Total quality assurance provider Intertek has participated in the inaugural conference for Saudi Workplace, Safety, Health, Environment and Wellbeing with experts providing insights on road traffic safety management systems and global industry standards to an audience of health and safety professionals and industry leaders
The four-day event, held under the auspices of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), took place in Damman, Saudi Arabia. It is the first event of its kind in Saudi Arabia and supports the commitments set by Saudi Vision 2030.
Deemah Saleh Alswat, training supervisor in Business Assurance at Intertek Gulf region, presented on road traffic safety management, shedding light on how organisations can play a vital role when it comes to improving road safety conditions – not just for the organisation itself, but also for the wider society. More than 1.25mn people lose their lives every year globally as a result of road traffic accidents. Saudi Arabia has set a target to reduce road-related fatalities as part of the government’s Vision 2030. The introduction of the Saher traffic monitoring system has reduced mortality rates by 37.8 per cent, and the severity of traffic accident injuries has dropped by 20 per cent, according to a study by the Riyadh-based King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC).
The presentation provided an overview of the ISO 39001:2012 Road Traffic Safety Management Systems standard. The standard enables organisations that work with road traffic systems in the transport, storage and logistics industries to reduce serious injuries and fatalities caused by road traffic accidents, both on the road network and on occupational sites. Obtaining certification to the ISO 39001:2012 standard provides a solution that will help organisations implement best-in-class road traffic safety management system objectives and action plans within their operations. The presentation highlighted how implementation of this standard can help reduce insurance and operational costs related to road safety traffic management.
