KIOSH 2014 COMES TO ITS CONCLUSION: ONSITE SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Two ministers took part in the opening of the conference and exhibition on occupational safety and health, KIOSH 2014, on 24 April in Astana.

The first working day of KIOSH 2014 was launched by the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the RoK Tamara Kasymovna Duissenova. The plenary session was held on the topic of "Political strategies in Occupational Safety and Health – structural preventive measures".

Vladimir Karpovich Bozhko, Kazakhstan's Minister of Emergency Situations of the RoK visited the KIOSH 2014 Exhibition and got acquainted with the products on display. Fifty companies from Kazakhstan, Russia and the Ukraine took part in the exhibition, representing the full range of products and services for comprehensive safety support in such industries as oil and gas, the mining and metallurgical complex, the chemical industry, energy, transportation, infrastructure and construction.

As Ms. Duissenova remarked, "The issues around occupational safety and health are relevant today not only in Kazakhstan, but in all countries. Because of this, companies are taking part in the exhibition representing new technologies, new equipment and personal protection equipment for ensuring safety and worker occupational health. I believe that this exhibition will give a boost to the work being done in Kazakhstan to improve worker productivity. I think that on the one hand the participants will show what offers are available on the market at the same time as each of us will be able to obtain useful information, as well as to make mutually beneficial contacts."

At the KIOSH 2014 conference the most acute issues around occupational health and industrial safety were raised for discussions by experts in the field from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Centre for Risk, Safety and Environment), the RF PPE Association, RSCE 'Republican Scientific Research Institute on Occupational Health of the Ministry of Labour Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kazakhstan National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, LEA 'Kazakhstan Association of Non-Destructive Testing and Technical Diagnostics' and other international and domestic organizations actively involved in work in this area.

Representatives from some of the largest industrial companies shared about their experiences in occupational health during production as part of the conference. These included: ENRC Kazakhstan, Kazzinc LLP, 3M, Tengizchevroil LLP, DuPont, Shell Kazakhstan, PV Tekhnoavia Firm LLP and others.

The KIOSH 2014 conference touched on the questions around production process management – from analysis to implementation; questions around corporate initiative in the occupational health strategy; scientific health, security and occupational health at industrial enterprises; the main areas for improvement in safety and industrial health systems in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

During the second conference day of KIOSH 2014, the delegates took part in round table meetings on the topics: "Contractors Safety - best practices"; "The introduction of Operational Safety Program in "Kazzinc" LLP."and "Legislative support of diet and prophylactic products application on the industrial enterprises of Kazakh Republic".

For the first time, the PPE Association was represented at the exhibition with its team stand. Among the exhibitors notable companies included Skinkea CJSC (Russia), a developer and manufacturer of high quality protection equipment; Kazakhstani companies KAZPROF SAFETY, PIK YUTARIA LLP and Amirsana LLP with workwear, work boots and personal protective equipment; ECOS Company LLP (Kazakhstan), whose main are of work is supporting safety at industrial facilities, including the delivery of health-and-safety certified equipment, fire and gas alarm systems, fire extinguishing systems and emergency alert systems. The company MSA SAFETY (Kazakhstan) presented the production of high-quality protective equipment. NGS+ Group of Companies (Kazakhstan) provides comprehensive services for construction companies, production and extraction enterprises on the supply of high-quality expendables, fixtures, professional and semi-professional tools.

The project is officially supported by the the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the RoK; the Minister of Emergency Situations of the RoK; Association of Light Industry Enterprises of the RoK; Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises of the RoK; Association SIZ of Russian Federation; National Association for Occupational Health Centres of the Russian Federation (NATsOT); RSE «Republican Scientific and Researches Institute of Labor Security under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan». The unchanged organizers of KIOSH 2014 are the Kazakhstan exhibition company Iteca along with its international partner ITE Group Plc (United Kingdom). ENRC Corporation and Allies Industrial are Golden Partners and 3M is a Silver Partner. Borkit Safety, Kazzinc LLP and Tengizchevroil LLP are Bronze Partners.

In line with tradition, the results of industry awards were finalized during KIOSH 2014. As part of the annual national Korgan Competition, the organizers recognized the best in occupational safety and health in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Awards for the Best Company of the Year were won by: Tengizchevroil for the Oil and Gas Industry; Kazzinc LLP in the mining industry; Kazakhmys Energy in the Energy Industry and NSCC KazStroyService JSC in the Construction Industry. Alexander Vladimirovich Bondarenko, Head of Occupational Health and Environmental Management at SSGPO JSC won Specialist of the Year; Allies Industrial and Capital Safety won Project of the Year; Baitau Partners won the award for Best Educational Program; MSA Safety won Best PPE Supplier and Anttec won the prize for Best PPE Manufacturer.

The fullest information on the results of KIOSH 2014 is available on the official event portal at www.kiosh.kz.