Non-stop demos, displays, seminars and tours

An Australian Exhibitions and Conferences product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 1, 2006

Over three days from May 16-18 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, Safety In Action and Materials and Manual Handling will have plenty for the expected 10,000 trade visitors to do and see.

Over three days from May 16-18 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, Safety In Action and Materials and Manual Handling will have plenty for the expected 10,000 trade visitors to do and see.

Now in its ninth year, Australia's longest running occupational health and safety show will feature interactive demonstrations on stage around the clock, a series of specialist tours, over three acres of products and services from around 350 providers, and seminars from regulator, WorkSafe Victoria.

Special show features for 2006 are building and electrical safety; electrical engineering; and safety technology and training.

Supported by the Master Builders Association of Victoria, the building and electrical safety feature will include height safety equipment, ventilation, flooring, appliance test and tag and lightning protection.

Safety technology and training takes in software, auditing tools, training programs, risk assessment and management systems.

Finally, electrical engineering will preview the latest in automation, safety light curtains and grids plus sensors and controllers.

Visitors keen to learn more about machine and automation safety, height safety and warehouse solutions directly from an expert in each field will join small tour groups running at 12 noon and 1.30pm each day.

Industry experts will lead visitors through the expansive exhibition to meet specialist suppliers and discuss the newest developments in each field.

New to Safety In Action and Materials and Manual Handling is a series of 'Safety Theatre' presentations, where exhibitors will deliver short seminars on everything from changes to legislation through to new technology releases.

For a hands-on experience, visitors can participate in interactive 15 to 20 minute demonstrations of products in operation, which will begin on the hour at the Demonstration Stage.

The packed program will feature demonstrations as diverse as drug testing, body harness fitting, mobile computing and semi-automatic heart defibrillation.

According to organiser, Marie Kinsella of Australian Exhibitions and Conferences, this year's Safety In Action and Materials and Manual Handling show will hold the broadest appeal ever for visitors.

"There's a mind-boggling range of safety products and services now," she said, "ranging from the ubiquitous fork truck through to the most specialised electronic safety systems imaginable".

"That's also reflected in the people who are registering to visit".

"It's not just OHS professionals but everybody from the shop floor through to senior management and we expect that as the consultation ethos grows, so too, will the diversity of people who come to research solutions to their safety challenges".

In fact, consultation itself will be a highlight of Safety In Action and Materials and Manual Handling.

An important part of the new Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act, the 'duty of employers to consult', became law on 1 January 2006 and WorkSafe will run free seminars each day at 12.45pm explaining what this duty means to both employees and employers.

No pre-booking is needed but as seats are limited, organisers recommend visitors arrive 15 minutes early.

Minister for WorkCover John Lenders will officially open the trade show and the concurrently held conference at a breakfast that also features Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin on Tuesday May 16.

The 2006 Safety In Action and Materials and Manual Handling show will be run from 16-18 May, at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Australia.