Bringing safety, health and wellbeing into focus at Expo 2025

IOSH is leading the group of partners staging a two-day World Assembly for occupational safety and health (OSH), HR and related communities. The Institution is contributing in other ways by running sessions in a programme organised by the Global Initiative on Safety Health and Wellbeing (GISHW) at Expo 2025 and beyond.

Since the “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations” at Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, in 1851, ‘world expositions’ have been held roughly every five years in major cities worldwide. 

These have sought to demonstrate the latest industrial and technological ingenuity, stunning design and creativity, peace-making and cultural exchange, and the sharing of knowledge and vision. Now, health and safety themes have been drawn into the heart of this expo.

Expo 2025 runs for six months from 13 April to 13 October in Osaka. Its overarching theme is designing future society for our lives. The four-day OSH programme of events happens midway through, from 16 to 19 July 2025, at various locations on and around the expo site. 

Following the success of a Vision Zero Summit in Japan in May 2022, the host, the Institute of Global Safety Promotion (IGSAP), called for safety, health and wellbeing to be part of plans for Japan’s World Expo 2025.

IOSH joined with IGSAP, the International Occupational Risk Prevention (ORP) Foundation  and others to form the GISHW. It is developing a programme of symposia for global OSH decision-makers, experts, scholars, professionals and individuals to learn and exchange the latest knowledge, ideas and perspectives, and public exhibitions and events.

“During ‘Days on Safety, Health and Wellbeing for All’, we will join with others to use our collective voices in showing how vital OSH professionals are in enabling sustainable, productive and socially just businesses and economies.

“IOSH is organising and will moderate four out of eight sessions in the World Assembly for OSH professionals, scheduled for 16 July, bringing together subject matter experts, innovators and exemplary business case studies. These sessions will showcase innovative technological and organisational solutions to prevent risks and to promote safety, health and wellbeing at work and in wider society.”