Safety In Action 2011: acres of products and scores of experts

The Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling expos return to Melbourne from 5 to 7 April 2011, offering a range of safety solutions that goes well beyond personal protective equipment and high-tech automation; they also encompass a comprehensive source of expert knowledge.

With new model safety laws months away, the shows - which cover some three acres of products and services - will this year highlight the expertise of exhibitors in all matters relating to safety.

Universities, certification, professional bodies, lawyers and consultants will help show-goers adapt. WorkHealth will provide free health checks during the shows’ three days, while Norton Rose lawyer Barry Sherriff, along with experts from Safe Work Australia, will explain the new work health and safety laws during seminars.

Event organiser Marie Kinsella, of Australian Exhibitions & Conferences, said that beyond the formal seminars, many exhibitors will offer practical expertise on best practice safety: “Among them is 3M, which will help Safety In Action visitors ensure respirators fit properly for optimal performance.”

Similarly, Melbourne Materials Handling exhibitor Dr Lindsay Wakefield of Safetech says that while his company ultimately provides equipment, it is the people behind them that make the difference.

“We are asked to supply solutions to manual handling problems,” he said. “Most involve lifting, and the majority of clients require that we use our experience and design skills to produce an ideal outcome. They want us to understand their processes and problems and apply our knowledge to produce solutions that are safe, cost effective and easy for staff to use. It’s vital to engineer them for the operator because if they can’t use the equipment easily, they won’t use it at all.”

Recognising the expertise of its exhibitors, the organisers of Safety In Action are planning a series of workshops explaining the model draft codes of practice that close for comment on 4 April, the day before the three-day show begins.

Explaining the intent of these workshops, Kinsella said: “Safety In Action’s exhibitors generally know their areas of expertise inside out - both from a compliance and a very practical perspective - because they are called in to solve workplace safety challenges every day. Who better to explain to Safety In Action visitors what needs to be done and why?”

Sessions discussing the harmonised model Act at The Safety Show in Sydney last October drew hundreds of attendees, so organisers expect the 45-minute sessions dealing with codes of practice will be a major drawcard for Safety In Action’s predicted 10,000 visitors.

“While the Act sets the stage, it’s the codes of practice that make a difference at the shop floor,” Kinsella added. “Whether working at heights or managing asbestos, these codes of practice will dictate just how we keep our workplaces safe.”

The three-day Safety In Action conference will again be presented by the Safety Institute of Australia (Vic Division) and will run concurrently with the expo. The conference will feature more than 70 Australian and international speakers providing insight on OHS policy, best practice and harmonisation.

Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling run concurrently with CleanScene from 5 to 7 April 2011 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Safety In Action

5-7 April 2010

Melbourne Exhibition Centre

Open times:

Tue 5 April 10 am - 5 pm

Wed 6 April 9 am - 5 pm

Thu 7 April 9 am - 4 pm