Gearing up for OSH EXPO Africa 2013

UBM Montgomery is gearing up for OSH EXPO Africa 2013, which takes place from 18 – 20 June at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. Ross Cullingworth, portfolio director of UBM Montgomery, organiser of the exhibition, says it is the ideal event at which to learn more about the occupational safety and health requirements of one’s organisation.

It’s fast becoming the leading destination for exhibitors to launch and showcase the latest occupational safety and health products and services to an audience of senior decision-makers from South Africa, neighbouring and international countries, eager to source the latest the industry has to offer.

Having launched for the first time in 2011, the show is already gaining tremendous momentum in the industry. OSH EXPO Africa 2012 welcomed 2 661 visitors, a 21 percent increase on 2011.

Injury, illness and loss of life continue to have a crippling economic effect on government resources. In March 2012, the Department of Labour said it had paid over R2,7 billion in compensation fund claims. Following this, it announced it was to start stringent interventions on current policy; the current OHS Act was to be reviewed in an effort to curb workplace injuries and casualties. In fact, the Department of Labour has already started effecting amendments to the Act.

“Compliance remains an issue as government gets tougher on both big and small business concerns,” says Cullingworth. “While government has started more programmes on advocacy, plus research and training, we can expect inspections to continue, as well as random blitzes.”

To take a lot of the risk, guesswork and confusion out of occupational safety and health issues, OSH EXPO Africa pulls the industry together. “Partnerships are important,” he points out. “We’re privileged to have support from leading local and international associations and industry bodies to give gravitas to the event.”