S&V Protect Magazine Vol17 No2 Third Quarter 2023
The only SA magazine aimed exclusively at the PPE end user.
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
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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 distributor
Three 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 quality
Durban, 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 reliable
Kaiserslautern, 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 skins
Kaiserslautern, 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 ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- A perspective: Perhaps it was an eye-opener for industry players to hear each otherLooking back over the workshop, BMA consultant Justin Snelling wrote: “In terms of our reflections of the workshop, we covered a lot of territory. Perhaps though what was most encouraging was the breadth of participation from different segments of the sector and their willingness, or even excitement, to contribute. We don’t ta ...moreBova Socks: The PPE layer that works inside the boot
In demanding work environments, safety footwear plays a critical role in helping workers manage workplace risks. However, the sock worn inside the boot also influences comfort, hygiene, fit and overall performance throughout the shift. This makes Bova’s sock range an essential part of a complete PPE solution.Bova high-performance so ...moreComrades Expo 2026
Durban, KZN, SA – The exhibitor list at the Comrades Expo, from 11-13 June, has shown an evolution in the types of companies exhibiting. Just 1 running footwear supplier, Ikhambi Distribution, promoting its Hoka brand, was there.Technical sock suppliers, however, were well represented, with Balega, Falke, Sox Footwear and The Hirst ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Luxury or notWe hear from all sides that the leather industry is not doing too well and the conflict in the Middle East is definitely not improving the situation. The present wars have a huge impact on inflation and hence on the buying power of consumers with negative consequences for the luxury industry whose shares we have seen tumbling at the vario ...moreOrganic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead
Washington, DC, U.S.A. (23 June 2026) — Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorde ...moreISTT offers free entry level leather course to encourage trainingGrahamstown, E. Cape, SA – The International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) is offering one of its short online courses, Introduction to the Leather Industry, for free.The course is suitable for entry level tannery staff.It is also suitable for anyone in footwear, leather goods, furniture and upholstery manufacturing, retailing ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- More precise fire extinguishing from the air using simulation and sensor data
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more intense worldwide. Fires often become infernos due to heat, drought and wind, especially in the summer. The problem is compounded by the climate crisis. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM and the startup CAURUS Technologies GmbH are responding to this growi ...moreCONSIDERING A PPE MATRIX
What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) do we need to have on site to reduce and manage the workplace and environmental exposure risks to our employees?Safety and mining legislation place the responsibility on employers to ensure that they provide and maintain working environments that are safe and without risk to the health on employees ...moreNew OHS regulations coming into force later this year mean PPE needs to be reviewed, too
In March 2025, the Physical Agents Regulations (and their guidelines) and the Noise Exposure Regulations (and their guidelines) of the OHSAct were published, with an 18-month time-period promulgation date to September 2026, allowing employers time to upgrade their Health & Safety requirements to comply with the new published regulatio ...more
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