Let's Talk Safety with Protekta Safety Gear

A rooftop anchor point carries a tag saying it was tested within the last twelve months, so on paper everyone is covered. In practice that same anchor may have been fitted with the wrong bolt, drilled too close to an edge, or set into brick too soft to hold a fall. Host Dylan Sutherland speaks with Rob Hurst, founder of STAHT and a twenty-year veteran of the fall protection industry, about the gap between a certificate and a safe installation, and how to close it.

Essential listening for safety officers and anyone responsible for signing off work at height.

Topics Discussed:

• Why an EN 795 compliant product is only the starting point, not proof of a safe installation
• The three-sided failure behind most anchor points: the fixing, the substrate, and the workmanship
• How engineered bolts get swapped for cheaper hardware late in a job, and why a life can depend on that part
• Testing unknown substrates in older buildings, where soft brick and hard brick sit side by side
• What the person clipping on can actually judge, and what has to sit with the safety officer and installer
• Moving from paper tick sheets to immutable digital test data with GPS location, timestamps, and calibration records
• The five-step process for a properly handled anchor and lifeline system, from specification to handover
• Why the annual inspection is a re-assessment of the whole building, not only a re-test of the anchor
• The financial penalties and legal exposure that follow a serious incident with missing records

In the latest episode of the Let's Talk Safety podcast, Dylan Sutherland sits with Deleane from Rebel Safety Gear to unpack what's actually inside a safety boot, and why certification is the starting point, not the finish line.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why the toe cap is only one of more than 200 tested components, and what the others actually do
• Why toolbox talks on lacing, socks, and polish do more for compliance than any induction slide
• How wear trials surface foot-fit problems before they become twelve-month contract problems

In this episode of Let's Talk Safety, host Dylan Sutherland sits down with Deleane of Rebel Safety Gear to look at why a blanket-approach to safety boots is not recommended. Deleane works through the difference between certification and fit for purpose, what is actually inside a dual-density polyurethane sole, and why a cheaper boot almost always carries a hidden cost that does not show up in the unit price.

Essential listening for safety officers, plant managers, procurement leads, and operations teams responsible for foot protection across multi-section sites.

Topics Discussed:

• Why certification is the start of a foot protection programme, not the finish
• What blanket-issue safety footwear looks like across a multi-section site
• How an anti-penetration midsole risk hides in plain sight
• Dual-density polyurethane: what is actually inside the sole
• Heel plug compression and the biomechanics of worker fatigue
• Lacing geometry, eyelet count, and metatarsal flex during walking
• The component-level cost-down levers in cheaper safety boots
• Lifespan as the real cost metric, not unit price
• Why a foot injury is the longest-healing PPE failure category

Episode 4| Join us in episode 4 of Season 2 Let's Talk Safety, where host Dylan Sutherland sits down with Rene Joubert, Technical Sales Manager at Protekta Safety Gear, to bridge the gap between certified PPE products and real-world application on site.

Rene draws on her years of hands-on industry experience to unpack why having the right product is only half the battle AND why education, fit testing, and on-site support are just as critical to keeping workers truly safe.

Topics Covered:

• Why certified PPE is often not used correctly on site
• The role of education and ongoing training in safety compliance
• How Protekta's team goes beyond product supply to provide on-site support
• Bridging the gap between procurement and safety officers
• The S-Wagon demo tool and how it brings PPE value to life
• Respiratory protection: fit testing, mask sizing, and filter selection
• Hearing protection: earplugs vs ear muffs, fit testing, and documentation
• Inherently protective vs dipped flame-retardant garments, comfort and longevity
• How proper PPE use can improve workplace productivity
• Common misconceptions safety officers and procurement teams have about PPE standards

When we talk about safety, we often focus on numbers: incident rates, LTIs, and fatalities – every number represents a person, a family, and multiple lives forever changed.

In 2024, THE FEDERATED EMPLOYERS MUTUAL ASSURANCE COMPANY (FEM) had 6,000 workplace incidents reported. Around 60 were fatal, and many others resulted in permanent disabilities (the stories that are rarely told) – 99% of which were not covered by insurance.

In episode 5 of Let’s Talk Safety, we share the story of Partington Mtatabikwa, a man who went to work one morning in 2010 and never came home the same. An explosion at work left him with severe burns and the loss of a hand and a leg. His recovery took twelve months in hospital and a lifetime of reinvention.

Partington now works in HSE, using his experience to help others understand what’s truly at stake. He speaks honestly about how pressure, shortcuts, and missing a simple risk assessment led to an incident that changed everything.

“I never thought it could happen to me,” he says. “But in one moment, everything changed.”

When you share this episode with your team, you help bring safety back to what matters most: people. This episode gives teams a real example of how small decisions on the ground can change lives. By leading this discussion, you remind everyone that safety depends on awareness, accountability, and the choices made every day.

Access supporting toolbox talks and resources by visiting: https://protekta.co.za/podcasts/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Safety, Dylan Sutherland continues the conversation with Tiego Kekana from uvex safety to unpack how the EN166 eye protection standard translates into real-world protection.

Key highlights:

• The real difference between spectacles and goggles in impact resistance.
• Why optical clarity impacts both safety and worker focus.
• How anti-scratch and anti-fog coatings reduce incidents.
• A real-world scenario where EN166 spectacles prevented serious injury.

This episode takes eye protection standards from paper to practice. Helping you protect your team on site.

Access supporting toolbox talks and EN166 resources by visiting: https://protekta.co.za/podcasts/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Safety, host Dylan Sutherland speaks with TK from Uvex to unpack the EN 166 standard for eye protection. They break down what the standard is, its South African equivalent, the key testing requirements, common limitations, and additional features to consider when selecting compliant safety eyewear.

Summary:

• EN 166 explained : An international test standard for eye protection, adopted in South Africa as SANS 50166 (latest version 2018).
• Testing requirements: Includes impact resistance testing for both lens and frame, optical correctness, and mandatory manufacturer markings on both parts.
• Impact resistance:Tested by firing a 6mm steel ball bearing at the lens at varying speeds without scratching, denting, or breaking.
• Markings: Must include manufacturer code, lens tint/type, and UV protection details on both the lens and frame.
• Additional features: Anti-scratch and anti-fog coatings can be added; both can be applied on different lens surfaces.
• Limitations: Fit for different face shapes, adjustability, and coatings suited to the work environment.

Discover how EN 166 / SANS 50166 protects workers, and how to choose certified safety glasses, goggles, or face shields for the job.

In this episode we answer your important questions:

• How do I choose the right safety glasses for construction work?
• What’s the difference between safety goggles, glasses, and face shields?
• Is EN 166 the same as SANS 50166 for eye protection?
• What type of eye protection is needed when grinding or welding on-site?
• Can regular sunglasses protect your eyes on a construction site?
• What are the legal eye PPE requirements for South African construction sites?
• Where can I buy certified safety goggles for construction workers in South Africa?

Let’s Talk Safety: Episode 1-part 2: Understanding EN 361 Harness Safety in Real-World Conditions

In this episode, we continue the conversation with Stephan van Heerden to explore the practical application of the EN 361 harness standard. We dive into how harnesses are tested, the importance of proper fit, and key features that enhance safety and comfort for workers at height.

Episode Summary:

• EN 361 harnesses are tested to:
  • Remain upright during a fall (dynamic test)
  • Withstand 15kN for 3 minutes after a fall (static test)
  • Resist corrosion (technical standard)
• Proper fit is critical: the D-ring must be between the shoulder blades
• Wearing a loose or ill-fitting harness increases fall distance and force impact
• Additional features to improve safety
• Real-world risk: improper wear or sizing can lead to increased injury or death in a fall

Pro tip included to ensure optimal safety

Season 2 Episode 1|Part1 In this episode of Let’s Talk Safety, host Dylan Sutherland from Protekta Safety Gear sits down with in-house specialist Stephan van Heerden to unpack the EN 361 standard; a benchmark for full body harnesses used in fall arrest systems. We explore the standard’s technical requirements, its local equivalent (SANS 50361), and the real-world implications for work-at-height safety. From drop tests to weight limitations and harness certifications, this episode offers a practical and insightful guide for safety and procurement managers alike.

What we cover in this episode:

• What EN 361 is and its local equivalent: SANS 50361.
• EN 361 is a Category III PPE product and it must carry proper certification.
• Test requirements for EN 361-certified harnesses:
  • Dynamic drop test: Force must stay below 6 kN (approx. 600 kg); the fall must be upright.
  • Static load test: Must withstand 15 kN for 3 minutes.
• Harness components must remain uncompromised after testing (stitching, buckles, webbing).
• Drop distance requirement: 4 meters for testing..
• Weight limitations
• Application limitation
• Importance of rescue planning to avoid suspension trauma after fall arrest.
• Visual indicators for users

Don’t miss this valuable and practical conversation that goes beyond the tick-box approach to ensure safe work at heights.

In part 2 of our final episode for Season 1, Jarryd Swanepoel, National Sales Manager at uvex, discusses the importance of hearing protection in South Africa. He provides practical guidance on what safety managers and employees can do to effectively prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Did you know that noise exposure for an 8-hour shift should not exceed 85 dB? When noise levels surpass this threshold, employers must either implement noise control measures or supply effective hearing protection such as earmuffs or earplugs. This episode explores this and other key hearing protection topics:

• Importance of baseline audiometric tests at employment start to track hearing loss.
• Audiometric tests should be conducted annually and upon employee exit.
• Larger companies generally comply; smaller companies often overlook this due to cost, knowledge, and compliance gaps.
• A shift in perspective needed: from compliance-focused to personal quality-of-life importance.
• Explanation of decibel levels (whispering ~30-40dB, normal conversation ~50-60dB, yelling ~70-80dB, power drill ~90dB, jet engine ~130dB).
• Clarification of hearing protection misconceptions, including incorrect calculation of combined protection (earplug + earmuff).
• Overview of hearing protection types: reusable earplugs, disposable earplugs, earmuffs, custom-moulded plugs.
• Emphasis on correct usage for genuine protection rather than merely compliance.

Are your teams aware that combining hearing protection doesn't add the ratings together? For example, using a 30 dB earplug and a 35 dB earmuff doesn't equal 65 dB protection? Read more on this by downloading our Toolbox Talk