A-OSH EXPO 2024 underpinned by drive to help improve occupational safety and health

Occupational safety and health remain in the spotlight as a top priority for the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL).

As a foundational principle, A-OSH EXPO supports the efforts of the DoEL to engage stakeholders by providing manufacturers and suppliers of OSH products and services with a platform to share their solutions and capabilities with the market. A-OSH EXPO 2024, being held at Gallagher Convention Centre from 28 to 30 May 2024, is gearing up to share the latest trends and best practices in the sector.

In the keynote address by Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Boitumelo Moloi at the Occupational Health and Safety Conference, Emerald Hotel; Vanderbijlpark, on 17 August 2023, she said: “It has been well-stated that ‘Safety is a small investment for a rich future’. The ILO (International Labour Organisation) estimates that 2.3 million people die annually due to work related accidents or diseases. Occupational diseases and accidents usually result in significant costs to the employers, employees, and economies. It is estimated that the annual direct and indirect costs resulting from occupational diseases and accidents, is approximately 4% of the global gross domestic product. As poor occupational health and safety practices affect the economy, our country needs to ensure that decent work principles, as prescribed by the International Labour Organisation, are adhered to.”

She added that “…on a positive note, millions of lives are saved every year through the unerring and unwavering commitment of those who toil day and night to ensure that we make it through one more day. These are the men and women who should be celebrated through their daily commitment to investigate, enforce, and make safe the places in which we work. We should not underestimate the value of stakeholder dialogue. All hands need to be on deck if we want to move towards vision zero accidents. One cannot overemphasise the need to ensure that all workers deserve a safe and healthy working environment and have a right to return home from work, safe and healthy.”^[i]

Following on the trend to improve OHS in South Africa, the Department of Employment and Labour also hosted a three-day Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Conference in Durban in November 2023.

As South Africa moves toward achieving the National Development Plan (NDP) outcomes 2 (long and healthy life for South Africans) and 4 (decent employment through inclusive economic growth), Aspiration One of the African Union Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (good health and wellbeing) and 8 (decent work and economic growth), the Department of Employment and Labour has to respond and provide a platform for stakeholder engagement and sharing of best practice.^[ii]

“A-OSH EXPO has the unique privilege of being able to promote the latest trends in occupational safety and health to help businesses adhere to the OHS Act, and thereby enhance the safety and wellbeing of employees in the workplace. The 2023 event welcomed a record number of 4 005 industry professionals and a combined visitor headcount of 11 465 with the co-located Securex South Africa, Facilities Management Expo, and Firexpo. Imagine the benefits of being able to reach such a huge proportion of your target market all in one place,” says Mark Anderson, Portfolio Director at Specialised Exhibitions — a division of Montgomery Group.

Together with the thousands of products and services on display, further impetus for industry captains to attend A-OSH EXPO are the various conferences, and free-to-attend seminar theatres. “At A-OSH EXPO alone we offer three amazing opportunities to learn about trends, challenges, and solutions in OSH: the Saiosh Seminar Theatre and the Working at Height and Safety Seminar Theatre, together with the subscriber-based Saiosh Health and Safety Conference. In addition, Securex South Africa offers the Securex Seminar Theatre, Facilities Management Expo has the Facilities Management Seminar Theatre, and for the first time we are offering the Firexpo Seminar Theatre,” Anderson points out.

Organisations wishing to exhibit at A-OSH EXPO 2024 can contact the A-OSH EXPO team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book a space or capitalise on a sponsorship opportunity.

Engage with A-OSH EXPO 2024 on social media using the show hashtag #A-OSH2024.

See some of the A-OSH EXPO 2023 highlights here https://youtu.be/vQT3ULRl4I4