 OHS in Focus
- First in a new series: Developing a risk-based safety management system programme, by Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
07 Respiratory Protection
- Handel Street Medical to make 4-ply masks in conjunction with US technology partner Ascend Performance Materials, writes Ashraf Ismail, Durban, KZN, SA.
10 Safety Footwear
- Impact of the new EN ISO 20344-20345-20347 – 2021 version standards for safety and occupational footwear and safety footwear testing.
15 Standards
- Empowering SA’s farmers to export: the role of business process outsourcing providers, by Programmed Process Outsourcing’s Tennille Bell, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16 Mental Health
- Mental health in construction, by Professor John Smallwood, Professor of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
18 Risk Assessment
- The effect of load shedding on workplace safety, by Louise Woodburn, GM Risk Solutions, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
19 Competition Tribunal
- Another fine for Covid-19 over-pricing.
20 Drugs
- Cannabis in the workplace – if it’s detectable in the bloodstream, zero-tolerance companies can fire staff, writes Rona Bekker, policy manager of the National Employers’ Association of SA, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
20 Materials Handling Safety
- Forklift safety is a combination of new technology and better habits, writes Dawn van Dyk, SHEQ manager at CFAO Equipment, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
21 Innovations
- Royal Academy of Engineering’s 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is jointly awarded for YUNGA local digital security network and FlexiGyn medical diagnostic device.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft unveils in vitro eye irritation test to replace standard animal testing.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft unveils tool to help prevent fires and explosions when venting natural gas lines.
27 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
Evolution Engineering (01), Hi-Tec Interceptor (02), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (OFC), ProFit Safety Footwear (09), Rebel SafetyGear (04), S&V Calendar (08), S&V Directory (13), SAFLEC (18), Selective International Footwear Kaliber (06).
The next issue
Will be out on 06 September 2023.
- Handel Street Medical to make 4-ply masks in conjunction with US technology partner Ascend Performance Materials
Durban, KZN, SA – Medical mask manufacturer Handel Street Medical is gearing up to manufacture 4-ply technology masks made from zinc-embedded polyamide polymer matrix supplied by our technology partner, Ascend Performance Materials.Production, at a rate of 20 000 masks/day, will begin in September 2023 and will be available to ...moreHealth care and security inventions win £25,000 Engineering Innovation awards
Since 2014, the UK-based Royal Academy of Engineering has awarded an annual ‘Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation’, which this year has been given to 2 recipients, from South Africa and Uganda. The South African entry is aimed at improving women’s health, the Ugandan one at upscaling security. ...moreInnovative in vitro eye irritation test to replace standard animal testing
An end in sight to the cruelty of using live rabbits.Würzburg, Germany (01 March 2023) – In the worst-case scenario, getting chemicals in your eyes can lead to blindness. Until now, the eye irritancy potential of chemical substances has had to be assessed using the Draize test on live rabbits – a standard implemented ...moreVenting natural gas lines: Fraunhofer tool helps prevent fires and explosions
Magdeburg, Germany (01 March 2023) – Lines in natural gas grids must be maintained and serviced regularly. This entails using flares to vent the natural gas. With FlareSimulator, research scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF have developed an assistive tool that calculates the correct ...moreDeveloping a risk-based safety management system programmeAt an OSHAfrica conference, speakers raised the topics of ‘Health & Safety Management Systems’ and ‘Safety Risk Management Systems’ which many people think of as vastly separated from each other.The proposed Occupational Health & Safety Amendment Act (OHSAct) (not promulgated yet) is expected to require saf ...moreImpact of the new EN ISO 20344-20345-20347 – 2021 versionThe ISO standards for safety footwear, EN ISO 20344 (which governs test methods), 20345 and 20347 (the requirements, marking and information to user for safety footwear and occupational footwear respectively) have been updated to a 2021 version.The key changes are:New definitions- seat region becomes heel area- scuff cap: abrasion resista ...moreEmpowering South African farmers to export: the role of BPOs in streamlining the processAgriculture is a consistent, major contributor to South Africa’s exports, offering a wide range of products to a diverse range of customer countries. Food exports must conform to high standards of health and safety, and farmers need help understanding and meeting them, says the writer. ...moreMental health in constructionIntroductionThis article is intended to constitute an ‘Introduction to mental health’, which is a subject on its own, in an endeavour to create awareness of the problem and challenges, and conscientise construction stakeholders.United Kingdom (UK) construction statistics courtesy of The Holistic Health Care Group (2020) indica ...moreThe effect of loadshedding on workplace safetyBy the nature of their work, risk assessors naturally look for things that might go wrong. Loadshedding, viewed by most South Africans as the worst of the country’s many failings, has a negative effect many people don’t consider: it can also affect workplace safety. ...moreAnother fine for Covid-19 over-pricingTribunal fines SAPS hand sanitiser supplier BlueCollar and its partner R3.5m, tells SAPS it can take further legal action against them. ...moreCannabis in the workplace: If it’s detectable in the bloodstream, zero-tolerance companies can fire staffPretoria, Gauteng, SA (04 May 2023) – Since the Constitutional Court judgement in the Prince-matter in 2018, which did no more than legalise the possession and use of cannabis “in private”, employers were uncertain as to the effect this may have on their ability to regulate the use and possession of this drug by their em ...moreForklift safety – a combination of new technology and better habitsWith most accidents in the material handling industry attributable to collisions between forklifts and pedestrians, more needs to be done to reduce injuries and potential fatalities. ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Puma: Holding on to its market gains – just – planning more local production, but a declining independent retailer sector
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Puma – along with Adidas, its arch rival here, globally and in their joint hometown, Herzogenaurach – has a long history in South Africa.Next year marks 25 years of Puma Sports SA (Pty) Ltd as a wholly owned subsidiary of Puma SE, following a decade or more under licensee Jagsports. “It&rsq ...moreKnock out the knockoffs: Protecting your brand against imitationsCounterfeiting is no longer confined to imitation designer goods sold in back-alley markets. It has become a widespread and organised trade that threatens fair competition and the rights of legitimate businesses. At its simplest, counterfeiting means the deliberate manufacture and sale of goods calculated to resemble genuine branded produ ...moreMixed messages from Deckers Brands results
Goleta, California, USA (23 October 2025) – Hoka grew by 11.1% to US$634.1 million and Ugg grew by 10.1% to $759.6 million in Deckers Brands’ second fiscal quarter ended 30 September, the company announced.Sales of its ‘other brands’, now mainly Teva and Ahnu following the phase-out of its Koolaburra operations, de ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Better than last year, for sure, but tariff-hit Chinese furniture on its way hereCape Town, W. Cape, SA – Demand for upholstery leather this year is certainly better than last year. Thankfully there have been no further closures of large factories beyond the Grafton Everest factory some years back. The Bravo Group has restructured and seems to be slowly getting back on its feet thanks to a lot of the old guard b ...moreOnly Natural Design Competition winners visit the showcase at Material Matters London
London, UK (15 September 2025) – The Only Natural International Student Design Competition 2025 has announced its 7 category winners.The competition looks at the environmental crisis created by synthetic, non-biodegradable materials, championing organic alternatives including wool, hemp, wood and leather. In response to fast fashion ...moreSA ostrich leather exporters still seeking solutions to U.S. tariffsCape Town/Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA – Thurling Investments MD Vidrik Thurling said his business and its manufacturing partner, Ostriland Import Export, were “still negotiating with clients” over how to cope with the tariffs. “30% is a huge number,” he said. “There isn’t a simple solution.”Arno ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Surviving the safety footwear industry: The Simpsons meet Armageddon
ProFit Safety Footwear national sales manager Nick Bryant was asked on his 45th birthday (20th of August) whether he still enjoys what he does for a living. “Absolutely. I love it. I live for it,” he replied. “And as for how… well, like most things in life, you need to have a serious passion for it… and an ...moreSELECTING JOB TASK PPEThe issue of ‘Selecting Job Task Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE)’ seems a simple undertaking, but at many levels, it is a fairly complex issue, because for each type of PPE there are usually various product variants available for the different risks and exposures related to specific job task work occurrences and events.To ...moreNot an afterthought – integrating healthcare technology at the very beginning
Today’s modern healthcare facilities have, respectfully, moved beyond bricks, mortar and medical equipment to now include infrastructure that embeds intelligence and resilience, providing the foundation for safer, smarter and patient-centric healthcare environment.In fact, the medical industry is making truly remarkable gains when i ...more
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