A leading manufacturer of high-quality safety solutions for hazardous environments such as mining, MSA Africa used Electra Mining Africa 2018 to display some of its latest products.

These included the Workman® range of tripods, which are used specifically to facilitate confined-space entry via vertical descent. The latest iteration of the tripod features an improved casing for extra durability and ruggedness, according to MSA Africa Marketing Specialist Samantha Munawar.

The advanced features of the Workman® tripod include an internal leg-locking mechanism that allows for incremental adjustment, in conjunction with skid-resistant feet, a maximum height indicator on the tripod legs, cut-resistant leg-pin retention chains, recessed product labels, an overall reduced weight for added portability, and an integral carry strap.

Munawar highlights that MSA Africa also used Electra Mining Africa 2018 as a platform to showcase some if its important channel distribution partners, including Firebreak SA Safety Appliances. “We provide the technology and innovation, and then our channel partners promote this in the broader market. Therefore a major exhibition such as this one, one of the biggest of its kind for the mining industry in the world, is an important networking event to introduce our channel partners.”

MSA Africa is a long-standing supporter of health and safety in the mining industry, sponsoring the John T. Ryan Safety Trophy at MineSAFE 2018 on Friday 31 August at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

This year saw AngloGold Ashanti awarded the surface operations trophy for its Vaal River and West Wits Chemical Laboratories, while Lonmin Platinum was awarded the underground operations trophy for its K3 Shaft UG2 Section.

Munawar comments that innovation is key to MSA Africa’s ongoing success in the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) market for industries such as mining. “Ongoing development is critical for us to refine our products continuously, and thereby introduce the latest technology to our global customer base.

“It is important that we engage with our customers at exhibitions such as Electra Mining Africa 2018 in order to keep them up to date with our newest developments. This not only allows us to understand the specific needs of our customers even better, but gives us a broader insight into specific markets and industries,” Munawar explains.

An example of ongoing innovation is the inclusion of Bluetooth technology in several product groups in MSA Africa’s PPE range, such as hearing devices. This latest development enhances health and safety even further in dangerous working environments such as underground mining.