Women’s safety wear manufacturer Sisi Safety Wear is continuously educating the local market on the need to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) designed for the growing female workforce, particularly after the company released its locally manufactured Basi Metaguard safety boot in August last year.

Sisi Safety Wear brand manager Desiree Hlubi states that the launch of the Basi boot was an opportunity to ensure a more specialised safety boot was available for the female workforce.

“Education is an important part of this endeavour, including helping procurement, health and safety officers understand the benefits of purchasing PPE that is designed for women, and making them aware that these products are available. Ill-fitting PPE can, of course, lead to injuries and health and safety concerns for women, as well as significant discomfort, which also negatively impacts on productivity,” says Hlubi.

People procuring PPE for large companies often look at a workforce as a “single entity”. This results in procurement officers, and health and safety managers, buying a single style of footwear or safety wear, and PPE, for the workforce – claiming it is “unisex” – as this saves cost and time.

Therefore, educating local companies on the importance of procuring PPE designed for women in preventing this is important, she stresses.

Meanwhile, South African Development Community countries are also a key focus for the company, as there are a lot of mining and industrial activities in similar environments.

“We also have the benefit of supplying a locally manufactured product, which provides advantages in terms of exporting duties. We have strong distributors that are also beginning to supply further into East and West Africa.”

She highlights the Basi Metaguard product as an ideal example of how the company is aiming to provide a niche product that is appropriate for a growing market.

“We are answering the call to supply a female option to the growing female workforce, especially in areas where women need that metaguard protection from elements such as falling rocks. In the past, they've had to settle for a unisex option that is designed for men.”

Hlubi says the company has also been focusing on consolidating its position in the local market, and on ensuring a steady supply of its products.