Promoting safety and health at work

A+A 2019, the world’s foremost health and safety exhibition for workplace-related insights, is scheduled to open in Düsseldorf, Germany, on November 5

The working world is characterised by fundamental change. Digital transformation is in full swing, its effect impacting every worker around the globe. From that perspective, next month’s A+A 2019 trade fair in Düsseldorf – regarded as the world’s foremost health and safety exhibition for workplace-related insights – has been designed to highlight possible approaches to the challenges posed by the shift in trends.

With 2 100 exhibitors from 64 countries, the event will occupy 10 exhibition halls for the first time since its inception in 1954, thereby sending out a clear signal – people matter, now and in future, according to Wolfram Diener, managing director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, organisers of the fair.

He says the impressive booking levels for the show – one of the reasons why it has had to enlarge its exhibition area – underscore rising global interest in safety and health issues.

One of the features making its debut at this year’s event is a Start-Up Zone comprising international exhibitors who will focus on web-based software designed to improve safety at work and corporate health management. Subjects covered include fire protection; vertical and horizontal fall protection; digital sourcing and supply platforms; personal protective equipment and body-scan services.

Also new to the event is a film and media festival at which productions made specifically for OHS applications will be screened.

It’s the A+A’s boast that almost any product or concepts associated with workplace activity or health and safety issues will be featured at the event.

Planned highlights include a number of corporate fashion shows; displays relating to office furniture and ergonomics; practical applications for collaborating robots (Cobots) and exo-skeletons; smart solutions for personal protection and interactive workwear; digital assembly and maintenance of documentation for fall protection systems; connected gas measuring techniques and a selection of virtual reality training applications.

Lectures and discussions include topics related to cyber security, risk assessment, protective clothing and ways of handling hazardous substances. Trends and drivers in the field of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be discussed against a backdrop of digital transformation at the fourth International PPE Conference to be held at the fair on November 6.

Additionally, in parallel with the fair, the 36th International Congress for Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine will be held. Its programme will focus on societal development, reform projects, technical and organisational innovations, sustainability as well as the findings of latest scientific research into the future of work. Supporting programmes include conferences for fire and rescue services and safety officers from industry.

The A+A 2019 runs from November 5 to 8, opening at 09.00 and closing at 18:00 daily.