At A-OSH 2025, DEKRA Global celebrated 100 years of safety leadership and reaffirmed its purpose: to create safer workplaces, foster learning and opportunity, and honour DEKRA’s founders, whose vision, persistence and hard work have shaped the company into what it is today.
At A-OSH 2025 are, from left: Johan Gerber, Managing Director at DEKRA Industrial; Christopher Mörsner, Head of Training and Consulting at DEKRA IOL; and Lothar Weihofen, DEKRA Global Country Manager.
A-OSH 2025 is especially meaningful for DEKRA, coinciding with DEKRA Global’s centenary celebration in South Africa. Through this dual lens – one of global impact and local roots – the company is connecting its heritage with expansive, forward-looking leadership.
“At the core of this is faith and belief: in our people, our purpose, and in our power to make a difference,” said Christopher Mörsner, Head of Training and Consulting at the DEKRA Institute of Learning.
“From our forebears in 1925 to today’s employees in 2025, we have been united by a common purpose: to protect and nurture people, creating opportunities which make a tangible difference to their lives. We are also fuelled by gratitude for DEKRA’s amazing and inspirational legacy – which we are proud to be a part of and is close to our hearts; as well as for our dedicated staff and leaders today,” Mörsner enthuses.
Culture of safety
DEKRA Industrial’s and the IOL’s consistent presence at A-OSH reinforces its holistic, integrated approach to safety, which combines advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection services, Process Safety Management (PSM), and occupational skills training for a wide range of sectors, including high-risk industries. The IOL’s competency-based training is designed to shape not just technical skills but mind-set: addressing behavioural risks, decision-making and organisational change to create a culture of safety.
“We work at the intersection of systems and people,” says Mörsner. “Our role is to help organisations move from compliance to a culture of proactive safety where decisions are data-driven, interventions are timely, and employees feel personally accountable. Our presence at A-OSH reinforces the importance of occupational health and safety and a culture of safety approach.”
New market offerings
At A-OSH 2025, DEKRA IOL is introducing its emergency preparedness kit and process offering: a structured, practical solution which supports a real-time emergency response: including first aid resources, contact documentation, lighting and fire extinguishers - all prepared for use at on-site assembly points.
“We identify gaps and needs in the market. This offering is about providing industry with structure, clarity, and accountability when it matters most,” says Mörsner. “It helps eliminate confusion during emergencies and ensures that lives are protected through streamlined emergency response coordination.”
The company will also soon be launching an additional e-commerce payment portal, designed to make adult-based education and occupational skills training more accessible. Clients can now browse, purchase and begin training online, with options enabling interest-free payments over three months. The platform includes more than 100 short and full-length online courses.
“Affordability should not be a barrier to education,” says Mörsner. “This platform supports individual learners and companies who want to invest in their people – and reflects DEKRA IOL’s commitment to continuous improvement, learning and development.”
Brand ambassadors: ‘heroes of safety’
To honour DEKRA Global’s 100th anniversary and South Africa’s cultural heritage, DEKRA Industrial and the IOL welcome acclaimed singer Riana Nel as one of their A-OSH 2025 brand ambassadors. “This is in celebration of our cultural heritage, as the popularity of Riana’s relatable music bears testament to – and reflects - her passion and care for people,” says Mörsner.
Complementing this is sports brand ambassador Deon Fourie, a well-known professional rugby player exemplifying DEKRA’s values of tenacity, teamwork and care. Both ambassadors also support #WhyIWorkSafe: a campaign encouraging staff and clients to see safety not as a set of rules, but as a deep-seated personal responsibility.
“Safety starts with people who believe in what they do and why they do it,” explains Mörsner. “We are building a culture where every action counts, in line with our ethos of being ‘heroes of safety’. Our brand ambassadors – with their ability to capture hearts and minds through their singing and sporting talents - embody this.”
From legacy to leadership
DEKRA Industrial and the IOL continue to lead from the front, with a service portfolio and offering that is powerfully integrated, complementary and comprehensive. Going forward, the company is focused on creating an even wider, sustainable impact.
“Our message is simple: we honour the legacy of those who came before us by expanding our roots and those of whom we serve – through our passion, technology, education and values – creating opportunities which will make a tangible difference and ensure a brighter, safer future for all,” Mörsner concludes.
