Workplace wellness and safety in focus at Safety in Action

One in five Australian workers reported taking time off work due to feeling mentally unwell in the past 12 months.

Stress, anxiety and depression are major issues in Australia, with safety innovation and mental health and wellbeing becoming increasingly important components of occupational health and safety management.

The upcoming Safety in Action Tradeshow will tap into these key health and safety topics, by introducing three new dedicated ‘safety zones’. Each zone will include free, tailored seminar programs to educate OHS professionals. In addition to the safety innovations and mental health and wellbeing program, the third safety zone will focus on case studies of current major safety projects in Australia, to stay on top of the latest developments.

“This year to cater for the extra demand we have created three spaces on the tradeshow floor to run concurrent programs covering major projects, innovations and wellbeing. You can attend as many as you like from across all three streams,” said Keith Barks, general manager at Informa Australia.

Innovation, whether in processes, technology and/or approaches to people, is becoming more and more crucial in helping to solve ongoing problems and ensuring employees go home safely after work.

A snapshot of the free seminar sessions includes:

• Implementing a mental health and wellbeing strategy in the workplace, Nick Arvantis, Head of Research and Resource Development, Beyond Blue
• Software to manage and improve workplace mental health, Sarah O’Leary, Opportunity Creator, myosh
• The future of corporate health — current trends and future direction, Debra Villar, Director, Complete Corporate Wellness
• Mitigating heat stress — lessons learnt from 2017, Dr Matt Brearley, Managing Director, Thermal Hyper Performance
• Nonconforming building products and safety law, Katherine Morris, Norton Rose Fulbright
• Legal approaches, safety culture and human factors in the aviation industry, John Ribbands, Barrister and Aviation Human Factors Specialist, ALAANZ

Held concurrently with the trade show, Safety in Action presents three high-profile conferences focusing on safety strategy, leadership and culture, workplace wellness and return to work. With over 350 delegates and 70+ speakers and the conferences running in adjacent rooms, attendees will be able to switch sessions and plan a track to suit their requirements.

The Safety in Action Tradeshow will take place on 5–6 September 2017 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Attendance is free for bona fide trade visitors and registration is available on www.safetyinaction.net.au.

Image courtesy of Informa Australia.