S&V Protect Magazine Vol17 No2 Third Quarter 2023
The only SA magazine aimed exclusively at the PPE end user.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Copying: BBF and Rebel accuse Dromex of copying, which it denies – but that’s the way the industry operates, says distributor.
- 4Tify Africa resurrection bid – ‘talks with liquidators ongoing’.
09 OHS in Focus
- The second in a new series: Are you a compliance or competent health and safety practitioner, asks Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA, because people’s lives depend on it.
10 Sanitation
- The harsh reality of South Africa’s ongoing sewage crisis and its undeniable link to drinking water quality, writes Gerhart Britz of Sanitech, Durban, KZN, SA.
12 Countering counterfeit
- German manufacturer Bosch has developed Origify, a system which can capture the minute differences in every product coming off a production line to allow counterfeit products to be detected – including in medical and pharmaceutical products and medicines.
13 Drugs & Alcohol
- Addressing the growing threat of substance abuse in mining operations. - Clarifying the role of breathalyser results in employee dismissals: Dispelling misconceptions to ensure workplace safety. Both articles by Rhys Evans, Alco-Safe, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
21 Innovations
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Dynamic risk management – on the road with safe and reliable autonomous vehicles.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Terahertz measurement system for slush skins used in airbag construction.
27 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
Evolution Engineering (01), Hi-Tec Interceptor (OFC), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (06), Rebel SafetyGear (02), S&V Calendar (10), S&V Directory (09), SAFLEC (11), Selective International Footwear Kaliber (04).
The next issue
Will be out on 22 November 2023.
- BBF and Rebel accuse Dromex of copying, which it denies – but that’s the way the industry operates, says distributorThree of SA’s biggest PPE OEMs are involved in what is – so far – a war of words over copying.On 04 September, BBF Safety Group sent a notice to its distributors and some end users claiming Dromex’s Nobuhle and Ulteco Plus styles “replicate too closely our Sisi Reese and Bova Neoflex safety boot styles” ...moreThe harsh reality of South Africa's ongoing sewage crisis and its undeniable link to drinking water qualityDurban, KZN, SA (09 October 2023) – South Africa's sewage crisis has dire consequences for public health, waterways, and ecosystems. Outdated and poorly maintained wastewater infrastructure due to insufficient investment is one factor that results in poor waste management. The strain of rapid urbanisation with inadequate sanitation ...moreFighting counterfeiting in the medical and pharmaceutical industry: Origify offers end-to-end authentication* Origify from Bosch enables image-based recording of products during production or packaging processes.* A following check for authenticity can also be done via a suitable smartphone with camera and the Origify app. ...moreOn the road with autonomous vehicles — safe and reliableKaiserslautern, Germany (01 August 2023) – An important challenge for the acceptance of autonomous driving is to ensure the safety of road users without risking a loss of speed. A team of scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE), the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems (IKS), and t ...moreSafe airbag deployment: Terahertz measurement system for slush skinsKaiserslautern, Germany (01 August 2023) – According to the Government Statistics Office, more than 358,000 people were injured in traffic accidents in Germany in 2022. Airbags often prevent more serious injuries. While driving, airbags are normally hidden behind a high-grade plastic panel called a slush skin that envelops larg ...moreAre you a compliance or competent health and safety practitioner?The second in a new series by Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, 083 325 4182, benrisk@mweb.co.za. As a now practicing SACPCMP Pr.CHSA and a SHE and Risk Management Consultant, who entered into the OHS discipline field in 1978, I interface with health and safety practitioners in all sectors of SA’s industries and busin ...moreAddressing the growing threat of substance abuse in mining operationsJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (17 August 2023) – Mining companies face significant safety risks associated with the use of nyaope and cannabis among their employees, jeopardising both the well-being of workers and the overall safety of operations. These substances can severely impair users' ability to concentrate, posing challenges to m ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- Following Trump’s tariff hikes, can mass shoe production actually be moved to the US? The answer is – it’s not that simple.President Trump’s escalation on Wednesday with the announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs have sparked a lot of questions and concerns among the footwear industry.One of these questions that are top of mind for many is: how realistic is it to bring shoe manufacturing back to the States? The answer is – it’ ...moreCanton: 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 ...moreA ‘mouse’, who was in every way outsized - Obituary: Tony Jelinski – Everflex Manufacturing (19/10/1945-16/03/2025)Tony Jelinski – who was also known as Mighty Mouse and whose personality, friendships and business acumen were a lot bigger than the biggest mouse you have ever seen.Due to my age of 84, I am the dinosaur of the partners of the PMC Group, of which Everflex, Tony’s sphere, was such a big part.I was responsible for getting Tony ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- A response to Sam Setter’s Pill, ‘Audits and reality aren’t always the same thing’, in the last issueI am not going to defend the brands or auditing systems referred to in the article shared by Sam. I would like to provide some thoughts from my own experiences for some of the drivers for those behaviours.The lack of transparency of parts of the supply chain and the superficiality of auditing systems are not disconnected; they are both af ...moreHow do you know where to go, if you don’t know where you are?Many organisations feel disadvantaged by not having access to the latest international standards and expectations, nor the information and tools to assist them with how they can achieve the standards required.This is something that SLF has a mission to support – ensuring that any organisation, irrespective of size and scope, can ben ...moreThe subjective nature of auditingThis month’s article has a personal perspective, perhaps you might say a subjective perspective, and that is the challenge of applying consistent approaches and standards to auditing. I’m speaking here from recent personal experience – names and organisations are excluded for obvious reasons, but the case study is real. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Switch to updated standard: Footwear suppliers given time limit to run out old stockPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Safety footwear suppliers have until April 2026 to sell stock made to the 2014 edition of SA National Standard (SANS) 20345.The National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) confirmed this at a stakeholder meeting on 11 March.The SA National Standard (SANS) for safety footwear in South Africa was upgrade ...moreWHO 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 ...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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