A-OSH Expo 2017: calling all OSH professionals

A-OSH Expo 2017, Africa’s leading occupational safety and health exhibition, takes place between May 30 and June 1, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg

“Now in its seventh year, A-OSH has an established history of consistently bringing together eager industry professionals with the suppliers of best-of-breed occupational health and safety products and services,” says Joshua Low, event director at Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery. A-OSH is co-located with the industry’s top security and fire exhibition, Securex South Africa 2017.

Low adds that the 2016 expo saw visitor attendance increase 9,16 percent to 2 669 attendees, with more than 80 percent of visitors hailing from Gauteng. In addition, there was a 226-percent increase in African visitors last year, with the highest attendance from Botswana and Mozambique.

“The show drew in quality attendees, of which 18 percent were MDs, and 17,7 percent health and safety managers, advisors and officers. Almost 30 percent of visitors manage the health and safety requirements of their company, while close to 17 percent are involved in risk assessment. More than 70 percent of A-OSH visitors either make or influence purchasing decisions.

“A-OSH provides an ideal platform for visitors to discover and trial the latest innovations, products and services from more than 80 market-leading companies, including those involved in personal protective equipment (PPE), gas detection and monitoring equipment, environmental management, noise control, monitoring equipment and services, and more,” Low notes.

“We’re also pleased to announce that ten percent of our exhibitors will be on show at A-OSH Expo 2017 for the very first time this year, as Pienaar Bros North, Select PPE, Vanguard Fire & Safety, Interceptor/ Magnum, Dekra Solutions, Health|Insite, NOSA Action Training Academy, H.A.S.S Industrial, The Federated Employers Mutual (FEM) Assurance Company, and Deftoscan are welcomed to the A-OSH family.”

Highlights of the show

Visitor attractions include Occu|Fit’s Wellness Zone, a company under Health|Insite’s group
of companies, where delegates are able to undergo a full occupational health medical on site in the hall.

One of South Africa’s leading corporate wellness and occupational health service providers, Health|Insite, will be showcasing its mobile unit. It will be providing a full physical exam in addition to audiometry and spirometry testing, as well as a full visual screening with keystone, to A-OSH Expo attendees – at no cost.

Each medical test takes from 45 minutes to an hour, and visitors will receive a “certificate of fitness to work” signed by an occupational health practitioner (OHP), indicating validity for a year.

“Furthermore, Markeza Marketing Solutions is providing two one-and-a-half-day training sessions; the first on basic first aid for all employees involved in risk and occupational safety and health (OSH), which is presented by a qualified first-aid trainer. The second, given by a certified OSH specialist, is aimed at helping risk and OSH managers to get to grips with the intricacies of the Act,” Low explains.

Markeza Marketing Solutions’ first session takes place from 08:00 to 16:00 on May 30, and from 08:00 to 12:00 on May 31, while the second will be run on May 31 from 13:00 to 16:00.

From a content point of view, a wealth of information will be available via the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s (Saiosh’s) South Africa Health and Safety Conference, the PASMA Working at Height Theatre, the Fire Protection Association of South Africa’s (FPASA’s) InFIReS workshop, and the National Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Board (Noshebo) seminar theatre sponsored by BBF Safety Gear.

Industry backing for A-OSH 2017

Says Low: “The 2017 show is extremely well supported by additional relevant industry associations, including the Institute for Work at Height, the Institute of Safety Management (IOSM), the Safety First Association, the Masters Builders Association (MBA), the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH), Saiosh, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (Nebosh), the South African Protective Equipment Marketing Association (Sapema), the National Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Board (Noshebo), the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa and the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries,” he continues.

“We’re also pleased to announce that the South African Society of Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners (Sasohn) has also been added to our list of supporters.”

Pre-register free online

“By visiting www.aosh.co.za and completing the required details, industry professionals interested in looking for the latest in OSH products and services will be able to gain entrance to experience all A-OSH Expo 2017 has to offer – at no cost.

“A-OSH has rightfully earned its title as the foremost African show within the OSH space by consistently shining a spotlight on the sector’s most relevant topics, as well as its latest products and services,
and providing an opportunity for face-to-face dialogue between industry specialists and best-of-breed solution and services providers,” Low concludes.

Interested parties are invited to visit the A-OSH Expo 2017 Twitter and Facebook profiles, with the chance of winning three prizes over the months of March, April and May. Winners will be able to claim their prizes at A-OSH Expo 2017.

For more information, or to pre-register for A-OSH Expo 2017, visit the A-OSH website or contact Leigh Miller on tel: +27 010 003 3060 or e-mail: leighm@specialised.com.