National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Conference 2026: Reimagining Workplace Safety in South Africa – Department of Employment and Labour

The Department of Employment and Labour will host the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Conference 2026, a three-day event aimed at modernizing workplace safety and prevention strategies across South Africa. The conference will be held from 17–19 March 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, running daily from 07:45 to 16:00.

This conference is part of the Department’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) programme, which seeks to strengthen enforcement capacity, embed prevention as a core principle, and elevate OHS as both a constitutional right and a pillar of economic productivity.

Conference Theme: Beyond Compliance – Prevention in Practice

The theme for the 2026 conference is “Beyond Compliance: Prevention in Practice”, highlighting the shift from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention strategies. OHS is now recognised as:

A constitutional and fundamental right at work
A core state authority function
A pillar for investor confidence and economic growth
A foundation for decent work and inclusive growth

Who Will Attend

The National OHS Conference 2026 expects around 800 delegates, including:

600 OHS inspectors
Departmental OHS experts
Industry organisations and regulatory bodies
Business and labour federations
Academic experts
International Labour Organization (ILO) representatives

This diverse participation ensures a comprehensive discussion on workplace safety, policy, and innovation.

Key Topics

Delegates will explore critical workplace safety issues, including:

Closing regulatory gaps and addressing enforcement challenges
Using data and statistics to reduce occupational injuries and diseases
Translating OHS regulations into practical action
Risk management in the explosives industry
Improving construction sector safety through accountability and competency
Process safety management to prevent Major Hazard Installation (MHI) incidents
Risk assessment frameworks for high-risk industries
Global perspectives on AI in occupational injury prevention
Technology-driven solutions in construction safety
The role of research in preventing workplace injuries and illnesses

Gala Awards Ceremony

The conference will conclude with a Gala Awards Ceremony celebrating outstanding OHS inspectors and champions of policy development. Awards will highlight contributions to Vision Zero principles, aiming for zero workplace accidents and fatalities.