NEBOSH to sponsor OSH Expo Africa 2011

The UK-based National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is the official sponsor of the first-ever OSH Expo Africa 2011.

Taking place alongside IFSEC South Africa 2011, the OSH Expo is set to open an African and international gateway of safety, health and risk management resources for delegates, in a high profile event to be held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from 6 to 8 September.

NEBOSH represents the crucial essence and cornerstone of any well-equipped OSH community – education. NEBOSH, as an independent examinations body, offers a comprehensive range of vocationally related qualifications designed to address the OSH, environmental and risk management needs of private and public sectors.

“As a worldwide leader in OSH qualifications, NEBOSH has laid down the benchmarks in the industry and more than matches the strategic focus of this year’s event,” says Ross Cullingworth, director – sales and marketing for Montgomery Africa, organisers of the OSH Expo. “Our goal is to provide the OSH community with relevant information and to keep all stakeholders abreast of the latest trends and developments. At the cutting edge of industry issues, NEBOSH does just that.”

According to the Economist, Sub-Saharan African nations account for six of the world’s top 10 fastest growing economies. This boom has led to increasing importance being placed on OSH standards in the region, with new legislation and workforce health and safety training becoming more prevalent.

According to Teresa Budworth, chief executive of NEBOSH, the demand for NEBOSH qualifications in Africa has more than doubled in the past two years. “In fact, we’ve witnessed a dramatic increase in demand for our qualifications throughout the world,” she says.

Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract almost 30 000 candidates annually and are offered by over 400 course providers around the world. NEBOSH examinations have been taken in over 90 countries, with around 40% now taken outside the UK. For the period of 2010/11, more than 4 500 assessments were taken in the African region, compared to fewer than 2 000 in the period 2008/09.

Furthermore, NEBOSH qualifications are recognised by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). “Africa, together with Asia and the Middle East, has helped establish our qualifications as the global benchmark of excellence in the field of health and safety,” Budworth says. “Which is why we’re delighted to support this new and important international event.”