S&V Protect Magazine Vol18 No4 Fourth Quarter 2024
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 OHS in Focus
- The Fire and Life Safety Blame Game – a presentation by Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA
14 Local Manufacturing
- The importance of supporting local manufacturing to preserve South Africa’s footwear industry, by Brad Joyce, director of business development at Neptun Safety Footwear.
16 Anti-Static Protection
- Standard socks could shock: The hidden danger in anti-static work environments, by Deane Northard, BBF Safety Group marketing manager.
18 Fire Protection
- PPG’s flexible epoxy coating provides modular constructions with hours of fire protection.
19 Standards
- Mitigate risks and enhance efficiency – the ISO accreditation advantage, by Robert Erasmus, MD of Sanitech.
- ASTM International devises test methods for breathability of infant products.
21 Personnel
- Mastering contractor management for safety, business efficiency and growth in the mining industry, by Roscoe Bremer, business development executive of KBC Health & Safety.
- Fostering safety through commitment by empowering workforce development and lifelong dedication, by Sian Thurtell, COO of KBC Health & Safety.
23 Respiratory Protection
- How dangerous is Radon? Press release by Radonova Laboratories.
24 MBSA National Safety Competition
- MBA North members place in top 4 of every category - again.
26 Innovation
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: AI solution shows truck drivers where to park.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Harnessing AI to fight global deforestation.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: EV battery enclosures with lower carbon emissions.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Fungal mycelium as the basis for sustainable products.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Data-efficient foundation model for biomarker detection.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Mobile test platform for offshore wind turbines.
35 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety Group/Bova (11), Claw Boot (03, 06), Dangee Carken/Grittgear (02), Kaliber (05, 15), Neptun Boot (09), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (OFC), Rainbow Group (17), Rebel SafetyGear (08), S&V Calendar (this page), S&V Directory (20), SAFLEC (31), SAPEMA PPE Conference (13).
The next issue
Will be out on 26 February 2025. Deadline for editorial submissions and advertising material is 19 February 2025.
- The importance of supporting local manufacturing to preserve South Africa’s footwear industry
Pinetown, KZN, SA – At Neptun Safety Footwear, our commitment to local manufacturing goes beyond producing quality footwear—it’s about building a sustainable, self-reliant economy in South Africa. We are passionate about growing local industries, not just for the jobs they create today but for the future they secure for ...moreStandard socks could shock: The hidden danger in anti-static work environments
Pinetown, KZN, SA – In any environment where the build-up of static electricity has been determined to be a risk, anti-static footwear must be worn. Anti-static footwear is designed to help dissipate the accumulation of static electricity from the body while still providing a reasonable level of resistance to electrical hazards from ...moreFlexible epoxy coating provides modular constructions with hours of fire protection
Pittsburgh, PA, USA – PPG’s Steelguard 951 epoxy intumescent fire protection coating is designed for advanced – read high value – manufacturing facilities, including semiconductor plants, electric vehicle battery facilities, data centres and other commercial infrastructure.It provides up to 4 hours of fire protecti ...moreMitigate risks and enhance efficiency - the ISO accreditation advantage
Durban, KZN, SA (11 September 2024) – ISO accreditation is a strategic investment that empowers businesses to enhance their competitiveness, mitigate risks, and seize new market opportunities. By adhering to globally recognised standards, organisations can build trust, streamline operations, and achieve sustainable growth. While the ...moreMastering contractor management for safety, business efficiency and growth in the mining industry
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (13 November 2024) – The mining industry operates in a complex and demanding environment characterised by rapid technological advancements, stringent safety regulations, and escalating cost pressures. To compete in this context successfully, mining executives must prioritise operational efficiency, cost-eff ...moreFostering safety through commitment by empowering workforce development and lifelong dedication
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (24 October 2024) – Workplace safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a fundamental aspect of organisational health and success. At its core lies commitment—a steadfast dedication to safeguarding the well-being of employees. When commitment permeates an organisation, it creates a culture ...moreHow dangerous is Radon?
Radon is estimated to cause 3% to 14% percent of all lung cancer cases in the world, depending on where you live and how much radon you are exposed to.Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible and odourless gas that enters homes and workplaces unnoticed. It can pose a serious health risk at elevated levels for a prolonged period. But what ...moreMBA North members place in top 4 of every category in MBSA National Safety Competition – again
Master Builders Association North (MBA North) members have continued their multi-year winning streak by being placed in the top four of every category in the 2024 Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) National Safety Competition (NSC) – the flagship event for health and safety in the building industry.Gerhard Roets, Health and Safety ...moreAI solution shows truck drivers where to park
Berlin, Germany (02 September 2024) – Parking spaces are in short supply at rest stops along Germany’s highways. Truck drivers are required by law to observe certain rest periods, so when they cannot find parking, they often simply park off to the side of an entrance or exit or on the shoulder, all of which are very ...moreAutomatic image recognition to identify types of wood: Harnessing AI to fight global deforestation
Kaiserslautern, Germany (02 September 2024) – The new European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is intended to prevent goods marketed in the EU from contributing to the spread of deforestation. When a wood product is brought into the EU market, for example, there must be documentation of which types of wood were used to produce it, a ...moreFunctionally integrated lightweight design in electric mobility: EV battery enclosures with lower carbon emissions
Chemnitz, Germany (02 September 2024) – More charging power, higher range, lower environmental impact: In the COOLBat joint research project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have teamed up with partners to develop next-generation battery enclosures for electric vehicles. Th ...moreCircular economy: Fungal mycelium as the basis for sustainable products
Potsdam, Germany (02 September 2024) – Fungi have more to offer than meets the eye. Their thread-like cells, which grow extensively and out of sight underground like a network of roots, offer huge potential for producing sustainable, biodegradable materials. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in ...moreArtificial intelligence for Clinical Pathology: Data-efficient foundation model for biomarker detection
Bremen, Germany (02 September 2024) – The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems shows promise in medicine, where they can be used to detect diseases earlier, improve treatments, and ease staff workloads. But their performance depends on how well the AI is trained. A new multi-task approach to training AI makes it possible to t ...moreOffshore wind energy: Mobile test platform for offshore wind turbines
Bremerhaven, Germany (02 September 2024) – Public power grids are highly complex systems. Wind turbine manufacturers have to comply with technical guidelines when connecting new turbines to avoid putting grid stability at risk. In the Mobil-Grid-CoP project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES have d ...moreThe Fire and Life Safety Blame Game!
SFA: EMS Conference 10/24Leighton Bennett (BSc, MDP dip, Pr.CHSA, AIRMSA, GradSaiosh, .M.ACHASM, Former FIOSM)Safety First Association - Chairperson SHE and Risk Management ConsultantOverview• Fire and life safety aspects introduction • Owner / Lessor / Employer Fire and Life Safety Responsibilities • Meaning of life safety ...moreTest methods for breathability of infant products focus of new subcommitteeSubcommittee F15.12 aims to fill the gap on breathing hazards for infant products W. Conshohocken, Pa., U.S. (26 September 2024) – ASTM’s consumer products committee (F15) has begun a new subcommittee on Firmness and Breathability of Juvenile Products (F15.12) on infant breathability test methods. The subcommitt ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Obituary: C. Lionel Astill – Apeco (Pty) Ltd / Italian Leathers (Pty) Ltd (19/11/1940-07/11/2025) Born in a mortuary, and forever marked as different
My father was born during World War II in Leicestershire, England. Literally during the war. The Luftwaffe was bombing at the time, and the safest place they could take my Grandma Marge to deliver was underground in the mortuary, where, without fuss, he was born on the mortuary slab. We all swear that his sometimes dark sense of humour c ...moreAPICCAPS: FAIST Report: ‘Our goal is to be the most modern footwear industry in the world’
Portugal shows there is much more to being a successful footwear exporting nation than just offering low prices. ‘Welcome to the industry of the future’. ...moreModway voted ‘best shoe store’ in its area
Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – Modway Shoes (Pty) Ltd was voted the best shoe store in the 2025 ‘Best of Pmb & Midlands’ by readers of The Witness and other KZN newspapers in the Caxton Group.Modway has one bricks-and-mortar store and an online store.Shoe Street Brookside and Sole Base Hayfields were second and third.&l ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- EU LEGISLATION UPDATE
There are a number of legal instruments working their way through the European Union’s (EU) parliament. Like many EU instruments, these statutory guides have a way of working their way into legislation that the rest of the world adopts. Like US legislation, especially the California Proposition 65 legal example, these laws sometimes ...moreEUDR Update: What Africa’s Leather Sector Needs to Know NowThe European Commission’s latest proposal to simplify the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) timeline has sparked debate, and arguably a little relief, across global supply chains. However, while there are signs of continued flexibility, the message from the European Commission in Brussels remains firm: the regulation is ...moreBetter 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 ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Updated safety footwear standard: Industry awaiting NRCS guidelinesSafety footwear suppliers in SA are awaiting a response this month (December 2025) from the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) on various aspects of the implementation of the updated safety footwear standard, SANS 20345: 2023, which comes into force in April 2026.A major concern is the period that will be allowed for safet ...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 ...moreNew approach integrates scrap PU back into safety footwear
Osnabruck, Germany – PU systems supplier Huntsman Corporation and safety footwear manufacturer Steitz Secura have developed a PU solution that can help improve the circularity of safety footwear. The DALTOPED® polyurethane midsole system can incorporate recycled content without compromising performance.PU plays a vital role ...more
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