S&V Protect Magazine
S&V Protect Magazine is the only South African magazine publication aimed exclusively at the PPE end user. The magazine is published quarterly and covers all aspects of the personal protective equipment and occupational health and safety industry. With editorial contributions from professionals within the industry the publication covers all aspects of the industry. The magazine is published digitally and is available for free via email and on our website.
S&V PROTECT MAGAZINE VOL20 NO3 MAY/JUNE 2026
IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- The Hierarchy of Controls – a constant reminder for the PPE industry.
- China-made firefighting equipment now needs verification of conformity with SANS standards.
- Biodegradable disposable gloves ‘a growing trend’ in PPE.
05 OHS Insights
- New OHS regulations coming into force later this year mean PPE needs to be reviewed, too, writes Veteran SHE and risk management consultant, Leighton Bennett, chairperson of the Safety First Association.
06 PPE Conference
- Protecting the workforce: The critical role of PPE, by Elize Lourens, Specialist: Occupational Health & Hygiene, Directorate Occupational Health and Hygiene, Department of Employment & Labour.
- Occupational noise-induced hearing loss ‘is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world’, by Peter-John ‘Jakes’ Jacobs, Sedulitas.
- Statistical shape modelling for population-specific respirator design: Addressing fit failure in South African populations, by Dr Deon Swanepoel of D’Sayensi Occupational Hygiene.
13 Profiles
- Premier Workwear: Engineered Protection for Africa’s industrial workforce, by Mustapha Adam, director.
- RealPPE Marketplace: Where safety meets smarter procurement, by Sibu Komane, support department.
21 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
BBF Safety Group/Bova (OFC), Kaliber (02), Rainbow Group (10), Premier Workwear/FlexiCool (06), Rebel Safety Gear (04), S&V Calendar (05), S&V Directory (12), Sendi Apparel (08).
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Footwear Industry Articles
- The Chinese sports brand taking on Nike and AdidasChinese sportswear brand Anta counts Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu among its brand ambassadorsChina's economy was just starting to open up in the late 1980s when a determined high school dropout made his way to Beijing with 600 pairs of shoes.Ding Shizhong had them made in a relative's factory and now he was going to sell them. The mo ...moreLemaitre’s Robust Pro, ‘based on user feedback, is a gamechanger in safety footwear’Lemaitre, a trusted leader in safety footwear, is proud to announce the launch of the New Robust Pro, a reimagined safety shoe designed to deliver unparalleled comfort, durability, and all-around protection for workers across industries. With the Robust Pro we set out to create a shoe that truly works as hard as the people who wear it by ...moreShlobo Designs: Foreign consumers appreciate handwork and the story behind the brandDurban, KZN, SA – I’m a native of Umlazi’s K section, but I’ve called Seaview home since 1994.My life has been a tapestry of experiences, woven with threads of resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination. My journey took an unexpected turn when I was retrenched while working for the bank with a wealth expe ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Mobilising Africa’s human resource to reinvigorate the regional leather value chainIn last month’s edition I wrote about mobilising Africa’s livestock to reinvigorate the regional leather value chain, and this article is focussed on mobilising the human resource that is needed to make the most of the abundant livestock populations in the region.On Friday 12th June, newly organised SARLEN (Southern African Re ...moreLeather Naturally launches new report on sustainable water managementLeather Naturally’s latest educational resource, Sustainable Water Management in the Leather Industry (https://www.leathernaturally.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Leather-Naturally-Sustainable-Water-Management.pdf), is available to download.Developed using insights from recent public consultation, the report explores:* Why water rem ...moreDavid 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 ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Proactive or reactive? The importance of choosing the correct hand protectionOur 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 ...moreThe PPE Conference – PPE isn’t optional, it’s essential: A reviewLeighton Bennett, the Safety First Association chairperson and a SHE and risk management consultantThe hosts of this first PPE Conference held in South Africa, were the Safety First Association and SAPEMA, on the 10 and 11 March 2026, at the Emperor’s Palace, in Kempton Park.This conference objectives were to provide a unique opport ...morePremier 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 ...more
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