S&V Protect Magazine Vol19 No4 Fourth 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
- Updated safety footwear standards: Awaiting response from NRCS.
- The Hong Kong residential tower fire: Spotlight will fall on bamboo scaffolding.
- A+A 2025: Product launches were aimed at the European market, but new technology – and fashion – will slowly make their way to Africa.
- Highlights from A+A.
- Comments from SA visitors.
11 OHS in Focus
- What workplace PPE innovation trends are anticipated? asks Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13 Fire Protection
- Competition Tribunal dismisses market division complaint in fire protection industry.
16 Sustainability
- New approach integrates scrap PU back into safety footwear.
17 Situational Awareness
- Situational awareness has become a frontline imperative for first responders, writes Reshaad Sha of Sentiv.
18 Standards
- ASTM International publishes first international pet product safety standard.
18 Innovation
- Fraunhofer: Software supports safe, controlled detonations of aerial bombs.
- Fraunhofer: Cleaning water with light – a new generation of compact and efficient water treatment systems.
- Fraunhofer: New stent with the potential to lower thrombosis risk.
19 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety/Maxeco (06), Claw Boot (04, 12), Kaliber (08), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (OFC), Rainbow Group (15), Rebel SafetyGear (10), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (09), SAFLEC (14).
The next issue
Will be out on 30 January 2026. Deadline for editorial submissions and advertising material is 23 January 2026.
- Hong Kong residential towers fire: Spotlight will fall on bamboo scaffolding
The fire in Hong Kong which affected 8 32-storey residential towers in November will lead to scrutiny of the bamboo scaffolding which encased the buildings.There will be pressure to ban it, or at least modify it perhaps to the point where it loses the properties that have made it an attractive option for so long.Bamboo scaffolding is wide ...moreA+A 2025: Product launches were aimed at the European market, but new technology – and fashion – will slowly make their way to Africa
Show report from Messe DüsseldorfDüsseldorf, Germany (7 November 2025) – The theme for A+A 2025 was ‘People matter’.2,340 exhibitors from 70 countries presented a spectrum of products, technologies and innovations for a safe, healthy and sustainable world of work in 13 exhibition halls. There were 67,000 trade ...moreHighlights from A+A 2025
Head and Hearing Protection 3M™ PELTOR™ WS™ ALERT™ XPV Headset: This solar-powered headset features a patented film that charges the battery using both sunlight and indoor light, providing approximately 78 hours of working time. Photo: https://za.rs-online.com/3M™ Speedglas™ G5-03 Welding Helm ...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 ...moreSituational awareness has become a frontline imperative for first responders
Why traditional radios and CCTV are no longer enough in complex threat environments Global case studies showing measurable impact on response times, safety, and transparency How LTE, 5G, and AI enable continuous, multi layered intelligence for faster, more effective decisions The opportunity for South Africa to leapfrog legacy sy ...moreSoftware supports safe, controlled detonations of aerial bombs
Numerical models for the risk assessment of underground shock waves ...moreCleaning water with light — a new generation of compact and efficient water treatment systems
Functionalised foam ceramics for treating polluted waterIndustrial process and wastewater pose a major challenge when it comes to environmental protection. Fraunhofer researchers in Dresden have now succeeded in developing compact and energy-efficient systems that use photocatalytic oxidation to efficiently break down impurities. At the ...moreNew stent with the potential to lower thrombosis risk
Stents are used to remove narrowings (stenosis) in blood vessels, stabilize the vessels and thus prevent heart attacks or strokes. However, the implantation process damages the inner wall of blood vessel, and in addition a foreign body material is inserted into the blood vessel wall. Both factors can contribute to restenosis of the affect ...moreUpdated 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 ...moreComments from South African visitors to A+A 2025We asked for feedback from South African companies that visited A+A 2025. ...moreWhat workplace PPE innovation trends are anticipated?We are being flooded with in the innovation of Artificial (narrow) Intelligence and the risk of its use within the Occupational and Construction Health and Safety fields where the machine learning and artificial intelligence data sets are not locally sourced.However, when it comes to personal protective equipment (PPE), the future is in t ...moreCompetition Tribunal dismisses market division complaint in fire protection industryPretoria, Gauteng, SA – The Competition Tribunal has dismissed a complaint of alleged market division brought by the Competition Commission against the Automatic Sprinkler Inspection Bureau (Pty) Ltd (ASIB) and six other firms in the fire protection industry, namely:National Security & Fire (Pty) Ltd; Fireco (Pty) Ltd; IBR Fire ...moreFirst international pet product safety standard publishedStandard addresses safety of dog harnesses for use in motor vehicles. W. Conshohocken, Pa., U.S.A. (13 November 2025) – ASTM International’s consumer products committee (F15) has approved a new standard for the safety of dog harnesses used in motor vehicles. The standard (F3725) was developed by the pet products subcommit ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Cavalli introduces comfort range
George, W. Cape, SA – Recognising the growing demand for footwear that balances comfort and style, Cavalli introduces Cavalli Comfort, a ladies’ footwear range thoughtfully developed for women who prioritise both foot health and refined elegance.Created by Leo D’ Mar cc, a family-run business established in 1997 and the ...moreVermont sale completedJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA – After 39 years, former owner Mandy Owen has sold her shares in Vermont Leathercraft Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd to Creek Lab (Pty) Ltd, and officially handed over the business to Prashant Bhaga.In a message on LinkedIn, she wrote: “I would like to thank my husband, Graham, for his invaluable contributio ...moreHow FootJoy’s superbly crafted shoes influenced my life
An Informative & Nostalgic Letter written in April 2025 to two executives at Acushnet (USA) – A leading golf corporation which includes FootJoy Shoes.RE: FootJoy & II recall the very first pair of FootJoy golf shoes my late father bought for me in July 1976. This wasn’t my first interaction with the brand that I had al ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Advancing industry standards: Delivering the first ESG audit for a leather chemical company
The Sustainable Leather Foundation’s (SLF’s) mission has always been to drive transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the leather value chain. While much of the industry’s historic focus has been on tanneries and manufacturers, true transformation requires engagement at every stage, and that inclu ...moreKenya 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 ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': A different perspectiveOne reader, Marc, commented on my March Pill: ‘Sam, the real frustration isn’t the criticism itself. It’s that we haven't been able to get our message outside our own echo chamber. I'm interested. How would you see the leather industry actually breaking through that barrier? In 2026, trust rarely comes from industry stat ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Proactive or reactive? The importance of choosing the correct hand protection
Our aim is to deliver value to the user experience by ensuring optimal protection, compliance, and operational confidence in every task performed.Hand protection has evolved significantly in response to the critical need to reduce workplace injuries and strengthen safety performance across diverse industries.Modern advancements in materia ...moreMaking fall protection practical
Working at height is, by its nature, potentially dangerous. But only potentially. Properly planned and executed, working at height is safe. However, accidents and injuries are common.Part of the problem is that many – most – businesses do fall protection plans as tick box exercises. Industry can help by planning correctly, whi ...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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