Visitor registrations to Australia’s largest workplace safety event, Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling, are up by 20 per cent compared to this time last year.
The two shows, which will run from April 20 to 22 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, drew 10,290 visits in the midst of economic uncertainty in 2009.
Exhibitor, Andrew Meerman of Noel Arnold & Associates says confidence has returned, bringing a new wave of investment in occupational health and safety.
“We’re certainly seeing greater investment, both in capital and people, because organisations are increasingly seeing a return on safety,” Meerman said.
“There’s a maturity in the market and organisations are looking to safety managers to quantify those returns.”
Around 350 safety specialists will be on hand at Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling to help a predicted 10,000 to 12,000 industry visitors solve safety challenges ranging from asbestos roofing through to workplace wellness.
Organisers promise plenty of action. Stepping inside a large trailer, visitors can surround themselves with the flames, heat and sound of an industrial fire.
Parasol ETS will bring the southern hemisphere’s first Fire and Emergency Training Simulator from BullEx Australia to Safety In Action.
A handsome door prize will on offer by Prime Health, which will also profile the health of show visitors to demonstrate its employee health programs.
On the other hand, robotics advisory service, Robotize, will explain how different robots are fit for different tasks. Robotize will have units working tirelessly throughout the show for evaluation by visitors with repetitive manual tasks seeking maximum safety and productivity.
Still on the theme of fitness, uvex will host Olympic cyclist Anna Meares and Holden HRT V8 Supercar driver Will Davison at the show on Tuesday 20 April.
Formal feature areas at Safety In Action will include fire and security, height safety, training and technology, and corporate health.
Organiser Marie Kinsella of Australian Exhibitions & Conferences expects Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling to be particularly busy this April.
“Investment in safety during 2009 was constrained but now as skills shortages begin to reappear and employers prepare for the newly released harmonised OHS laws, exhibitors are readying themselves to take advantage of much stronger conditions.”
Visit the 350 or more safety suppliers at Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling from April 20 to 22 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
The Safety Institute of Australia will host the concurrent Safety in Action conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
For more information, www.safetyinaction.net.au, or phone Australian Exhibitions & Conferences on 03 9654 7773.