HEALTH AND SAFETY • products and services , but it is the most comprehensive source for visitors seeking all things OSH-related . Simply put – there is no comparable competitive offering in the African market . From auditing tools ; to disaster and environmental management ; to fall arrest and working at height equipment ; to first aid / medical supplies and training ; to gas detection and monitoring equipment ; to hazardous materials storage and handling ; to noise control ; to monitoring equipment and services ; to services including ergonomics and wellness programmes ; to PPE and more – it is all offered under one roof annually at our event and the time and costsaving benefits are clear .
Furthermore , this year ’ s expo will have an increased focus on smart technology , as can be seen by Trigas ’ Blackline lone-worker safety equipment . This tech allows organisations to connect with lone workers , in even the most remote locations , with reliable coverage in over 100 countries globally . The Blackline Safety connected gas detection and lone-worker monitoring technology includes built-in cellular connectivity , with optional satellite ( available in selected regions ) and portable bridge for remote or hard-to access locations ; location technology , including geo-stamped alert status from any internet-connected device ; and direct-to-cloud data streaming for real-time information and worker visibility at one ’ s fingertips . 1
SM : What other exciting innovations trending at the moment will be present for mining visitors to delve into ?
MA : In addition to smart PPE , like the Blackline solution , there are many other products and services focused on improving safety levels , increasing productivity , and ensuring a happy and healthy workplace . A case in point is the Saryx Engineering Group ’ s awardwinning digital health and safety solution HSEC Online ® cloudbased solution , which assists operations to eliminate the risks often encountered with manual health and safety filing systems .
GfG ’ s portable gas detectors for personal protection and the company ’ s fixed gas detection systems that monitor entire sites – ideally suited to the mining sector – will be showcased . The company also offers a wide variety of instrumentation with the most advanced sensor technologies for detecting flammable and toxic gases , vapours , and oxygen .
Also specialising in compliance level gas detection and providing safety for employees working in hazardous environments like mining , Runrite will be present too . The company also offers alcohol testers , including its brand new Alcolizer Centurion Quantum , all designed to ensure safe and responsible workplace environments , which is an example of another completely different end to the safety spectrum .
On yet another OHS level , VBS ’ KuduWave , an industry-credited , clinically validated diagnostic audiometer – fully boothless , seamlessly integrating bone conduction and using high-frequency testing for screening and full diagnostic tests , it can be used to test and diagnose patient hearing in real-time in almost any location , including remotely – will be showcased .
SM : What are some of the highlights visitors can look forward to when it comes to information sharing by experts in the industry this year ?
MA : Saiosh Health & Safety Conference held on 6 and 7 June has a great lineup of speakers and topics , one of which is “ OHS and the Future of Work ” to be presented by Bulelwa Huna , senior specialist Occupational Health and Hygiene at the Department of Employment and Labour . Dr Sanjay Munnoo – chief business development officer
Professionals gather at A-OSH to share perspectives from the broader risk and compliance sphere , assisting industry to proactively address gaps and areas for improvement .
at Federated Employers Mutual Assurance and Saiosh president will tackle “ The Impact of Occupational Injuries ”. These are just two of the many expert talks visitors can look forward to .
The Saiosh powered free-to-attend Seminar Theatre running over the full three days of the exhibition will also include thoughtprovoking business intelligence presented by respected industry professionals on the entire spectrum of OSH . And for visitors interested in the field of working at height and its current regulatory aspects , there is a wealth of information available at the free-toattend Working at Height Seminar Theatre .
There are dedicated seminar theatres and live demonstrations across all four co locates , including a K9 demo showcasing the way in which dogs are being used when it comes to security solutions .
SM : What are your expectations for A-OSH this year when compared with the show held last year , which was held under COVID-19 restrictions ?
MA : We have a total of over 4 000m 2 of floorspace already occupied this year for the four co-located exhibitions . A-OSH EXPO alone has almost 1 200m 2 of floorspace for the 60-plus exhibitors already booked . In terms of numbers of visitors , we expect a higher number than last year . This is due to the fact that immediately post-COVID-19 lockdown , many people were still wary about attending in-person events . Within the past year confidence levels have soared and we look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to the exhibition .
www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • June 2023 • 31