S&V Protect Magazine Vol19 No1 First Quarter 2025
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
- SGS to host ‘Discovering PPE softlines solutions’ on 27 March.
- Consumer Protection Act marking – ‘beware faulty inspections’ warns importer who is R250 000 poorer.
- Lengthy detentions: That’s just the way it is, says NCC.
- Mine deaths in SA ‘lowest ever’ in 2024.
05 OHS in Focus
- Understanding respirator PPE – a presentation by Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
08 Safety Footwear
- Switch to updated standard: Footwear suppliers given time limit to run out old stock.
09 Training
- SA’s first safety escape room for hands-on health and safety training.
- Beier Group, Department of Higher Education and SETA ‘better together’.
13 Coping With Water
- 7 strategies to create more resilient mine dewatering.
15 Disease Control
- WHO targets 15 countries for elimination of sleeping sickness by 2030.
16 Standards
- The recipe for success and safety – the strategic value of ISO 22000 certification in the food industry, by Robert Erasmus of Sanitech.
- New standard for PFAS assessment for consumer products ‘is useful for manufacturers, consumers, laboratories, and regulators’, says ASTM International.
18 Disabilities
- A guide for SA employers in understanding the COIDA Act and Reintegration Policy, by Lucinda Alfonica of Workforce Staffing.
- A partnership for inclusion: Circular Energy and Bradshaw LeRoux join forces for disability inclusion.
20 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
Claw Boot (02, 04, 08), Hi-Tec Sports Distributors/Magnum (OFC), Kaliber (06), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (10), Rainbow Group (14), Rebel SafetyGear (12), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (17), SAFLEC (15).
The next issue
Will be out on 21 May 2025. Deadline for editorial submissions and advertising material is 14 May 2025.
- Understanding respirator PPEThe subject of Respirator Personal Protective Equipment is confusing until one understands the basic concept requirements.OHS Act defines Respiratory Protective Equipment as a device which is worn over at least the mouth and nose to prevent the inhalation of air borne hazardous chemical substances and which is of a type or conforms to a s ...moreSouth Africa’s first safety escape room for hands-on health and safety trainingSouth Africa's first safety escape room was set up at Phalaborwa Mining Company (PMC) in November last year by health and safety solutions provider KBC.“We required a fresh approach to training,” said Mabore Macheru, Manager in Training Development and Contractor Management at PMC. “This offers an interactive and practic ...moreBeier Group, Department of Higher Education and SETA ‘better together’Pinetown, KZN, SA – The Beier Group, which includes the BBF Safety Group, in December hosted the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) and the FP&M SETA for an oversight visit to ensure that state funds are being used in accordance with the Sectoral Skills Plan.DHET deputy minister Dr Mimmy Martha Gondwe and SETA ...more7 strategies to create more resilient mine dewateringDewatering is a crucial operation in mining. Chetan Mistry, Strategy and Marketing Manager at Xylem Africa, advises how to approach mine dewatering with these 7 strategies. As recent events at a Namibian mine demonstrate, dewatering is a critical linchpin for mining operations. ...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 ...moreThe recipe for success and safety - the strategic value of ISO 22000 certification in the food industryDurban, KZN, SA (08 January 2025) – In today's increasingly globalised food industry, consumer trust and product safety is everything, but businesses must go beyond mere compliance and strive for excellence to thrive in this competitive context. ISO 22000 certification offers a strategic solution to achieve these goals, providing th ...moreA guide for SA employers in understanding the COIDA Act and Reintegration PolicyCape Town, W. Cape, SA (24 February 2025) – South African employers are grappling with significant new responsibilities introduced by the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) and the draft Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Return to Work Regulations. Published on 15 June 2023, these regulations are poised ...moreSGS to host 'Discovering PPE softlines solutions’ on 27 MarchGeneva, Switzerland – Testing, inspection and certification company SGS is hosting a complimentary webinar, ‘Discovering PPE softlines solutions’, on 27 March 2025.The global market for personal protective equipment (PPE) is expanding, but it is also becoming more regulated. Businesses looking to ensure product complianc ...moreConsumer Protection Act marking – ‘beware faulty inspections’ warns importer who is R250 000 poorerPinetown, KZN, SA – Wholesaler and retailer Treadsafe cc, which had a container of 120 000 pairs of plain white cotton gloves held up last July by the National Consumer Commission for suspected contravention of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), managed to get the container released – almost 3 months and around R250 ...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: ...moreMine deaths in SA ‘lowest ever’ in 2024Extract from the release of 2024 mine health and safety statistics by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, on 23 January 2025. ...moreSwitch 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 ...moreNew standard for PFAS assessment for consumer products ‘is useful for manufacturers, consumers, laboratories, and regulators’W. Conshohocken, Pa., U.S. (07 January 2025) – A new ASTM International standard will provide users with a road map for planning and executing assessments of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products and articles. The new standard, which will be published as F3700, was developed by ASTM&rsqu ...moreA partnership for inclusion: Circular Energy and Bradshaw LeRoux join forces for disability inclusionCircular Energy is partnering with Bradshaw LeRoux, a disability inclusion specialists organisation, to forge a disability-positive workplace. ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- ‘Growth in online gambling may be big factor in siphoning off disposable income’East London, E. Cape, SA – Trading conditions are constrained and steady. We need to focus on good quality products at reasonable prices / value. We are optimistic about the direction of the overall economy in RSA.As a wise man once said regarding growing a business: “Sometimes you have to move slowly to be able to move fast.& ...moreEffects of AI in developing the relationship between feet and footwear (part 1)Historically, theoretically and practically, our feet have played a significant role in the connection of the body to mother earth. We know that the foot is a hardy, adaptable and biomechanically efficient part of the anatomy, such that little else is required to ensure maximum traction, propulsion, stability, cushioning, shock absorption ...moreJulz Shoes launches men’s rangeSneaker and moccasin style samples from the men’s range.Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA – Women’s leather comfort/lifestyle brand Julz Shoes has launched a men’s collection under the brand Will’s Shoes.Both ranges are “locally designed, made offshore”, GM Hayley Barker said.“Julz has built a loy ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- David Buirski retires (but we’re sure to hear more from him)David Buirski, the former South African who edited World Leather from 1993 to 2005, and who continued his involvement with the publication and its offshoots until recently, has finally retired because “having turned 90 last December, I guess it was the sensible thing to do. Thirty-three years could be considered a long time.&rd ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': Over and AgainThe EU announced that hides and skins could be removed from the EUDR directive's deforestation commodities. Could! Last month, like many others, I thought that the decision had been taken, but that doesn’t seem to be correct. The final decision will be taken after public feedback. Yeah, you read this right: after public feedback. As ...moreProfessional hunting ‘not currently affected’ by Iran war, FMDPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has not so far affected members of the Professional Hunters’ Association of SA (PHASA), CEO Jess de Klerk said in a written response to S&V African Leather, and the effect of the Middle East War on international hunters visiting SA this year “is not a concern yet&r ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Premier Workwear: Engineered protection for Africa’s industrial workforceIn high-risk industrial environments, protective clothing is far more than a uniform requirement — it is a critical component of workplace safety, operational reliability and regulatory compliance. For procurement professionals, safety managers and operational leaders, selecting the right supplier means finding a partner capable of ...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. ...moreWhat if the respirator you rely on to protect your health never sealed properly?I had the opportunity to present at the first PPE Conference in RSA, where I shared some early work we) have been exploring towards developing respirator designs better suited to the South African population.Below is a short AI-generated summary of the core message of the presentation.Respirators are often the last line of defence against ...more
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