Middle East

These innovations enable companies to predict and mitigate risks more effectively. (Image source: Canva)

The health, safety, and environment (HSE) market in the MENA region is experiencing significant growth, driven by developing economies, advancements in technology, increasingly stringent standards and new HSE approaches, frameworks and practices.

Industries are undergoing a transformation, driven by a focus on safety, compliance, and sustainability. In the oil and gas sector, advancements in technology and artificial intelligence are proving instrumental in strengthening safety protocols and improving operational efficiency.

These innovations enable companies to predict and mitigate risks more effectively, fostering safer and more sustainable practices.

The construction sector is similarly embracing technological progress to enhance safety measures and address the challenges posed by climate change.

Governments across the region are actively raising standards by fostering a positive safety culture in workplaces. Through the introduction of new regulations, strict enforcement, and collaborative safety awareness campaigns with businesses, they are driving significant improvements.

Ahead of the Intersec 2024 Safety & Health Conference in January, Dr Waddah S. Ghanem Al Hashmi, Honorary Chairman of the Energy Institute Middle East and Chairman of the Federal Occupational Health and Safety Committee, emphasised the substantial progress the UAE and the wider Middle East have made in establishing robust frameworks and practices for occupational health and safety (OHS).

In December 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology issued a standard aligning with ISO 45001:2019, which aims to strengthen leadership engagement in OHS within organisations. Dr Al Hashmi said, “These updated standards are expected to drive a shift from mere compliance to a culture of value creation and sustainability. Greater leadership involvement will elevate OHS performance and employee engagement and foster a reduction in incidents across industries…I see positive thinking developing in the region.”

This extract is from a 2024 outlook on the MENA HSE landscape published by Offshore Network: the full report and others can be downloaded here.

Saudi Arabia's construction and infrastructure sector is booming. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

At the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification efforts are several massive transformative gigaprojects such as NEOM, a 26,500 sq km futuristic urban area comprising various cities and resorts, powered entirely by renewable energy; and Red Sea Global, a 28,000 sq. km sustainability-focused luxury tourism project on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast

As a result of these major developments, the Kingdom’s construction and infrastructure sector is booming. Saudi Arabia’s construction market size is estimated at US$70.33bn in 2024, and is expected to reach US$91.36bn by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.37% from 2024-2029, according to a report by Mordor Intelligence.

Meeting expectations of stakeholders while maintaining safe standards of operation and prioritising worker welfare on fast-moving and demanding projects can be a challenge. Dealing with variations in safety culture and behaviour as well as disparities in levels of competence of multicultural workforces, along with potential communications difficulties as a result of different languages spoken, is an issue throughout the Gulf, but is exacerbated in the case of some of these gigaprojects, which have seen large influxes of migrant workers. Localisation requirements and quotas mean that training to bridge knowledge gaps of local contractors and suppliers and bring them up to international standards is required. Managing and monitoring workers over large and sometimes remote areas and protecting large sites is another issue.

Other challenges reported by health and safety practitioners include shortages of qualified HSE personnel, resources and equipment, with equipment that is not up to standard.

An article in the American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, April 2024, on the impact of occupational health and safety on productivity in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry, finds that factors such as heat stress, lack of PPE and an uncomfortable work environment are among the most critical issues affecting worker productivity. Recommended measures include comprehensive and mandatory safety training programmes for all employees; the adoption of advanced safety monitoring technologies; strengthening existing regulations and introducing more stringent standards; promoting a safety-first culture, with safety integrated into every aspect of the workplace; and the enhancement of worker welfare and support systems.

Compliance in the construction supply chain is becoming more challenging as the kingdom accelerates its development projects under Vision 2030, according to an article on ‘Compliance Issues in the Construction Supply Chain in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’ by Alvarez and Marshall. While significant reforms in the regulatory framework governing the construction industry have been enacted, the regulatory environment remains complex, with companies needing to comply with local building codes, labour laws and international standards.

“From regulatory and health and safety compliance, to environmental and labour rights concerns, construction firms must adopt proactive strategies to mitigate risks and ensure that projects are delivered successfully,” the authors say.

“By implementing comprehensive compliance programmes, conducting regular audits, integrating technology, and prioritising sustainability and worker welfare, construction firms can reduce the likelihood of non-compliance. As KSA continues to position itself as a hub for mega-projects, staying ahead of compliance challenges will be critical to maintaining a competitive edge and delivering projects that meet both local and international standards.”

See also https://hsereview.com/hse/saudi-arabia-s-new-murabba-project-clocks-three-million-safe-work-hours