With more than three months before Safety and Health Middle East opens, the response has been tremendous.
More than 70 percent of the exhibiting space is already booked, with a remarkable growth rate of more than 40 percent in the number of exhbitors. Also, as compared to the booking rate for the exhibition in September 2007, the growth noted is more than 30 percent.

Leading exhibitors have chosen Safety and Health Middle East as a platform to showcase their world class solutions. Namely: MSA Middle East, Sperian (Bacou - Dalloz), BW Technologies Middle East (Honeywell), AEARO, Draeger Safety, JSP and EC Harris International Ltd.

"We were delighted to stage our first major event in the region at Intersec Middle East in 2007- it followed the launch of our Middle East branch, so the timing was perfect to bring together professionals active in the area. It is an ideal platform for our members and others involved in the industry to meet and talk about new ideas and share best practice. We're looking forward to building on our success at the 2008 exhibition and conference as
well" says Sarah Hamilton, head of international affairs, Institution of occupational safety & Health (IOSH).

Latest construction landmarks in Dubai have established it as one of the most dynamic cities on the world map. However, according to official reports, the recent destructive fires that broke out in Dubai last month have made national news; and brought into the spotlight the question of whether or not there are adequate regulations for health and safety in the Middle East.

"Safety and Health Middle East represents a high point in the industry's enthusiasm to both acknowledge its responsibilities towards the progress of health and safety in the region, and to take united action to decrease the circumstances which can lead to workplace accidents" says Eckhard Pruy, CEO of EPOC Messe Frankfurt GmbH, the organiser of Safety and Health Middle East.

Safety and Health Middle East will also feature the IOSH Middle East Safety & Health conference, which will be jointly organized with Intersec. The focus will be on safety issues in the Middle East such as safety on construction sites, and safety in the oil & gas sector.

The two day conference will be opened by incoming IOSH
president Ray Hurst, and will feature 12 speakers from key industries in the region including representatives from EHS, Nakheel, ENOC, GPIC and Dubai Holding.

"The conference programme is developed on the assumption that damage prevention is directly related to the measures undertaken for reducing accidents. The broad sessions will look at aspects of improving and maintaining safety and health standards, with one
day focusing solely on the construction sector" says Angela Schierholz, senior show manager, Intersec Middle East.