The International Vision Zero Conference in Construction, Health and Safety, Virtual Conference 2020 was a successful one-day event held on 24 November 2020. Originally planned as a live event in Lagos, conference leaders switched to an entirely virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conference included four technical sessions dealing with various health and safety topics on construction sites:
- Vision Zero – a way to improve occupational safety and health
- Construction and COVID-19
- Ways to improve occupational safety and health
- Harmful substances in construction
Conference speakers came from African countries and international speakers, including Board Members of the Section on Prevention in the Construction Industry. Presentations were given in English with French and Portuguese translation available to accommodate the diverse audience.
More than 500 participants including authorities, health and safety organizations and companies in Africa and from all over the world watched the presentations and exchanged views using the chat function. Feedback from attendees was very positive.
Organizers plan to build on the conference’s success with another event entitled, From Safety and Health Problems to Practical Solutions in Construction and Related Industries. The conference is planned for 23–24 November 2021 in Lagos, Nigeria. Organizers plan to cover a much wider range of topics with the support of the following ISSA sections: transportation, electricity, mining, chemical industry, and information.