Mumbai : A revolution in the occupational health and safety industry is underway in India, bringing with it a strengthened focus on accessibility to improved emergency responses and AI integration. Taking these conversations to greater heights, OSH India 2022, organised by Informa Markets in India, opened its doors to the occupational health and safety industry at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. This year, the expo is celebrating its 10-year legacy of enriching the Indian industry with occupational health and safety knowledge and spreading awareness through quality safety and health product demos, along with industry-led conference sessions.
Top industry leaders and pioneering innovators came together at OSH India, sharing the latest news and research, technology, and innovation. The inaugural ceremony was marked by the presence of notable dignitaries; Shri M. R. Patil, Director, DISH Maharashtra; Shri K. Srinivas, Director- DoFBISH, Govt. of Karnataka; Mr Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, British Safety Council; Shri D.K. Ghosh, Dy Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade; Mr Dipesh Shah, SAMA Executive & Chairman to Membership; Shri Avdesh Malaiya, President OSHAI; Mr Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India and Mr Pankaj Jain, Senior Group Director and Digital Head, Informa Markets in India
Speaking on the 10th anniversary edition of OSH India, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India said, “Occupational Safety and Health of employees is a crucial factor in gauging any organisational effectiveness. India has a vast workforce deployed in different sectors in varied occupations; however, of the country’s 500 million workers, less than 10% are covered by some health and safety legislation, and Epidemiologists estimate that India contributes to over 17% of the global cases of health and safety related incidents. Increasing casualties at unsafe workspaces have drawn attention to the significance of occupational health & safety compliances amongst companies globally. Governments across the globe are aware of the importance of a safe and healthy environment for their people. Organisations, too, are on the cusp of activating their ESG and employee health programs and are ensuring the safety of workers and assets by reducing accidents, identifying, and mitigating safety risks, complying with occupational health and safety laws, and adopting workplace safety solutions.”
This year’s edition saw participation from over 160 exhibitors, over 200 brands, and more than 40 speakers and is expecting a footfall of over 6500 visitors for the two-day show. The key exhibitors included Motorola, Kimberly-Clark, Ansell, Karam, Liberty, Udyogi International, MTandT, Allen Cooper, Indiform, Utex, Acme Safetywear, Idos, Youngman, Sure Safety, Reliance Retail, and Venus, among many others. Industry associations such as the Ministry of MSME, Govt of India, the Indian Technical Textile Association, Safety Appliances Manufacturing Association, the British Safety Council, and the International Powered Access Federation supported the expo and highlighted the increasing importance of safety and health at workplace in India’s current economic environment.
The global EHS market is expected to grow from $6.7 billion in 2022 to $9.4 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 7.4%. Partnerships, collaborations, and new product launches at OSH India presented lucrative opportunities for market players, accelerating the overall market growth. The industry connoisseurs at the expo who have immeasurably contributed to this sector included Josy John, Chief Health and Safety Expert, Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, Tata Consulting Engineers Limited; Pankaj Singh, Head, Health & Safety, Ambuja Cements; Ashutosh Kumar Jha, Director and Head EHS API & Special Projects, Cipla; Birendra Verma, Joint President & Group Head Safety, Adani Group amongst others.
Emphasizing on health and safety of professions at workplace, Mr. Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, British Safety Council said, “The pandemic has brought significant changes in the OSH industry. Knowing the fact that 80% of the Indian workforce reported has mental health issues in the past year and out of these 47% is undergoing workplace stress, the focus has gone beyond nutritional health and safety risks and is more on mental health. OSH India having a ten-year legacy and with a huge network of safety professionals provides a unique opportunity to take the mission of spreading OSH awareness to the grassroots of Indian industry.”
This year, the expo’s first day of the conference included comprehensive educational presentations that covered a range of topics such as ‘Why Health & Safety Managers Must Embrace Wellbeing!’, ‘Rethinking Employee Wellbeing – Ergonomic Interventions in the New Normal’, ‘Industrial Hygiene and Practical Approach for Industry’, Women & OSH: Promoting Diversity and Inclusiveness in Occupational Safety & Health’- powered by OSH Gurukul. The second day will include topics such as ‘Advanced Technical Textile Products For Human Health And Safety’, ‘Evolution of Safety on Construction Sites’ and many more. The echelon speakers included Josy John, Chief Health and Safety Expert, Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, Tata Consulting Engineers Limited; Pankaj Singh, Head, Health & Safety, Ambuja Cements; Ashutosh Kumar Jha, Director and Head EHS API & Special Projects, Cipla; Birendra Verma, Joint President & Group Head Safety, Adani Group amongst others.
OSH India Awards threw a spotlight on exceptional initiatives in the safety and health programs implemented by organizations in India. The Awards recognized professionals over the last year that have been at the forefront in leadership, innovation, and sustainable solutions. The evening saw a touch of glamour with a Safety Fashion Walk themed ‘Who Says Safety Can’t be Glamorous’ propagating the use of smart safety wear and gadgets.
