SAIOH Conference Calls for Stronger Partnerships as Workplace Health Risks Converge
From dust, silica and asbestos to psychosocial hazards, climate change and artificial intelligence, the 2026 programme examines how South Africa can protect workers in a rapidly changing world of work.
JOHANNESBURG, 01 October 2026 – The Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH) held its scientific programme of the 2026 Annual Scientific Conference in Johannesburg, calling for stronger partnerships to prevent workplace exposures and protect worker health.
Under the theme Building Stronger Partnerships for Healthier Workplaces, the conference brings together occupational hygiene practitioners, researchers, regulators, health and safety professionals and industry representatives. Its goal goes beyond sharing technical knowledge; it links evidence, professional practice, and institutional action when traditional occupational hazards intersect with emerging, rapidly evolving risks.
The need is substantial. The International Labour Organization estimates that 2.93 million workers die each year from work-related accidents and diseases, while 395 million sustain non-fatal work-related injuries1. In South Africa, the imperative is especially visible across mining, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare and public infrastructure, where persistent exposure risks must now be managed alongside psychosocial pressure, a changing climate and technological disruption.
“Old hazards have not disappeared, yet the world of work is changing around them. Dust, silica and asbestos remain serious concerns, while psychosocial hazards, climate change and artificial intelligence are reshaping how risks arise and how we respond. No single profession or institution can address this alone. This conference is about building the relationships that allow us to identify risks earlier, act on evidence and strengthen prevention for every worker,” says Professor Cas Badenhorst, President of SAIOH
A programme grounded in today’s workplace realities
The programme deliberately places persistent and emerging risks side by side. Professor Spo Kgalamono, Executive Director of the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), opens the scientific programme with a keynote on how strategic collaboration affects occupational health outcomes. Professor Badenhorst follows with Beyond the sample – The relationships that make occupational hygiene work.
Psychosocial risk is a major focus. Ms Milly Ruiters, Chief Inspector for Occupational Health and Safety at the National Department of Employment and Labour, addresses psychosocial hazards in the workplace, while Dr Casper Joubert of Stellenbosch University and the South African Society of Occupational Medicine considers whether artificial intelligence will enable African occupational hygiene to leap forward or leave parts of the continent behind. A related presentation on ISO 45003 (the first global standard for managing psychological health and safety at work) challenges workplaces to fix working conditions rather than expecting workers to absorb systemic pressure.
The conference also maintains a firm focus on exposures that continue to affect workers and communities. Sessions cover silica and modern silicosis, actionable dust-control strategies for mining, particulate matter, agricultural dust and endotoxins, noise-induced hearing loss, and research into asbestos-containing materials in Gauteng public schools. Mr Thapelo Chakane of the Minerals Council South Africa leads the dust-control keynote, while practical and research presentations explore how to strengthen measurement, prevention, and risk management.
Further sessions examine connected occupational health systems, exposure and healthcare, intelligent underground air management, predictive exposure intelligence and the use of large language models to detect technical errors in occupational hygiene reports. Dr Busisiwe Shezi of the South African Medical Research Council addresses worker protection in a changing climate, an increasingly important issue for both outdoor and indoor workplaces as extreme heat becomes more frequent and intense.
NIOH partnership honours 70 years while looking ahead
SAIOH is pleased to partner with the NIOH as the Institute commemorates its 70th anniversary. The partnership includes a NIOH site visit led by Professor Kgalamono and NIOH specialists, her opening keynote, and contributions from NIOH experts across the scientific and poster programmes. It recognises seven decades of service to occupational health while strengthening the collaboration needed for the next generation of workplace risks.
Professor Spo Kgalamono, Executive Director of the National Institute for Occupational Health, states, “For 70 years, the NIOH has translated occupational health evidence into practical action and meaningful protection for workers. Our experience has consistently demonstrated that sustainable improvements are achieved through partnership across disciplines, institutions, employers and the workforce itself. As we mark this significant milestone, we are proud to partner with SAIOH in celebrating our shared contribution to advancing occupational health in South Africa. This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the foundation that has been built, but to strengthen the knowledge, systems and professional capabilities needed for the workplaces of tomorrow.”
The conference, in hybrid format, began on 28 September with professional development courses and a visit to the NIOH site. The main scientific programme runs from 30 September to 1 October and includes 11 keynote addresses, oral and poster presentations, exhibitions, networking and the SAIOH Gala Dinner and Awards.
1. Reference: https://wmo.int/content/launch-of-global-water-report-2025
