Not sometime soon, but now. Digital transformation and demographic change are in full swing. Their effects impact every worker around the globe. A+A 2019 in Düsseldorf from 5 to 8 November shows possible approaches and how the working world is getting prepared for it, what is to be done and what is already being done to have safe and healthy workplaces in future, too.

With 2,100 exhibitors from 64 countries the leading international trade fair with congress for safety, security and health at work will occupy ten exhibition halls for the first time since its inception in 1954, thereby sending out a clear signal: people matter – now and in future.

Safe and Healthy Work: A Theme that Affects Everyone

Safety and health at work are enormously important and placed in focus by more and more companies. Not only because safety and security at work increase productivity and competitiveness. They also improve human quality of life by minimising health and safety risks at the workplace. Furthermore, suitable measures help companies to avoid illness-related or premature retirement of employees and are good arguments in the war for young skilled talents. The choice of employer is no longer only decided by the wage or company name. In line with the rising awareness of safe and healthy working, the market has shown a growing interest in trade fair participation. “Many companies that have already exhibited at A+A for years, are back again and some have even enlarged their exhibition space. Likewise, the high number of new exhibitors underscores the importance of A+A as the world’s No. 1 for safety and health at work,” says Wolfram Diener, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, confirming the positive response. A+A 2019 is set to break another record with 2,100 exhibitors from 64 countries. The latest products and services for personal protective equipment and the implementation of health-maintaining, safe processes will be on display on over 78,000 square metres. Exhibits range from corporate fashion and ergonomic office furniture, through protective equipment and software to corporate environmental protection measures such as fire protection and emergency management. “In view of A+A’s substantial growth we are delighted to be able to enlarge the space we offer compared to the previous event by including the new multi-functional Hall 1, thereby occupying ten halls with A+A for the first time now,” explains Diener. Measuring approximately 12,000 square metres, Hall 1 can be accessed via the new South Entrance and will predominantly house companies from the PPE segment.

36th Congress for Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine

Held in parallel with the A+A trade fair will be the 36th International Congress for Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine at Congress Center Düsseldorf (CCD). Its programme centres on the interactive exchange with some 350 experts from political, research circles and occupational safety and health practitioners who will address societal developments, reform projects, technical and organisational innovations as well as the latest scientific findings. The most important congress for the sector is organised by the German Federal Association of Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Sicherheit und Gesundheit bei der Arbeit – Basi). This year sees over 50 series of events being organised on such current issues as Work 4.0, the future of work in Europe and worldwide as well as the new format “Praxis Interaktiv”.

Issue for the Future: Sustainability

How apparel can be manufactured under good and safe conditions will be centre stage at the panel discussion “Success Factor Sustainability – Potentials and Expectations”, organised for the first time on 7 November, at 11.00 am on the stage of the “Trend Forum Health & Workplace Design”. And the 36th International Congress for Occupational Safety and Occupational Medicine is also dedicated to the forward-looking theme sustainability. On 6 November Basi extends an invitation to the event “Good Work Worldwide – Fairness in Global Supply Chains” at 11.00 am and to the panel discussion “Business, Sustainability and Global Supply Chains” at 2.00 pm. Taking part as a panellist alongside Dr. Ockert Dupper of the Vision Zero Fund (VZF) at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Dr. Stefan Hussy of the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) and Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), will be star designer Guido Maria Kretschmer, who has already designed corporate fashion for Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Bahn, various hotels and tour operator TUI. Speaking of corporate fashion: this year A+A will again defend its ranking as the largest international trade fair in this segment. In total, more than 200 companies have announced corporate fashion presentations. Accordingly, the A+A Fashion Shows to be held four times a day on the catwalk in Hall 11, are must-see events.

New: The A+A START-UP ZONE

The new A+A START-UP ZONE in Hall 10 celebrates its premiere this year. Kicking off the new format 15 international newcomers in this industry will present web-based software for safety at work and corporate health management, VR applications in fire protection, hazardous substances management by App, body-scan services for the digital determination of body measurements and apparel sizes, a vertical-horizontal fall protection system as well as a digital sourcing and supply platform for personal protective equipment.

Curtains up for the “kommmitmensch Film & Media Festival”

Also new at A+A is the kommmitmensch Film & Media Festival in Hall 10, creating the first forum for media productions on OSH. Here trade fair visitors can gain useful insights in roundtable discussions and find out how films can be effectively used in prevention. And like with all important Film Festivals there will also be awards presented to films at A+A 2019. The award ceremony with a screening of the winning films in the categories “Dein Blick”, “Mit Sicherheit Kunst”, “Fokus Betrieb”, and “A+A Sonderpreis: Hauptsache sicher” will be held at the A+A cinema in Hall 10 on 7 November.

Developed Further: A+A Highlight Route

After its successful debut at the last A+A in 2017 the A+A Highlight Route on the future of work has been developed further this year and adjusted even more to the needs of the sector. Under the heading “Digitalisation of Safety and Security” a total of 18 stops in Halls 1, 3, 6, 7, 9 and 10 will be visited – from start-ups to global players. On display will be smart solutions for personal protection such as Apps for hazardous substance management, interactive workwear, digital assembly and maintenance documentation of fall protection systems, connected gas measuring techniques or VR training applications.

The A+A Highlight Route entitled “Digitalisation of Health” in Halls 4 and 10 will call on six exhibitors representing the ‘Health at Work’ segment. Participants here will learn about ergonomic working at mobile workstations, assessment and support as well as about the practical use of collaborating robots (Cobots) and exo-skeletons, to name but a few concepts on display.

A+A live: That’s the Way to Do it

Action unplugged will also be the name of the game at “A+A live” once again in 2019. Next to the A+A Highlight Route and the A+A Fashion Shows five other forums, theme parks and special shows will again present best practices; as is the case in the established Theme Park Company Fire Protection and Emergency Management in Hall 6. There, on its big activity stand, the National Association of Technical Fire Protection (bvfa) and the Works Fire Services Association of Germany (WFVD) will demonstrate measures to be undertaken to prevent accidents and major disasters, and to execute rescue activities safely and in a targeted manner using a container clearance measurement as an example. Safe rescues from extreme situations will be shown by the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) in their joint Special Show Safe Rescues above the big diving pool in Hall 7a. 

In Hall 10 trade visitors will find the centre of expertise for occupational safety and health in the Meeting Point Safety and Health. Here Basi together with its national and international partners will provide information about all areas such as corporate health promotion, occupational diseases, hazardous substances, protective equipment, accident insurance, rehabilitation and regulations.

Also located in Hall 10, the Trend Forum Health & WorkPlace Design focuses on the ergonomic design of workplaces and processes in the office as well as corporate health promotion.

In Hall 11 the Trend Forum Safety & Security provides hands-on lectures on such topics as “Cyber Attacks: Security in Corporate Prevention”, “Risk Assessment for Jobs involving Nano Materials”, “Protective Gloves” and “Moving Machines” as well as “New Legislation on Hazardous Substances” and insights into current developments.

Trends in, and drivers of, PPE distribution will be discussed against the backdrop of digital transformation at the fourth International PPE Conferences on 6 November entitled: “Digital Evolution in PPE Distribution – Relevant Dynamics”.

Special Ranges for Rescue and Relief Organisations

The A+A supporting programme is rounded off by the new expert conferences for rescue forces at the Congress Center of the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centres. The two Expert Conferences Respiratory Protection and Occupational Hygiene on 7 and 8 November create a new forum for fire and rescue services, leaders of professional and voluntary fire brigades as well as safety officers from industry. Forming a high-profile part of the expert programme expert will be the “5th Global Seminar on Occupational Cancer among Firefighters” – supported by FeuerKrebs gUG, the Society for the Promotion and Sustainable Improvement of Health and Working Conditions of Firefighters. Furthermore, the A+A Forum “Eigenschutz der Einsatz- und Rettungskräfte” (Self-Protection of Emergency and Rescue Forces) on 5 November will deal with current themes such as “Self-Protection”, “Bodycams”, “Protection from Infections”, and “Mental Stress through Attacks on Rescue Forces”.

You can obtain accreditation for A+A 2019 online at www.aplusa-online.com/press registration. Please note our corresponding accreditation guidelines.

A+A 2019 runs from 5 to 8 November opening daily from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.