The OSH Barometer, an online dashboard which collates the EU's Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) key health and safety data, has integrated a section spotlighting the digital risks of digitalisation at work

Pulling from data in the OSH Pulse survey and Eurostat from all EU member states, the OSH has created graphs about digitalisation's influence on autonomy and work pace & load.

Aside from digitalisation, charts centring around economic profile, work accidents, OSH statistics, working conditions, workforce profile and more are accessible. Other data sources include Eurofound and the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER).

The platform's data visualisation tools collate data from as far back as 2010, displaying findings on both an EU-wide and national level.

At the HSE KSA event held in Riyadh from September 9–10, Suphil Thomas, country sales manager for MSA Safety, delivered a compelling keynote on fall protection, championing a holistic, site-specific approach to workplace safety that reflects MSA’s global leadership in the field.

“At MSA, our mission is clear: to ensure that men and women return home safely from work, and that their families and communities flourish in health and well-being,” Thomas declared, setting the tone for a transformative dialogue on safety culture.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience in Saudi Arabia, Thomas emphasised the critical need for customised safety strategies. “No two sites are the same,” he noted, challenging the widespread reliance on generic risk assessments. “Too often, contractors use pre-filled templates—they simply copy and paste.”

Representing MSA Safety, a century-strong global pioneer in safety innovation, Thomas spotlighted the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence. “We’re not just a manufacturer—we’re a safety partner. Our focus is on developing cutting-edge technologies and delivering tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of every customer,” he said.

Today, MSA protects over 40 million workers worldwide, and continues to raise the bar for safety standards across industries.

Thomas introduced MSA’s 360-degree fall protection strategy, built on five foundational principles. The first and most important: eliminate the need to work at height whenever possible. “If you can keep someone off the roof, do it. Risk avoidance is the smartest protection,” he advised.

He detailed high-risk environments—from rooftops and cranes to aviation and telecom towers—where fall protection is non-negotiable. “MSA is proud to be a trusted supplier of aviation maintenance kits. We’re listed in the spare parts catalogues of Boeing and Airbus,” he added, underscoring the brand’s global credibility.

A key insight from the presentation was the distinction between basic compliance and true safety. “Compliance sets the minimum. As HSE professionals, we must go beyond that—to protect lives and uplift communities,” Thomas urged, advocating for rigorous training and proactive site management.

He outlined the hierarchy of fall protection:

• Eliminate the hazard

• Guard the hazard (e.g., guardrails, handrails)

• Equip individuals with personal protective equipment

• Enable rescue systems

To illustrate, Thomas shared a practical innovation: “Instead of climbing a ladder with a sponge, workers now use extendable poles to clean windows from the ground. That’s how smart design reduces risk.”

Clarifying accountability

Thomas addressed a critical question: who bears responsibility for fall protection? “Ultimately, it’s the facility owner who must ensure a safe working environment. Contractors bring their PPE, yes—but anchorage points and safe access systems must be provided by the end user.”

He stressed that fall protection systems must be custom-engineered for each site. “Design matters. A system built for two users may be cost-effective, but if you’re sending six people to the roof, that’s a design flaw.”

Installation and inspection are equally vital. Systems must be installed by certified professionals and inspected by authorised experts. “Skipping steps—like applying water sealant on membrane roofs—can lead to leaks. That’s an installation error, not a product defect,” he warned. Unauthorised third-party inspections are unacceptable and compromise safety.

Thomas likened fall protection systems to fire extinguishers: “They require annual inspections—just like any other critical safety equipment.”

Training: the final link

Thomas closed with a powerful reminder: “What’s the point of having a system if your team doesn’t know how to use it?” He cited a common misuse: “I’ve seen people fully retract a self-retracting lifeline (SRL) and attach it to a lower rung of a ladder—that’s incorrect.”

For industries across Saudi Arabia, Thomas offered a clear and actionable blueprint for elevating fall protection standards. “Fall protection is like a chain,” he concluded. “If one link is weak, the entire system fails.”

Blackline Safety’s EXO 8 portable area monitor has won seven awards this year,  making it one of the most recognised health and safety innovations in the industry

The EXO 8 with gamma detection is a next-generation connected area monitor that advances gas detection and early hazard identification for companies and emergency responders. It launched in September 2024 and combines gas and gamma detection in a single connected unit — a capability that’s critical in high-hazard sectors such as oil and gas, mining, decommissioning, emergency response, and even public safety.

Most recently, the product was recognised in the 2025 Occupational Health & Safety New Product of the Year Awards in the categories of Emergency Response & Preparedness and Industrial Hygiene: Gas Monitors/Instrumentation. These Awards, now in their 15th year, celebrate the most impactful innovations in workplace safety. The program highlights manufacturers whose products demonstrate exceptional advancements in design and functionality, with a proven ability to enhance worker protection and overall safety outcomes.

Other awards this year include the internationally renowned Red Dot Design Award, the Preventica Paris Innovation Award and three OH&S Industrial Hygiene Awards. 

“EXO 8 continues to set the bar for innovation in area monitoring,” said Cody Slater, CEO and chair, Blackline Safety, a global leading in connected safety technology. “Being recognised across multiple award programs underscores the monitor’s real-world impact and validates our mission to ensure that every worker gets home safely, no matter what hazards they face.”

"EXO 8 with gamma detection has an even wider application beyond industrial use,” said Chris Johnson, deputy chief for the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services in New York State. “It allows hazmat teams to use the device for public safety as part of event protection. It will also keep our people more protected because we can detect more gases."

EXO 8 has already been deployed at a high-profile awards show and during a large public gathering for a renowned religious leader, and security teams for global sporting events are also considering it.