S&V Protect Magazine Vol19 No2 Second Quarter 2025
The only SA magazine aimed exclusively at the PPE end user.
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
Click the advert links for more info. • Download PDF
 |
 |
 |
IN THIS ISSUE:
02 Upfront
- SAFLIA asks for minimum R50 duty on imported safety footwear.
04 OHS in Focus
- New noise exposure regulations promulgated – a presentation by Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
06 Primary Care
- A project to take basic medical care to the most remote communities – developed by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany – is being trialled in South Africa and Namibia by S Mile Solutions, part of Stellenbosch University LaunchLab.
10 Respiratory Protection
- Prioritising air quality is prioritising health, writes Thabang Byl of Schneider Electric.
11 Access Control
- Iris and pupil scanning: The future of identity management, substance management and fit for duty management, writes Dennis Peek of DPB Consultancy.
17 Artificial Intelligence
- Revolutionising H&S: The role of AI and digitalisation at work, by Dr Mohlomi Raliile. Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
17 Standards
- 2 golds for Xylem Africa in UK safety awards.
19 Medical Care
- The Demarcation Exemption Framework – a stopgap healthcare option for low-income earners, by Reo Botes of Essential Employee Benefits, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
- Gap cover: The case for the extra cost, by James White, Turnberry Management Risk Solutions.
23 Training
- Workplace safety is a universal responsibility, not just in high-risk industries, writes Jared Kangisser of KBC Health & Safety, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
24 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety/Maxeco (13), Claw Boot (03, 09, 11), Kaliber (05), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (OFC), Rainbow Group (22), Rebel SafetyGear (07), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (19), SAFLEC (18).
The next issue
Will be out on 21 May 2025. Deadline for editorial submissions and advertising material is 14 May 2025.
- New noise exposure regulations promulgated
On 6th March 2025, The Dept of Employment & Labour published (Government Gazette No 52226), the new 2024 Noise Exposure Regulations which will replace the 2003 Noise-Induces Hearing Loss Regulations in 18-momths time. This 18-month period is being allowed, so we, the employers, have an 18- month period to achieve the new 2024 Noise Ex ...moreIn practice: A warm welcome in Namibia
How the operation is being rolled out in practice is explained in a Q&A session between S&V Protect and Dr. Martin Hamann, CEO of S Mile Solutions (Pty) Ltd.How many of these vehicles are in use?Currently only Prototype II on a Hilux in Namibia.How are the vehicles staffed?It is operated by an NGO and only needs a driver and a nur ...moreBush medical care – a health platform on a bakkie
A project to take basic medical care to the most remote communities – developed by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany – is being trialled in South Africa and Namibia by S Mile Solutions (Pty) Ltd, part of Stellenbosch University LaunchLab. ...morePrioritising air quality is prioritising health
When we think about ‘healthy buildings’, healthcare facilities need to be to the healthiest of them all. Today, hospital operators require facilities that are sustainable, efficient, resilient and provide the best experience and care to both patients and staff.At the top of the non-negotiable list for any healthy building shou ...moreIris and pupil scanning: The future of identity management, substance management and fit for duty management
In medicine, if eyes aren’t exactly “the windows to the soul”, they are at least a useful tool for diagnosis. And in security, likewise for identification.The Pupilometer is a non-intrusive device that measures the size and response of the pupils to light stimuli, detecting potential signs of impairment. The technology o ...more2 golds for Xylem Africa in UK safety awards
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (26 June 2025) – Xylem Africa and its parent, Xylem Water Solutions & Services, between them netted 18 awards – 15 gold and 3 silver – for safety excellence, accountability, and care from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the world's largest health and safety program ...moreThe Demarcation Exemption Framework – a stopgap healthcare option for low-income earners
Access to affordable, quality healthcare in South Africa is a challenge for millions of people. Medical aid is out of reach for low-income earners, and while initiatives like the Low-Cost Benefit Option (LCBO) and the National Health Insurance (NHI) have been proposed, complexity has caused many delays in their implementation. As a result ...moreRevolutionising H&S: The role of AI and digitalisation at workPublished to coincide with World Day for Safety and Health at Work, 28 April 2025Dr Mohlomi Raliile, Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SAThe International Labour Organisation (ILO) commemorates World Day for Safety and Health at Work every year. The 2025 theme ’Revolutionising ...moreGap cover: The case for the extra costAccidents can leave families with medical expenses that extend beyond what medical aid covers. This is where gap cover becomes a safety net. Accident benefits help bridge the gap between what medical aid pays and the actual costs of treatment.The financial implications of accidentsMedical costs can vary significantly. In severe cases, acc ...moreWorkplace safety is a universal responsibility, not just in high-risk industriesMany people think that Operational Risk Management (ORM) is only relevant to industries with obvious hazards, like mining and construction. However, South Africa's workplace safety law – the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the OHS Act), mandates all employers to keep their workplaces safe, no matter what kind of business they ru ...moreFootwear 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.& ...moreWe could make sports shoes then, and I’m sure we could make them now
Retired shoemaker Brian Zyster shares more of his memories of ‘the good old days’ of footwear manufacturing in South Africa ...moreKZN Clothing and Textile Cluster (KZNCTC) SME AcceleratorDurban, KZN, SA – We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 SME Accelerator Programme.What’s new this year:The programme has been expanded into a full-year development journey, offering SMEs multiple opportunities for learning, mentoring, networking, and direct engagement with potential buyers.We invite you to apply to ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Kenya announces $39 million investment to strengthen livestock productionKenya plans to launch a 5 billion-shilling ($38.6 million) investment program to modernize its livestock sector and strengthen one of the country's most important rural industries.President William Ruto announced the initiative on June 1 during a visit to Wajir County in northern Kenya.According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the program ...moreMobilising Africa’s natural livestock resource to reinvigorate the regional leather value chain
Africa possesses one of the world’s largest livestock populations, yet the continent captures only a fraction of the value generated from leather and leather-based products. From cattle in the East and South Africa, to goats and sheep across North Africa, the continent’s abundant livestock resource represents not only a source ...moreSARLEN: Defining what needs to be doneThe SARLEN webinar on 12 June 2026 featured 3 main speakers. The entire presentation can be seen here: : https://drive.google.com/file/d/14xBkPMTqsln-YuqkCXsm_vsazDwNqL83/view?usp=sharing ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- New 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 ...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 ...moreThe concepts behind safety: Why bother with PPE on the ‘Road to Zero Harm’?
For over a decade, the ILO and other such bodies have been pushing this whole notion of "Zero Harm", "Road to Zero" and other such catchy titles, all pushing the idea most probably backed by one-sided research that "Zero Harm" is the only way and can be achieved if you work hard enough.My problem with this id ...more
© S&V Publications
