Mumbai, October 7, 2026: OSH India 2026, organised by Informa Markets in India, commenced today at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, bringing workplace safety, occupational health, technology and regulatory developments into focus. The three-day, 14th edition, being held from October 7 to 9, features 300+ exhibiting brands, with more than 9,000 visitors, 150+ delegates and 50 speakers, with participation from 13+ countries including the USA, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Malaysia, Belgium, South Korea, the UK, France, Germany, Taiwan and Spain, among others.
The expo was graced in the presence of Mr. Akash Pandurang Fundkar, Minister of Labour Government of Maharashtra; Ms. Vrunda Manohar Desai, IRS, Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India; Shri Ram Dahiphale, Additional Director, Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health, Government of Maharashtra; Shri Prashant Patil, IAS, Dy Director General, Directorate-General of Maritime Administration, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Govt. of India; Shri Mahesh Kudav, President, Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association; Dr. Lalit Gabhane, Director-General, National Safety Council and Shri Arul Muthunathan V, Executive Director, Corporate HSSE, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited alongside Mr. Prashant Jain, Group Director, Safety & Security Portfolio, Informa Markets in India.
Mr. Akash Pandurang Fundkar, Minister of Labour Government of Maharashtra, mentioned,
“OSH India provides an important forum for the industry to come together on workplace safety, while also supporting Maharashtra’s broader vision of industrial growth and employment generation. Maharashtra has taken several progressive steps to balance ease of doing business with safety, health, welfare and dignity of workers. From enabling women to work night shifts with necessary safety measures to advancing digital governance, paperless administration and simplified regulatory processes, our approach is to create an environment where industry can grow while worker protection remains paramount. The new labour codes further support this direction by simplifying compliance and promoting effective use of technology. As Maharashtra continues to emerge as a major industrial and employment hub, the industry will have a significant role in creating opportunities, including rural areas. If the potential of rural Maharashtra is developed and scaled, it can generate significant employment and provide work opportunities to those who need them. The Government of Maharashtra will continue to work with the industry as a partner to address challenges and build a stronger and more developed State.”
Ms Vrunda Manohar Desai, IRS, Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India, said
“Workplace safety must be built into the way we plan, invest, manufacture and work, with protecting the trust of every worker who enters a factory, construction site, refinery or port being a shared responsibility. The range of protective and technical textile solutions showcased at OSH India 2026 reflects the growing capabilities of Indian companies in developing products for our workforce and climatic conditions. For the textile sector, this means addressing workplace risks such as dust, noise, heat and chemicals while also strengthening the use of protective textiles, including heat- and flame-resistant clothing, firefighter suits, gloves, welding apparel, chemical-protective garments and high-visibility workwear. India’s textile and apparel market is expected to grow from US$196 billion to US$350 billion, with technical textiles growing at around 12% CAGR and playing a significant role in this expansion. Government initiatives are supporting this growth, with 170 companies approved under the PLI scheme having invested over ₹8,100 crore and generated 33,000 jobs, while the National Technical Textiles Mission, with an outlay of ₹1,480 crore, has approved 186 research projects. The next step is to translate these investments and research efforts into products designed for India’s workforce and climatic conditions, while embedding safety, environmental management and worker welfare into new infrastructure and manufacturing facilities.”
Shri Prashant Patil, IAS, Deputy Director General of Maritime Administration, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, said,
“India is the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, with nearly 3.25 lakh Indians serving at sea and supporting the country’s foreign trade, making their safety and welfare a critical priority. Through initiatives such as the Maritime Single Window and NAVIC Cell, we are strengthening 24×7, digital and paperless grievance support for seafarers, alongside the development of a Maritime Compliance Code focused on safety onboard ships. Under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, India aims to increase its share of the global seafaring workforce from 12% to 20%. As this workforce expands, the need for advanced safety equipment and stronger collaboration between government, maritime authorities and the safety industry will become increasingly important.”
Shri Ram Dahiphale, Additional Director, Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, Government of Maharashtra, said,
“As manufacturing processes become increasingly technology driven, occupational safety systems, knowledge and workforce competencies must evolve at the same pace. Every manufacturing environment brings together people, materials and machines, creating inherent hazards that require continuous identification and management. Safety, therefore, cannot remain the responsibility of a single officer or department; it must become a collective responsibility embedded across the organisation. Platforms such as OSH India play an important role in enabling the exchange of knowledge, experience, innovation and technology, and in translating these learnings into safer workplaces. The way forward is to translate knowledge, innovation and collaboration into measurable improvements in workplace safety and worker protection.”
Shri Mahesh Kudav, President, Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association (SAMA), said
“Government initiatives over the past several years have reduced India’s import dependence and strengthened domestic manufacturing, with Indian companies increasingly producing world-class safety products for local and export markets. As global attention turns towards India as a manufacturing and sourcing destination, the opportunity for the sector is significant. OSH India supports this growth by showcasing not only finished products, but also the components and materials behind them. From workwear and fire-retardant clothing to other occupational safety solutions, understanding what a product is made of and the protection it provides is essential. The exhibition helps build this awareness while advancing knowledge of product quality and safety.”
Shri. Lalit Gabhane, Director General, National Safety Council of India, said,
“As India’s industrial landscape expands and workplaces become increasingly technology-driven, creating a proactive safety culture is more critical than ever. At the National Safety Council of India, we promote safety, health and environmental standards across organised and unorganised sectors through leadership commitment, workforce participation and capability building. Our 2026 theme, ‘Engage, Educate, Empower, Encourage to Enhance Performance’, underlines the importance of equipping employees to identify risks, report hazards and prevent unsafe work. Initiatives such as the National Safety Rating System and National Safety Aptitude Test are advancing organisational benchmarks and professional competencies, while our school safety awards programme aims to instil awareness from an early age. OSH India 2026 provides an important platform for industry, experts and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, explore emerging solutions and advance workplace safety. As India progresses towards Viksit Bharat, our collective endeavour must be to build a Surakshit Bharat.”
Shri Arul Muthunathan V, Executive Director, Corporate Health, Safety, Security, and Environment, BPCL, said
“As industries navigate rapid technological development, a changing workforce, evolving regulatory expectations, climate-related challenges and increasing stakeholder scrutiny, safety can no longer be merely a compliance requirement; it must be embedded in business strategy and organisational culture. Safety excellence and business excellence are inseparable, with safer workplaces contributing to productivity, operational reliability, stakeholder trust and long-term sustainability. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, wearables, digital permit systems and smart PPE are transforming risk identification and management, while human judgement, leadership commitment and workforce engagement remain essential. At BPCL, we believe every incident is preventable and every employee has the right to return home safely. Our focus remains on strengthening processes, operational discipline, contractor safety management, emergency preparedness, workforce competency, and employee health and well-being. The theme ‘Preparing Now for the Future of Workplace Safety and Health’ calls for proactively anticipating emerging risks and collectively building safer, healthier and more sustainable workplaces.”
Speaking on the 14th edition of OSH India, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said,
“Occupational safety in India is moving from being viewed largely as a compliance requirement to becoming an integral part of business continuity, workforce wellbeing and operational performance. This transition is becoming particularly significant as India expands its manufacturing base and adopts more automated and technology-intensive processes. The Indian PPE market, estimated at approximately USD 2.42 billion in 2026 and projected to reach nearly USD 4.84 billion by 2033, reflects the scale of opportunity ahead, but the larger shift is towards prevention, intelligence and integrated risk management. At this stage, the industry needs greater focus on translating innovation into practical workplace outcomes, strengthening safety capabilities, improving preparedness and accelerating adoption of solutions that can address emerging risks. OSH India is designed to contribute to this progression by creating a business environment where new technologies, evolving standards and operational priorities can converge into more effective safety strategies. The next phase of growth will depend not only on investment in protection, but on how effectively organisations embed safety into productivity, resilience and long-term workforce strategy.”
Mr. Prashant Jain, Group Director, Informa Markets in India, said
“This year’s OSH India is a strong reflection of how the workplace safety ecosystem is evolving. The exhibition brings together the full spectrum of solutions, from PPE, safety footwear, gloves and height safety to machinery and components, training, consultancy, certification, software and technology. What is particularly encouraging is the growing emphasis on practical application. Through our Machine & Component Pavilion, Start-Up Pavilion, Training Zone and Live Demonstrations, visitors can see new products and technologies in action and understand how they can address real workplace challenges. With 300+ exhibiting brands participating, OSH India 2026 provides a valuable environment for industry professionals to compare solutions, discover emerging technologies and identify approaches that can strengthen safety across their operations.”
Leading brands showcase next-generation safety solutions
OSH India 2026 features a wide spectrum of solutions across personal protective equipment, fall protection, safety footwear, protective apparel, respiratory and eye protection, occupational health, industrial safety systems, machinery and workplace technologies. Key participating brands include Karam Safety, Venus Safety & Health, Udyogi, PERF, Rameshwar, Aktion Safety, Mallcom, HS International, DPL, FUEL, Torpedo, Woodland, Allen Cooper and Bisonlife, among others.
This year’s expo features include the Machine and Component Pavilion, Start Up Pavilion, Training Zone and Live Demo, creating dedicated opportunities for visitors to experience new products, technologies, applications and practical safety solutions across different workplace environments. The Machine and Component Pavilion enables industry professionals to explore equipment and components designed to improve workplace safety, productivity and operational efficiency, while the Training Zone and Live Demo bring a stronger practical and skills led dimension to the exhibition.
The exhibition is supported by leading organisations such as the Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health-Delhi NCT, Govt of Goa-Inspectorate of Factories & Boilers, Thane Belapur Industries Association (TBIA), Taloja Industries Association (TIA), Council for Realty Infrastructure & Services Promotion (CRISP), Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association (SAMA) and National Safety Council of India (NSC) further strengthens industry dialogue around standards, compliance, manufacturing requirements and evolving safety priorities.
Knowledge programme addresses emerging priorities
The OSH India 2026 Conference, themed ‘Preparing Now for the Future of Workplace Safety and Health’, brings together government and industry leaders across three days to discuss regulation, occupational health, technology, workplace culture and emerging risks. Day 1, focused on the Four New Labour Codes, fall protection, sanitation safety, HSE competency, fire prevention, leadership and adaptive safety cultures, with participation from organisations including the Labour Ministry, state governments, Adani Group, BMC, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries, Tata Projects, Cipla, Asian Paints and BPCL.
Day 2 will expand the discussion to protective textiles, psychosocial wellbeing, fire and explosion prevention, electrical safety and workplace risk management. Sessions will examine how organisations can strengthen protection against physical and emerging workplace hazards, while addressing employee wellbeing and the evolving safety requirements of technology-intensive workplaces. Leaders from Philips India, JSW Steel, Amazon Web Services, ACC and Ambuja Cements, Reliance Industries and BP India, among others, will contribute to the discussions. Day 3 will focus on predictive occupational health and emerging approaches to workplace safety, further examining how data, technology and preventive practices can support safer and healthier workplaces. The programme will feature industry and safety leaders from organisations including Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Larsen & Toubro, among others. The Compliance Advantage, VIP Lounge and Distinguished Buyers Programme will further enable knowledge exchange, regulatory engagement and targeted business interactions.
Policy, Technology and Automation Drive the Next Phase of Workplace Safety
India’s occupational safety landscape is evolving rapidly as regulatory reform, preventive healthcare and technology adoption begin to influence how organisations approach workplace risk. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, along with the other Labour Codes, came into effect in November 2025, while the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Annual Health Check-Up Initiative for workers aged 40 years and above, launched in May 2026, has further strengthened the focus on worker health and early intervention. At the same time, technologies such as AI, smart PPE, wearables, sensors, automation and robotics are gaining relevance as businesses look for more effective ways to identify hazards, monitor workplace conditions and improve prevention. The Government’s ₹1,207-crore Capital Goods Sector Phase II scheme and proposed Advanced Manufacturing Systems Mission further signal a shift towards technology-intensive manufacturing, creating new requirements around machine interaction, workforce skills and technology-led risk management.
In this context, OSH India 2026 assumes greater relevance by enabling the industry to evaluate emerging solutions, understand evolving safety requirements and prepare for a workplace environment that is becoming increasingly automated, connected and prevention-focused.
About Informa Markets
Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organiser, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com
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