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 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
- SAFLEC AGM 2026: Strengthening of relationships between industry organisations and government a key developmentThis has been a defining year for the South African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC). It has been a year of innovation, collaboration and meaningful progress, where together with our members and strategic partners, we have continued to strengthen the competitiveness of South Africa's footwear and leather industry while creat ...moreSAFLEC AGM 2026: A year marked by resilienceOn behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to welcome all our members and stakeholders to the 24th Annual General Meeting of the South African Leather & Footwear Export Council (SAFLEC).The Annual General Meeting provides us with an opportunity not only to reflect on the performance of the Council over the past financial y ...more2026 Comrades shoe count: Asics stays top, Adidas up, Nike slides into 4th placeMarathon shoe counts are among the few footwear statistics available in SA. The Sweat Shop’s Jax Snyman has extracted this year’s Comrades Marathon figures for comparison with last year.His assessment: “Asics up. Adidas properly up. New Balance steady although now 3rd largest. Nike down and drop in rankings to 4th. Sauco ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Nigeria’s Leather Industry: Not a clear pictureNigeria is widely accepted as having a very large livestock population, but a relatively small tanning industry, much of it concentrated in Kano, producing high grade goat- and sheepskin crust which is exported for finishing elsewhere for use in garments.Recent articles cast some doubt on this, so are Nigeria’s hides and skins: M ...moreSADC Leather Forum unites 16 member states to strengthen the regional leather industryThe Southern African Development Community’s Regional Leather Forum met in Durban, South Africa, in August. Nerisha Jairaj and Jacob Nyathi explain different aspects. ...moreFifteen million sheep in the UK to share among shearersAccording to the UK government, its sheep population decreased over the past year by 1.7% but that still leaves a flock of over 30 million. For comparison, the domestic flock in South Africa numbers about 21 million and New Zealand has some 23 million. Australia, with more than 70 million, has a wool clip of approximately 325,000 tonnes. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Performance testing: Building credibility in the modern apparel and footwear marketThe lines between protective wear, sportswear, outdoor apparel, wellness clothing and everyday fashion continue to blur. Consumers increasingly expect garments and footwear to deliver more than style alone. Whether purchasing workwear, running apparel, outdoor footwear, school shoes or everyday casual products, buyers now look for comfort ...moreRealPPE Marketplace: Where safety meets smarter procurementRealPPE Marketplace is a 100% black women-owned B2B PPE marketplace built for South African industry. Founded after years of witnessing safety officers and procurement teams lose time to fragmented suppliers, inconsistent pricing, and missing documentation, RealPPE was created to bring structure and reliability to industrial PPE sourcing. ...moreChina-made firefighting equipment now needs verification of conformity with SANS standardsPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Firefighting equipment is among the 25 product categories published on 01 April by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition for a mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Programme.The system will require certain goods shipped from China to be tested and certified before they enter the ...more
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