This year’s OSH EXPO Africa, held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg from 19-21 June 2012, proved to be another great success.

Ross Cullingworth, Commercial Events Director, UBM Montgomery, credits the success of this year’s event to the positive support from the show’s exhibitors and visitors.  “We’re pleased to say that the response to OSH EXPO Africa 2012 has been phenomenal. It showed us that a carefully-planned, branded event, with the right content and strategic marketing, can pull the industry together and provide a valuable platform.”

He adds that initial feedback from visitors has been that the show was informative, well-organised and comprehensive; while exhibitors have reported generating many sales and follow-up leads from the floor.

OSH EXPO Africa 2012 proved to be an exciting and information-rich experience from the moment the doors opened, as visitors experienced a wide range of the most innovative industry developments, products and services while having the opportunity to attend a number of educational seminars as well. 

“With advances happening as rapidly as they are, many people are starting to see OSH EXPO Africa as a pulsepoint of the changes, developments and advances streaming into the market,” adds Cullingworth.  This year, UBM Montgomery Africa and McNaughton and Associates joined forces to hold the NOSHEBO (National Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Board) Conference concurrently with OSH EXPO Africa.

One of the highlights of the show was the SpiderWebb Working at Heights Theatre and Demonstration Zone. “This was a feature that created a real buzz,” comments Cullingworth. “It once again proved how important interactive elements are at exhibitions.”

Education was of course another key element of the OSH EXPO Africa experience, with the Seminar Theatre packed with top speakers from the industry sharing inside tips from the coal-face.  “With government clamping down on compliance, many companies are heeding the liability inherent in the safety laws, so these kinds of talks were an excellent way of preparing them for the future,” he explained.

This year’s show also delivered some exciting developments. On the first day of OSH EXPO Africa, it was announced that the well-respected UK-based Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) had signed a memorandum of understanding with the local South Africa Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh).

“This was encouraging news for local industries,” says Cullingworth. “Effectively, it means that conditions have been created that will allow for membership of a joint organisation formed by two top organisations.”

The benefits for both parties are immense, he adds, and would allow members to use the same continuing professional development (CPD) administration programmes; it would also allow members to operate professionally using the same code of conduct principles to create more consistent and international standards.

Once again the OSH EXPO Africa synergised the entire occupational safety and health supply chain; it proved to be a key event for suppliers, distributors and manufacturers to interact with industry practioners and company decision-makers.

Cullingworth believes that OSH EXPO Africa offers an effective and dynamic space for stakeholders to network, share information and make informed choices about their occupational safety and health needs. Each individual could interact with top experts and brands.

OSH EXPO Africa 2012 was also once again co-located with the biggest commercial security, government security and fire event in Africa, IFSEC South Africa 2012.  “Our aim from the start was to maximise the synergy between the shows and offer exhibitors and visitors enhanced value for the full three days these two events were held,” he adds.

“The success of this year’s event underscores the importance of occupational safety and health in South Africa. We’re confident that it will be a catalyst in a drive for further compliance and better industry standards,” concluded Cullingworth.

Issued by Andrea  Müller