Almedalen for working life issues
Elmia Working Environment: Work 10 – an important gathering-point
An Almedalen for working life issues. This is how Maria Schönefeld, Managing Director of Prevent, summarises Elmia Working Environment: Work 10 – referring to ‘Almedalen Week’, an important congress event in Sweden’s political calendar. This year’s fair showed that these issues are highly topical.
“The fair certainly has a place, it is a gathering-point where people focus on working life issues,” she says.
During the three-day fair, psychosocial and physical working environment issues have been discussed in depth at seminars and on the exhibition floor.
“The fair seeks out new knowledge, practical and concrete solutions. This is what makes Work a totality, and creates a special intensity. Moreover, there have been major changes in the working environment field in recent years, and the fair is therefore an important forum where various uncertainties can be straightened out,” according to Project Manager Karla Eklund.
Jörgen Eklund, a professor of ergonomics at the Royal Institute of Technology who took part in the fair, emphasises that a good working environment has positive financial effects.
“Research shows a strong link between quality and ergonomics/working environment. A company is three times more likely to have shortcomings in quality if there are inadequacies in the working environment,” he says.
Although the industry has undergone a baptism of fire over the past 18 months, visitor figures for this year’s fair are on a par with Work 08.
“The right people come to the fair and they have a job to do. It is essential that the people who solve problems are here at the fair. We are delighted,” says Kajsa Mollby, market co-ordinator at 3M/Peltor.
“We are now aiming to build on the fair’s new concept. We will continue to focus on safety, security, health and leadership, and feel inspired to look to the future,” says Karla Eklund.
Companies/brands represented: 236 (158 of which were main exhibitors)
Exhibiting nations: 12
Visits to the fair: 7,383
Conference attendances: 1,426