German Trade Fair Hygiene & Health Protocols Addressed By AUMA

Germany is the centralized trade fair location welcoming exhibitors and visitors from years dated back in history! Approximately, 160 to 180 international including national trade fairs are held in Germany each year with a recordset of 180,000 exhibitors and around 10 million visitors. However, in the last year, like every other country, Germany had to impose a strict ban on trade fairs happening in the country. Fortunately, the restrictions imposed on exhibitions and conferences in Germany were lifted lately with an appeal to follow hygiene and health protocols at the trade fairs. Since Germany being as the central location of exhibitions that brings exhibitors together from around the world, it has been an extremely significant step to be taken. Indeed, exhibitions & conferences are the mainstream forums for communication and represent innovations.

Here are few interesting figures you shouldn’t miss about trade fairs taking place in Germany!

• 30 percent of visitors come from different countries
• 60 percent of exhibitors come from different countries

Now considering the given fact, Germany brings the highest of all exhibitors and trade fair attendees while securing a total number of 231,000 jobs and overall benefits the country’s economy with the amounts to €28 billion, Germany opt to implement strict trade fair hygiene & health protocols instead of keeping the exhibitions off the economic chart! In addition to this information, AUMA provided the following hygiene and health recommendations in order to support the trade fair occurrence once again in the country! Here’s all you need to know:

Hygiene Measures To Be Taken By Exhibitors During The Exhibition

• Avoid needless physical contact. Such as, refrain from greeting rituals such as shaking hands.
• Wearing a mouth and nose guard depends on the regulations set by the respective federal state. However, in some of the federal states, mouth and nose guards may be removed when the guests are seated.
• The information counters, tables, exhibits, and all other contact surfaces must be disinfected on regular basis during the exhibition. For seating areas and, tables with food tasting are recommended to be wiped and cleaned after each guest.
• Trade fair companies will provide disinfection facilities to all the exhibitors throughout the show. In addition, exhibitors are requested to place sufficient disinfectant dispensers at the show stand itself especially, at the entrance. Providing disposable mouth and nose protection to the stand visitors is also recommended.

Structural Aspects To Be Kept In Mind While Designing & Building The Exhibition Stand

• Stand planning is recommended with sufficient and large areas.
• Permitted two-story exhibition stands must have a wider ground floor.
• Distances between tables or seat backrests can be reduced if partition between tables is done.
• Presentation areas must be designed and arranged as per the spacing/ distancing rule of 1.5 m.
• Open construction of exhibition stand is highly advised in order to have adequate ventilation.
• Plan and design the entire trade fair stand and meeting area while keeping 1.5 m of minimum distance to be maintained.
• Use protective panels at the information counter and other counters if the minimum distance regulation of 1.5 m cannot be maintained.
• Contact surfaces such as counters, tables, and door handles should be planned as sparingly as possible because smooth surfaces are easily cleaned.

Organizational Measures

• A dedicated contact person solely responsible for hygiene measures must be appointed at the exhibition stand.
• Speak to the trade fair organizer whether or not, additional measures are required for the visitors’ registration at your stand.
• Exhibiting companies are requested to train their respected staff sufficiently to comply with the hygiene and occupational safety measures.
• Opt for digital solutions instead of relying on leaflets or other traditional/printed advertising material. Printed media should be handed over by stand personnel and brochure racks shouldn’t be open to the public.
• Maintain and document the names and attendance timing of all employees including service providers and external companies present at your exhibition stand. The same must be recorded during the construction and dismantling time.