Conference focuses on management of workplace risks

Pro-active companies are making investments to drive forward their workplace risk management programmes, recognising the overall objective of these programmes to increase productivity while reducing incidents and so leading to an improved work environment for all employees.

The recent global participation in World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2011 placed a renewed focus on the importance of effective occupational risk management programmes to be implemented in workplaces. In a renewed effort by the International Labour Office (ILO) to emphasise the value of occupational safety and health management systems for continually improving prevention and control of risks at work, the organisation issued a report stating that it is critical in helping to reduce occupational accidents, diseases and deaths. According to ILO data, an estimated 337 million workplace accidents and 2,3 million deaths occur every year, with some 6 300 deaths per day.

“The management systems approach to occupational safety and health has become popular and has been introduced in many workplaces during the past decade,” said Seiji Machida, director of the ILO’s Safework programme. “This popularity is a reflection of its usefulness for facilitating continual improvement of safety and health at work. With the active participation of all workers and management, well-functioning OSH management systems will find practical solutions for improving safety and health conditions.”

The annual international occupational risk management conference and exhibition, NOSHCON 2011, will take place at Champagne Sports Resort from 23-26 August. The conference will explore practical solutions, from an international perspective, for risk management challenges. NOSHCON 2011 will once again focus on international best practice, whilst at the same time provide the latest in risk management products, services and solutions being demonstrated and showcased at the exhibition.

Delegates representing various countries and government institutions have registered and more than 500 delegates are expected to attend the conference. Occupational risk management professionals and practitioners will share their knowledge and expertise on the latest developments in the quest for a risk-free workplace for all employees.

This high profile event includes more than 30 break-away sessions by selected and highly professional specialists who will deliver presentations on a wide range of contemporary risk management related topics, such as environmental risk management, behaviour based safety, HIV/Aids management, occupational health, legal requirements, occupational hygiene, corporate reputation, sustainability, training and human resources and risk management case studies.

The organisers, NOSA, South Africa’s leading supplier of occupation risk management audit, training and managed services, aims to provide delegates with practical solutions for the management of work related risks, while providing safe and healthy work environments of all employees.

The conference will start with a welcoming ceremony on 23 August, followed by an opening address by Lewis Gordon Pugh, environmental campaigner, maritime lawyer and endurance swimmer, and the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean. Lewis was recently named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Other conference highlights include the NOSA International Awards ceremony where companies and individuals will be honoured for outstanding achievements in the field of occupational risk management. For more information call +27 10 226 4000 or visit www.noshcon.co.za