Düsseldorf, 25 October 2021 – The responsible approach to health and safety at the workplace has moved into the focus of society and politics even more due to the pandemic. At A+A 2021, which started on 26 October 2021 these topics have already been centrestage since its debut. Under the heading “People Matter” A+A 2021 presents everything revolving around personal protection, corporate security and health at work from 26 to 29 October. More than 1,200 exhibitors from 56 nations are presenting themselves to trade visitors in 10 halls at Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.
“Anticipation for the trade fair was enormous. This year we have been really yearning for personal exchange with the sector. The good exhibitor feedback confirms that the parties active in OSH have been wanting a live platform. And with A+A we are delivering what only trade fairs can offer. Tactile product presentations and innovations as well as planned and accidental encounters with the entire sector,” says Birgit Horn, Project Director A+A.
Exciting topics and best practices at the A+A Congress
Held concurrently with the A+A trade fair, the 37th International Congress for Occupational Safety and Occupational Medicine tackles numerous current themes and challenges of the occupational safety community. It is organised by the German Federal Association for Occupational Safety and Health (Basi). In over 25 series of events sound expertise and current political issues for all actors involved in safety and health at the workplace are shared and intensely discussed, on site and in part also digitally. “Just the opening event in itself was highly interesting. Social partners and other stakeholders debated the impact of the pandemic on occupational safety and the return to the new normal starting now,” says Basi Managing Director Dr. Christian Felten.
At the A+A Congress renowned OSH experts provide answers to such central issues as: how does the digitalisation of work impact employees’ health and safety? How do I as an occupational safety officer consult companies and employees on this? How can decentralised working sites be managed in a safe and healthy way? How do you strike a healthy balance between mobile and stationary work? Which prevention needs at companies result from musculoskeletal burdens and what are current prevention needs associated with carcinogenic hazardous materials and organic materials? These and many other subjects will be covered by numerous interesting events – for further information visit www.basi.de/kongress.
Trending themes at A+A 2021
Digital efficiency and sustainability dominate the current debate and will continue to heavily impact the future of work. Alongside these two mega trends of A+A 2021, the programme of side events will focus on Future Solutions, New Work and hygiene and pandemic themes.
A+A Live: Experiencing safe and healthy work with all the senses
Best practices using the latest products and processes will be shared under the label of “A+A live” at the Trendforum, the Theme Park Fire Protection and Emergency Management, the Robotics Park and the Start UP Zone.
In Hall 10 trade visitors find the centre of expertise for all things OSH at the Meeting Point Safety and Health. This is where the member and partner organisations of Basi are located.
Also located in Hall 10 is the Robotics Park, which is subdivided into the Self Experience Space and the Exoworkathlon. The partner of the Robotics Park is the Fraunhofer IPA from Stuttgart.
The Self Experience Space features the following manufacturers of exo-skeleton solutions, which can be tried out by visitors themselves: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA, Japet Medical Devices SAS, Iturri, German Bionic Systems GmbH, Ergoschutz GmbH, suitX Inc., hTRIUS GmbH, Levitate Technologies Inc. and Laevo B.V.
The Exoworkathlon is a live study carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation (IPA) and the Institute for Industrial Manufacturing and Management of the Stuttgart University (IFF) – here young study subjects (trainees and technical students) are invited to complete the course with and without exo-skeletons. The data collected at this Exoworkathlon serve to scientifically assess the extent to which these exo-skeletons reduce burdens on muscles and skeletons and enhance performance.
In Hall 4 the Trend Forum will host technical lectures on the themes of Digitalisation + Safety, Digitalisation + Health, Sustainability, Protection and Hygiene as well as safe haz-mat handling, thereby providing insights into the latest developments.
Hall 5 is home to the Corporate Fashion Lounge. Here trade visitors can find out about the latest in fashionable workwear and see and feel just how versatile modern jobwear can be today. At the same time, the Lounge provides an outlook on the future role that Corporate Fashion will play at the trade fair starting with A+A 2023.
In Hall 6 trade visitors find the special area Company Fire Protection and Emergency Management organised by the Works Fire Service Association Germany (WFVD). In several live demonstrations they will simulate the use of Chemical Protection Suits (CPS) in the event of loss of containment of toxic substances during accidents.
Press releases, background articles, statements, press photos and logos as well as audio and moving images can be found online at: www.AplusA.de/presse. You can obtain online accreditation for A+A 2021 at www.AplusA.de/Akkreditierung. Please also see our accreditation guidelines as well as our Hygiene and Safety Concept.
A+A 2021 runs from 26 to 29 October and is open daily from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Media contact at Basi (Organisation of A+A Congress):
Natascha Plankermann
Tel. +49 (0) 2241-231-6040.
E-Mail: Natascha.Plankermann@basi.de
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