Housing in Southern Africa May 2016

Industry Buzz

Safety first Construction sites are defined by the consistent movement of heavy equipment and tools that can pose a serious danger to anyone located onsite.

S erious head injuries can be avoided by using the rugged, stylish and comfortable Beluga hard hat from North Safety Products Africa (NSPA). NSPA Supply Chain Manager, Stephan Poole says that the Beluga hard hat has undergone all mandato- ry requirements and has been tested for electrical insulation, resistance to penetration and flames, shock absorption and chin strap anchorage strength. The hard hat is manufac- T he Southern African Institute of Steel Construction CEO, Paolo Trinchero, says that the institute has attended a number of meetings regarding pricing and tariffs for both upstream and downstream manufacturers. Trinchero says, “We would like to see our industry survive this difficult time but it is of the utmost importance that we are all open and transparent in our dealings with each other. We need to ensure that we maintain our high quality and standards and work

tured locally in accordance with the SANS1397:2003 requirements. It is manufac- tured fromeither polypropylene (PP) or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) raw material and is also able to withstand impact of up to 5 kN according to the SABS standard. The range is available in various sizes and in specialised colours. In addition to comfort and safety, the Beluga offers many design fea- tures. It can be tailor-made to a together to continue building our industry.” He says that now the Uni- versal Beam and Column range and larger selected channel sizes are fully imported. “Wewill continue to engage with merchant members to ensure that the full range is available. We wouldalso like to encouragedesigners to keep in contact with suppliers and fabricators to ensure that we do not have supply problems.” On the topic of Construction Sector Codes/Charter, Trinchero says that the institute is in the process ofmediation.

client’s specific needs, with the com- pany logo embossed and offered in a four-colour option. The hard hat includes vented and non-vented options, with either plastic or steel lamp brackets, as well as recessed earmuff slots. A sun brim visor offers sun protection on the neck, while a peak offers good protection from the elements, and a water ‘gutter’ assists with water run-off when working in the rain. The Beluga hard hat offers a choice for the two liners – the standard click-lock and a ratchet assembly, which also provides a comfortable headband fit as well. “The hat is fitted with a foam headband and clients can request a leatherette headband as another option. The four-point chin straps can also be fitted with or without a chin cup. It comes complete with 30mmaccessory slots and four-point nylon web suspension with forehead comfort band and a crown pad, mak- ing it ideally-suited to workers in all industries where head protection is required,” concludes Poole. ■

SAICS tariffs and mediation

May 2016