Queensland show is back for 2007

It's almost a year since the doors opened to reveal Queensland's own dedicated occupational health and safety exhibition and event organisers are proud to say that this year's event will be 30% bigger than in 2006.

In fact, this year will see more than 200 exhibitors display specialist health and safety products and services across 7500 square metres of the Brisbane Exhibition Centre.

Jo Stavers, from event organiser Australian Exhibitions and Conferences, told Safety Solutions that last year, 4151 visitors attended the show over its three-day period.

These visitors represented industries such as manufacturing, construction, government, logistics and electronics.

"Visitors' job titles varied from builder/foreman to factory manager, OHS manager, HR manager, general manager and OHS committee member," Stavers says.

The major change to the show's format that visitors will experience this year is that the materials handling element of last year's show is now a show in its own right: Queensland Materials Handling.

"There will be two entrances, but visitors will be able to move freely between both shows in order to see all types of exhibitors," Jo said.

Exhibition workshops

This year will again see a host of workshops at the two exhibitions. Expert speakers and industry partners to the 2007 event include WorkCover Queensland, the Master Plumbers' Association of Queensland, the Electrical and Communications Association and Commerce Queensland.

Each of these will offer free workshops to exhibition visitors - although bookings need to be registered.

The titles of these workshops include: Workers Compensation in Queensland, What you need to know; Safety Leadership - Principles and Practices; and Construction WHS Legislation Update.

Queensland Safety Conference

This year's Queensland Safety Conference - as well as the two trade shows - is sponsored by the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) and presented by the Queensland and Northern Territory division of the Safety Institute of Australia.

The conference opens with addresses from director-general of the Queensland Department of Industrial Relations, Peter Henneken and WHSQ general manager, Judy Bertram. They will discuss the implications of national harmonisation for workplace safety in Queensland.

The law continues to feature when Freehills lawyers Harold Downes and Geraldine Dann examine the implications of recent convictions of executives and the first suspended custodial sentence under Queensland's Workplace Health and Safety Act.

Law enforcement, too, brings its own safety challenges and Inspector Bernie Althofer of the Queensland Police Service will expose the "undiscussable sacred cows, taboos and unwritten ground rules" that undermine safety.

Australia's most high-profile safety brand, Qantas, will also come under the spotlight when consultant Brett Wood exposes the threat to the airline's unblemished record and the steps taken to overcome emerging risks.

The three-day conference encompasses workplace wellness; practical safety management solutions; leadership; creating easy-to-use health, safety and environment models; and national harmonisation.

Managing director at AEC, Marie Kinsella says the two shows and conference offer Queensland businesses the knowledge and tools needed to maker workplaces safe.

"No matter what industry you're in there are health, safety and environment challenges to overcome," she says.

"Spend a day or two at the Queensland Safety Show and you'll find answers to all of them, from asbestos management, construction, electrical, environmental, fire, materials handling and machine safety products through to services like auditing, first aid, rehabilitation and health screening."

The Queensland Safety Show, Queensland Materials Handling and the Queensland Safety Conference will run from Tuesday 19 to Thursday 21 June 2007 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. A list of exhibitors can be viewed at www.qldsafetyshow.com.au