Warehouse PPE & safety supplies — kit out every shift
Safety boots, hi-vis, cut-resistant gloves, hard hats, floor-marking tape and housekeeping chemicals for distribution centres, 3PLs and transport depots — priced per worker, delivered per site.
SA logistics by the numbers
Storage and warehousing has been the growth engine of South African logistics — the biggest job gainer in an industry that otherwise shed jobs between 2019 and 2023. Every one of those workers has to be kitted out, and the employer pays for all of it: the OHS Act prohibits deducting the cost of safety equipment from wages, and inspectors enforce it.
In a 2022 inspection blitz at a large Gauteng e-commerce distribution centre, the Department of Employment and Labour prohibited deductions for safety shoes and ordered demarcated driveways inside the warehouse. Below is what the regulations require, and the kit that covers it — at a cost per worker you can budget.
What the regulations require in a warehouse
Most warehouse PPE is risk-assessment driven — these are the rules behind it.
Employers must provide a safe workplace and reduce hazards before resorting to PPE (s8). Section 23 prohibits deducting from pay, or requiring payment, for anything the Act requires the employer to provide — inspectors have prohibited deductions for safety shoes. [4]
Where a hazard can’t be removed, suitable safety equipment must be provided free of charge and kept clean and in good condition. Workers must be instructed in its use — and nobody may work without the required PPE. [5]
The 2025 amendments to the General Safety Regulations added housekeeping, flooding and fire-precaution duties (13H–13J). Clean, clear, marked floors and aisles are now a regulatory duty, not just good practice. [6]
Stacking must be supervised by an experienced person on a level base with sound pallets; articles are removed from the top tier only; nobody climbs a stack except by safe means; and stacks must be protected from vehicles and passers-by. [7]
Nobody may operate a lift truck without a valid certificate of competence and carry card. Where forklifts and pedestrians share space, demarcated walkways and hi-vis clothing (ISO 20471) are the standard controls. [8]
The current SA safety-footwear standard covers toe-cap protection (200 J), slip resistance, thermal risks and ergonomics. Specify the grade (SB, S1, S1P, S2, S3) to suit the floor and the load. [9]
Per-worker PPE and site supplies
Live prices. Volume discounts apply automatically at checkout.
Safety boots & shoes
DOT, Wright, Pioneer and Rigger in SB to S3 — see our guide to choosing safety boots.
SALESAVE 9%
SALESAVE 8%
SALESAVE 8%Hi-vis vests & jackets
For anyone on foot where forklifts and trucks move.
Gloves
Hand injuries are the most common occupational injury — cut-resistant, builders, multi-purpose and PVC gloves for cartons, strapping and blades.
Floor marking & safety tape
Floor-marking, anti-slip, reflective and barrier tape to demarcate aisles, walkways and loading zones.
Head protection & rain gear
Hard hats for racking areas and yards; rain suits for dock and yard teams.
Housekeeping
Degreasers, floor cleaners, mops, bins and storage bins to keep floors clear and clean.
SALESAVE 10%Warehouse PPE kit — per worker
Send us your headcount per shift and we’ll quote a per-worker kit price.
- Safety boots or shoes to SANS 20345 (grade matched to the floor)
- Hi-vis vest or jacket (ISO 20471) where forklifts operate
- Cut-resistant gloves for picking, packing and strapping
- Hard hat for racking aisles and yards
- Rain suit for dock and yard staff
- Safety eyewear for strapping, cutting and chemical tasks
- Spare PPE stock for visitors and new starters
- Floor-marking tape for aisles, walkways and loading zones
- Anti-slip tape for ramps and steps
- Degreaser, floor cleaner, mops and lidded bins for housekeeping
- A PPE issue register (useful for audits and replacements)
Why Warehousing & Logistics buy from Securadeal
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Volume discounts apply at checkout on qualifying products — no code, no account needed. Company name & VAT number go straight onto your tax invoice.
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Frequently asked questions
What PPE is legally required in a South African warehouse?
There’s no fixed list — it follows your risk assessment. The OHS Act requires employers to reduce hazards first, then provide suitable PPE free of charge where hazards remain (General Safety Regulations, Reg 2). In most warehouses that means safety footwear, gloves, hi-vis where vehicles move, and head protection in racking areas.
Can an employer deduct the cost of safety boots from wages?
No. Section 23 of the OHS Act prohibits deducting from pay — or requiring payment — for anything the Act requires the employer to provide for health and safety. In 2022 a Department of Employment and Labour inspection issued a prohibition notice against deducting money for safety shoes at a large Gauteng warehouse.
Which standard must safety boots meet in South Africa?
SANS 20345 — the current edition is SANS 20345:2023. It covers the 200 J toe cap, slip resistance, thermal risks and ergonomics, and grades boots SB, S1, S1P, S2 and S3. Our safety boot guide explains each grade.
How often should warehouse safety boots be replaced?
South African law doesn’t set a replacement interval — replace on condition (worn soles, damaged uppers, a toe cap that has taken an impact). International guidance for logistics work suggests roughly every 6 to 18 months, depending on how hard the floor and the shift are.
Is hi-vis compulsory in a warehouse?
No SA regulation names hi-vis for warehouses specifically. It becomes required where your risk assessment shows pedestrians working near forklifts or vehicles — which is most DCs. Specify garments to ISO 20471.
Does a forklift operator need a licence?
Yes. Under the Driven Machinery Regulations and the national code of practice, no one may operate a lift truck without a valid certificate of competence and carry card. Learners may hold a temporary licence for up to 6 months under supervision.
Are warehouse floor markings a legal requirement?
Housekeeping is now an explicit duty in the General Safety Regulations (Reg 13H, added in 2025), and inspectors have ordered “demarcated drive ways” inside warehouses. Floor marking separating pedestrians and forklifts is the standard way to meet both.
What are the legal rules for stacking pallets?
General Safety Regulation 8: stacking supervised by an experienced person, on a level base that can bear the load, with sound pallets; remove articles from the top tier only; nobody climbs a stack except by a ladder or other safe means; and protect stacks from vehicles and passers-by.
How do I budget PPE per warehouse worker?
There’s no public SA benchmark, so build it from your own kit: boots, hi-vis, gloves (often replaced monthly) and head protection, plus spares for visitors and new starters. Send us your headcount and we’ll quote a per-worker kit price.
Other industries we supply
Sources & references
- Stats SA, Transport and storage industry 2023 (released Aug 2025) — statssa.gov.za/publications/Report-71-02-01/Report-71-02-012023.pdf
- Engineering News — road vs rail freight, Q3 2025 — engineeringnews.co.za/article/for-every-tonne-of-freight-moved-by-rail-six-tonnes-are-transported-on-sas-roads-2025-10-03
- Parliamentary reply — Compensation Fund claims registered — pmg.org.za/committee-question/29101
- Dept of Employment and Labour — inspection blitz notices (Sept 2022) — gov.za/news/media-statements/employment-and-labour-issues-notices-non-compliance-occupational-health-and
- General Safety Regulations, Reg 2 — personal safety equipment — acts.co.za/occupational-health-/gsr_nr1031_2_personal_safety_equipment_and_facilities
- Mondaq / ENS — 2025 amendments to the General Safety Regulations — webiis10.mondaq.com/southafrica/employee-rights-labour-relations/1596748
- General Safety Regulations, Reg 8 — stacking of articles — acts.co.za/occupational-health-/gsr_nr1031_8_stacking_of_articles
- Driven Machinery Regulations 2015 — lift truck operator certification — acts.co.za/occupational-health-/n5588_14__certification
- SABS — SANS 20345 Ed. 3 safety footwear — store.sabs.co.za/sans-20345-ed-3-00.html
- OHS Act s23 — certain deductions prohibited — acts.co.za/occupational-health-/23__certain_deductions_prohibited
Regulation summaries are general guidance to help you plan procurement — not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your health & safety officer or the relevant authority.
Trade pricing for warehouses & logistics
Tell us what you use and how many sites — we'll quote volume pricing within one business day.