MechChem Africa May-June 2025

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

PPE Innovations for women in chemical engineering As the chemical engineering industry em braces greater inclusivity, Sisi Safety Wear is addressing a critical gap, which is the lack of chemical-resistant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tailored specifically for women. Engineering conference, Sisi Safety Wear revealed its latest industry-first innovations, specifically engineered to address the unique challenges faced by women in the industry. These include: • Sisi Fuse Safety Boot for women work

says Bishop. • Sisi D59 Workwear Garment: Crafted from high-performance flame-resistant D59 fabric, this workwear is specifically designed to protect women from chemi cal splashes, extreme heat, and fire haz ards. Unlike traditional unisex designs, the Sisi D59 garment offers a contoured female fit, ensuring unrestricted move ment while maintaining maximum safety standards. Beyond showcasing these innovative prod ucts, Sisi Safety Wear is calling on industry leaders to implement inclusive PPE policies that address the specific needs of female workers in hazardous environments. "This is not just about comfort, it’s about saving lives and ensuring equal safety stan dards for women," adds Bishop. “We are urging decision-makers to act and implement PPE solutions that truly cater for women in chemical engineering,” she concludes. https://www.sisi.co.za educational training activities provided by Epiroc specialists; the development of lines of research of common interest; preferential advice and information on research projects; and the organisation of sem inars, conferences, master classes, courses and technical visits. “The creation of this Epiroc Academic and Research Forum marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the corpo rate and educational entities,” says Angel Tobar, Strategic Director of University Partnerships, Epiroc. “This collaborative endeavour further strengthens our unwavering commitment to advancing quality ed ucation in the Southern Africa region, fostering innovation, collaboration and academic excellence,” he says. On the role of engineering stu dents at the University, Professor Stephan Heyns adds: “Academic topics such as the development of digital twinning in mining, collision awareness and prevention, and battery electric drives are of great interest. Young engineers find topics such as these very interesting, and I expect that the Epiroc Forum will meaningfully contribute towards the development of specialist human resources in these areas for the min ing industry in South Africa.” www.epirocgroup.com

ing around high-voltage equipment and chemical spills. This electrical hazard resistant safety boot boasts 20 kVA electrical resistance, a lightweight PU/ rubber sole, and an ergonomic female fit that enhances comfort and stability. The boot is designed to prevent fatigue, slips and exposure to dangerous chemi cals, which is an essential upgrade for female professionals in chemical plants, refineries, and labs. “Having partnered with a South African, globally integrated energy and chemicals company, we believe this boot is fit for the intended purpose and we do believe it will be well suited for women who operate around harsh chemicals due to the rubber sole,” of students and graduates of the faculty and to improve the profile of professionals in the mining field for subsequent job placements,” explains Wynand van Straten, regional busi ness line manager for Surface and Exploration Drilling at Epiroc South Africa. Under the terms outlined in the MoU, this will be achieved through

Despite advancements in workplace safety, over 80% of women in the chemical industry continue to wear PPE designed for men. This misalignment increases their exposure to hazardous spills, burns, and elec trical risks, leading to compromised safety, discomfort and reduced efficiency in high-risk environments. “Chemical exposure and electrical hazards are daily realities for women in this field, yet the majority of PPE is still designed with only male workers in mind,” says Jamie-Lee Bishop from Sisi Safety Wear. “Sisi is leading a new era of PPE that ensures women in chemical engineering have protection that fits properly and performs seamlessly.” At the recent the Women in Chemical

Epiroc and UP sign strategic MoU Epiroc South Africa and the University of Pretoria – through its Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) – have formalised a cooperation agreement to establish an Epiroc Academic and Research Forum.

“The objectives of this landmark agreement are to promote the aca demic and professional development

Wynand Steyn, Dean of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at UP; and Angel Tobar, Strategic Director of University Partnerships at Epiroc.

36 ¦ MechChem Africa • May-June 2025