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
- A perspective: Perhaps it was an eye-opener for industry players to hear each otherLooking back over the workshop, BMA consultant Justin Snelling wrote: “In terms of our reflections of the workshop, we covered a lot of territory. Perhaps though what was most encouraging was the breadth of participation from different segments of the sector and their willingness, or even excitement, to contribute. We don’t ta ...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 ...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
- Sam Setter's 'Pills': TraceabilityThe EU Commission is very much engaged in bringing traceability of our raw materials to the forefront of tannery management. But let’s reflect on this for a moment. In the industrial world traceability is a fact, and particularly where food is involved, traceability is a standard requirement for trading. This is firstly to ensure fo ...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 ...moreCHROME BAN?Detecting chromium at low concentrations isn’t hard – it’s detecting low levels of Cr(VI) in a cloud of Cr(III) that’s hard ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- New OHS regulations coming into force later this year mean PPE needs to be reviewed, tooIn 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 ...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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