SAIOH is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Annual Scientific Conference, taking place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Umhlanga, South Africa, from 20th to 23rd October 2025.   This year's conference will be held in a hybrid format offering both in-person and virtual participation options.   This flagship event brings together occupational hygiene professionals, industry leaders, researchers, and stakeholders from across Southern Africa and beyond. By partnering with SAIOH, your organisation will gain unparalleled visibility and the opportunity to engage directly with key decision-makers in the occupational hygiene, health and safety community.   Save the dates, and we hope to see you there!   SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITORS LETTER                                        KEY INFORMATION   Theme “Occupational Hygiene in Practice – Navigating New Workplace Challenges” Location Radisson Blu Hotel, Umhlanga, South Africa Duration of the conference 20 to 23 October 2025 Gala dinner Scheduled for the evening of 22 October 2025. (Please note that a fee will apply to guests attending the gala dinner). Snacks and lunch (arrival, mid-morning, and mid-afternoon) Tea and lunch will be provided by the venue. SAIOH CPD points   Attendees earn 1 SAIOH CPD point per conference day and 1 point for each PDC session attended.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

SAIOH invites you to submit abstracts for consideration as either oral or poster presentations to: info@saioh.co.za.

Deadline date: 30 June 2025

GUIDELINES FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

(Please use the Abstract Template provided) - Click here

• The abstracts must be submitted in English.
• First names and surnames of all authors and respective affiliations must be provided.
• The presenting author’s name to be in bold and italic text.
• Full names and contact details must be provided – affiliation and e-mail address.
• Each abstract is limited to a maximum of three hundred words (please DO NOT include tables, graphs, or references; abstracts longer than three hundred words will be automatically rejected).
• All abstracts will be reviewed by Scientific Committee members; authors will be formally notified of the outcome. 
• Only abstracts emailed to info@saioh.co.za will be accepted

SUB-THEMES

1. Ageing workforces
2. Climate change
3. Mental health and wellbeing
4. Real-time monitoring and AI application in occupational hygiene
5. Remote workplaces and hybrid work
6. Sampling strategies
7. SME’s and the Informal Sectors
8. Women in the workplace

NB:  A limited number of slots are available for oral presentations and preference will be given to those which are well aligned with the requested theme or sub-themes. 

This request for abstract submissions, on the theme or sub-themes, will be extended to invited stakeholders (e.g., sister organisations in occupational health, Department of Employment and Labour, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy).

GUIDELINES FOR POSTER PRESENTATIONS

• Size: Posters should be no larger than an A0 poster size, i.e., a maximum of 84 cm wide and 118 cm high (portrait orientation).
• Mounting: Each poster will be allocated a space for mounting before or during the conference. Materials to mount posters will be provided at the poster venue. Each poster board will be marked with the author names and the poster number, as indicated in the book of abstracts.
• Viewing: Posters will be on display for the duration of the conference.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Deadline for abstract submission: 30 June 2025
• Notification of abstract acceptance: 31 July 2025
• Accepted presenter registration deadline to confirm attendance: 15 September 2025
• Presenters with accepted abstracts attend their presentation day free and get a 10% discount on other conference days.
• Deadline for the submission of the article on the oral presentation for review for publication: 07 October 2025
• Presenters with accepted abstracts and submitted articles attend their presentation day free (please use the attached template for the article)
• While posters will be displayed for the duration of the conference, presenters will only be afforded one day of free attendance at the conference.
• Deadline for the submission of the PowerPoint oral presentation for review and uploading to the system: 07 October 2025
• Awards for the “best conference paper” and “best conference poster”, as voted for by conference attendees, will be awarded at the end of the conference.

SAIOH ANNUAL AWARD NOMINATION

To nominate a candidate you believe is the most deserving of the below title Click here

There are five categories for which recognition is awarded:

1. Occupational Hygienist of the year 2024
2. Personality of the year 2024
3. Article of the year 2024
4. Student of the year (Tertiary and Vocational) 2024
5. SAIOH Assessment (Hygienist, Technologist and Assistant) Achievement 2024

Refer to the rules of the award for more detail on motivations and supporting documents required. The winners of these honours will be announced at the annual SAIOH prestigious awards evening to be held on the 22 October 2025