OSH India commences its 8th edition in Mumbai

Creating and sustaining awareness for Occupational Safety and Health in the industry

South Asia’s largest trade show for Occupational Safety & Health industry by Informa Markets in India

Mumbai, 28th November 2019: Informa Markets in India (formerly UBM India), India’s leading B2B event organiser, commenced its 8^th edition of OSH India today at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. The two day expo ( 28^th- 29^th November ) catering to the occupational safety and health industry brought together internationally renowned exhibitors, consultants, business experts and key government officials on a single platform to discuss global best practices and seek solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the field of workplace safety and health.

The inaugural ceremony of OSH India, 2019 took place in the presence of Key Dignitaries - Mr. Lalit Gabhane, Director General, National Safety Council, Mr. Santosh Warick, Chief Fire Officer & Fire Advisor, Govt. of Maharashtra, Mr. Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, British Safety Council, Dr. Sidram K. Raut, National President, Indian Association of Occupational Health and Mr. Hemant Sapra, President, Safety Appliances Manufacturers’ Association, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, for Informa Markets in India and Mr. Pankaj Jain, Group Director, Informa Markets in India amidst an august industry gathering.

The participation of leading exhibitors from across the industry reaffirmed the need and focus of OSH India as an industry event.  These include Karam, Tata Communications, Udyogi, Mallcom, Lifegear, Dupont, Ansell, etc. This year, the show has a presence of over 150 exhibitors and over 180 brands and is witnessing international participation from countries such as USA, China, UK, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea, Germany, Ireland, Middle East and Malaysia.

Speaking on the 8^th edition of OSH India in Mumbai, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director,for Informa Markets in India said, “On average, 4.75 million people join the labour force in India per year. In a strong corporate safety culture, organisations need to look at the safety and health along with emotional well-being of these employees on priority to retain the best of talent and ensure good productivity. Companies in manufacturing and allied sectors such as automobile, oil and gas, construction etc. in particular are becoming aware of occupational hazards and are working towards creating a safer working environment, especially with some mishaps in the past, the recent one being a major fire breaking out at an oil and gas unit. Governments, through regulations are also emphasising on developing infrastructure and providing resources centred around workplace safety, coupled with increasing global investments. Despite a greater focus on occupational safety and health, there is still inadequate education at various levels and public awareness is still absent, as managements and workforce don’t always place safety as a top priority. Although, many organisations have taken the initiative to organize training sessions to create awareness, a concentrated and cohesive strategy is clearly not in place. Informa Markets in India through OSH India resonates industry’s advocacy of ensuring the safety and health of the growing workforce in our country and is geared up to filling this vital gap with innovation and knowledge through its exhibits and conference.”

This year, the expo is well supported by associations such as -- National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), Indian Society of Ergonomics (ISE), Indian Technical Textiles Association, Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association (SAMA), Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL), National Accreditation Board of Certifying Bodies (NABCB), Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), MRO Association, Safety Training institutes and more.

This year’s conference shares and ideates on global best practice with delegates; whilst the accompanying exhibition is helping identify solutions to the most pressing challenges in workplace safety and health. The key sessions and panel discussions at the conference are attended by industry experts from across the country and leading international organizations. Topics of discussion at the conference included: ‘Leadership in Health and Wellbeing: Stopping the rise in Presenteeism’; ‘OSH Vision Zero’; ‘Latest reforms in occupational safety and health laws in India and the way forward: Key challenges in their implementation’; ‘a Powertalk on improving Human Performance and Safety’; a workshop on ‘Electrostatistics Hazards Risk Assessment and their Alleviation’; ‘The need for permit to work systems for critical operations’; ‘Role and Need for accreditation in HSE by NABCB’ amongst other insightful sessions.

To promote safety among the Indian workforce, OSH India 2019 showcased a SAFETY FASHION WALK along with the prestigious OSH India AWARDS 2019. The Awards catered to Indian operating businesses, organizations, alliance and individuals in the public or private sector with a workplace health and safety initiative. This year, OSH Awards received a total of 220 from across industry verticals that include construction, Pharma, chemicals, FMCG, BPO, Banking, refineries, oil & gas, automobiles, logistics & transport, power, SME’s, Agro, Healthcare, food, iron & steel, IT, Rubber industry and more. These Awards have been instrumental in building competitiveness among applicants, in encouraging innovation and have been able to promote and establish thought leadership within the Occupational Safety and Health industry in India. The Awards Night that was slated for 28 November celebrated of the coming together of the luminaries and forerunners of the industry, marked by a night of glamour, entertainment.