Time is running out! Don’t miss your chance to attend the SafeStart Trainer Certification Level 1 Course in Dubai, UAE, on 18–19 February 2025.
This immersive two-day programme is your opportunity to:
✅ Enhance workplace safety and reduce incidents
✅ Gain expert insights into human factors and critical errors
✅ Become a certified SafeStart trainer and lead safety transformations in your organisation
Location: Media Rotana, Hessa Street, Dubai, UAE
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
What past global participants had to say:
“My perspective on safety has completely changed!”
– L.V., Guadalajara, Mexico
“SafeStart concepts have taken my safety awareness to the highest level. More importantly, they’ve made me realise that safety is for life, not just for the workplace.” – B.S., São Paulo, Brazil
SafeStart is a globally recognised safety awareness process that helps organisations create a lasting culture of safety excellence. This course will provide you with practical tools and strategies to drive real change.
Limited seats available – register now!
https://events.offsnet.com/SafeStartTrainerCertificationWorkshop#/
Looking forward to seeing you in Dubai!
Larry Wilson
SafeStart Author and CEO
Florian Combacau, portfolio alignment director at Axis Communications, speakes to Health, Safety and Environment Review about the company’s latest offerings and industry analysis.
Speaking about artificial intelligence and how it can transform the security industry, Combacau said, “Deep learning technologies are the bread and butter of most analytics solutions within the security sector, while newer generative AI technologies are rapidly maturing. There is still a lot of hype in certain areas but real applications of generative AI in the security sector are becoming available. Each step of evolution brings with it a new set of opportunities, but also ethical, legal, and corporate considerations."
More importantly, Combacau is confident that there will be improvement from an ethical perspective.
“Eventually this will enable generative models to be, at least partly, run on cameras with high-quality results. At the same time the models are improving in quality with regards to ethical aspects, bias, hallucinations, and the risk of making the wrong decisions.
Combacau also added that Axis body-worn cameras are designed for versatility, durability, and ease of use, making them ideal for police forces and critical sectors. Key features include seamless integration via an open API, live video streaming, and military-grade hardware for demanding environments. With advanced cybersecurity measures, cost-effective end-to-end solutions, and user-friendly functionality, Axis cameras ensure high-quality performance and secure data management without proprietary lock-ins or recurring fees.
When speaking of key trends and growth opportunities for the security industry in 2025, Combacau said, “Some of the trends we can expect are really just evolutions of those we’ve seen in previous years. An obvious one is the continued interest in how AI will be applied in our sector, and we’ve highlighted some of the new considerations that will need to be addressed moving forwards.
“Regulation is another area of focus for the industry this year. National and regional legislators will once again try to keep pace with technological innovation. AI, cybersecurity, privacy, the need for resilience in critical entities; all these (and more) will be the focus of proposed and new regulation. We haven’t highlighted this as a specific trend, but it’s no less a priority and something every organisation will need to respond to.
“Advances in analytics and AI mean that a higher resolution image will inevitably lead to a better result, whatever the use case. Object recognition will be more accurate and more detailed data (and metadata) created. The drive towards even better image quality has been reignited.
“With this has come opportunities for efficiency as well as effectiveness. A single camera producing much higher image quality can cover as large an area as multiple cameras would have been needed for previously. Higher resolution images also support analytics, for instance in large crowds, busy traffic intersections, or fast-moving production lines."
In an effort to spur expansion throughout the continent, Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection (Teledyne GFD) has appointed a new vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas.
Gerald V. Sims will assist Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection in further growing its market share in this significant geographic market thanks to his extensive experience in gas utilities and his proven track record of sales leadership.
Over many years, Teledyne GFD has been expanding throughout the Americas. Teledyne Detcon, the company's US manufacturing facility in Cypress, Texas, has been offering industrial-grade gas detectors, control systems, analysers, and wireless technologies to the gas detection market for more than 40 years.
“Gerald will use his expertise and deep industry knowledge to play a pivotal role in maximising our growth potential and enhancing the presence of our product brands across the Americas,” said Thibault Fourlegnie, vice president and general manager, Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection. “We’re excited to see the gains that Gerald can provide, not just for Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, but also for our customers. After all, an even stronger Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection is beneficial for stakeholders up and down the supply chain, including distributors and end users.”
The IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment Programme was started by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to verify that air cargo tracking devices, data recorders, and sensor-equipped equipment adhere to strict industry safety regulations.
IATA's Recommended Practice 1693, which offers crucial safety guidelines for battery safety and electromagnetic compatibility, is validated by the IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment. Validation data will be available through ONE Source, which gives stakeholders looking for authorised tracking devices a single point of access.
The first product approved by the Air Cargo Device Assessment Programme is THE BOX, a reusable packaging solution made by LivingPackets Group.
Device manufacturers benefit from increased visibility in the worldwide market, faster access to airline contacts for device authorisation, and a reduction in the need for repetitive documentation, all of which speed up the validation process.
Simplified internal approval procedures, a centralised repository of authorised devices, and safer operations with fewer undeclared gadgets are all advantages for airlines. Better route and carrier selection planning is made possible by the centralised access to authorised device information provided to shippers and forwarders.
Additionally, the programme's overall performance will result in more efficient delivery of shipments that are sensitive to temperature and time, cutting waste and maintaining cargo integrity.
“The fastest-growing segments of air cargo are pharmaceuticals, perishables, electronics, and high-value goods. Shippers rely on various battery-powered electronic devices to monitor these sensitive shipments to ensure their integrity. The IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment will confirm that these devices comply with strict industry safety standards,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s global head of cargo.
"IATA validation is crucial for THE BOX because our customers want to know that our product complies with global standards. Having IATA validate compliance with its strict safety standards makes our product universally acceptable for use across the air cargo industry. That is particularly important for an innovation like THE BOX as it is the first smart reusable packing for use in air cargo. The Air Cargo Device Assessment gives it instant global recognition,” said Denis Mourrain, LivingPackets group COO.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have introduced the "X-ble Shoulder," a wearable robot designed to enhance efficiency and reduce musculoskeletal strain in industrial settings.
Debuting at Wearable Robot Tech Day in Goyang, South Korea, the X-ble Shoulder is part of a broader initiative to integrate advanced robotics into various industries, including construction, shipbuilding, aviation, and agriculture.
The X-ble Shoulder operates without the need for batteries, utilising a non-powered torque generation system that reduces shoulder load by up to 60% and muscle activity by 30%. Made from lightweight, impact-resistant materials, it prioritises user safety and comfort, featuring modular components, a washable vest, and adjustability for various tasks.
The device can perform up to 700,000 repetitive actions annually, making it ideal for demanding industrial environments.
Two versions are available: a basic model for dynamic tasks and an adjustable version tailored to repetitive work, offering assistive forces of up to 2.9 kgf and 3.7 kgf, respectively. Following extensive trials with 300 workers, Hyundai and Kia incorporated user feedback to refine the product.
Commercialisation plans include initial applications in Hyundai and Kia facilities, with global market expansion to industries such as construction and agriculture by 2026.
Interested businesses can access consulting services through Hyundai’s Robotics LAB to evaluate the X-ble Shoulder’s suitability for their operations.
Production is slated to begin in 2025, with the Robotics LAB also focusing on developing a comprehensive robotics solution for seamless human-robot collaboration.
“The X-ble Shoulder is a wearable robot that leverages the technical capabilities of the Robotics LAB and implements feedback from actual users,” said Dong Jin Hyun, vice president and head of Robotics LAB at Hyundai Motor and Kia. “Going forward, we aim to expand the availability of wearable robots, creating products that work naturally with users to enhance their daily lives. By pushing technological boundaries, we will make these beneficial products accessible to more people.”
A Survitec white paper highlighting maritime fire safety risks has won the Safety in Maritime (Marine) award at the IBJ Awards
The paper, titled "Why Are the Fires Not Going Out? Unveiling the True Cost of Inadequate Fire Safety Inspections," exposes the widespread failures in fire safety practices that have led to an alarming increase in shipboard fire incidents worldwide.
Drawing on data and testimonies from Survitec’s certified service technicians, the white paper uncovers troubling lapses in fire safety practices. According to the paper, some ship operators are relying on untrained crews for fire safety maintenance due to post-COVID cost-cutting measures. These practices have led to avoidable system failures, such as the use of incorrect or counterfeit parts, poorly fitted equipment, and contamination of essential firefighting systems. Survitec also highlights instances of substandard inspections and approvals where safety certifications were granted despite glaring deficiencies.
Metkel Yohannes, director of Service & Rental Solutions at Survitec, said, “Shipboard fires have risen by 17% year-on-year, becoming one of the leading causes of maritime losses and the most expensive source of marine insurance claims, accounting for over 20% of total losses.
“While advancements in fire detection and protection technologies have been made, the industry is still seeing alarming levels of fire safety deficiencies, with thousands of incidents reported each year by international inspection authorities. This highlights an urgent need for improved oversight and maintenance practices across the sector.”
One example highlighted a vessel that experienced an engine room fire. While the crew successfully extinguished the flames, they discovered a fault in their high-expansion foam firefighting system, caused by a protective cap left inside the system after the installation of a new foam pump.
In another instance, a fire broke out aboard a bulk carrier in early 2024 after more than half the recently inspected and certified CO2 cylinders failed to activate.
The study also raises concerns about the growing risks of alternative fuels and lithium-ion batteries, which require specialised detection and firefighting systems. Survitec argues for more stringent oversight of service providers, urging the maritime industry to adopt higher quality control benchmarks and ensure that all fire safety inspections meet rigorous international standards.
Yohannes added, “Shipowners and operators need accredited partners with the expertise to ensure their safety systems perform under the most demanding conditions. Anything less is not only a false economy but a threat to crew safety and vessel integrity.”
Celeros Flow Technology (Celeros FT) and Carbon Clean signed a partnership agreement at ADIPEC to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture technology in hard-to-abate industries
Under the partnership agreement, both companies will collaborate to develop industrial-scale carbon capture solutions. It will see Celeros FT combining its application knowledge and technical engineering pedigree with Carbon Clean’s specialist expertise in carbon capture solutions, specifically Carbon Clean’s patented Cyclone CC technology, which is columnless, compact and modular, delivering high performance while significantly reducing the cost of carbon capture compared to conventional solutions.
Celeros FT, which provides engineering and fabrication services based on more than 140 years of experience, will leverage its extensive sales and aftermarket support network to support the decarbonisation goals of existing and new customers.
The agreement represents further progress towards Celeros FT’s ambition to become a full chain supplier to the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) sector and adds industrial carbon capture technology to its portfolio of specialist CO2 transportation pumps and injection pumps for storage.
Jose Larios, CEO & president, Celeros FT said, “Celeros Flow Technology recognises the challenges that the energy transition raises for customers. This partnership further underlines our commitment to developing fully customised lifecycle solutions that respond to the diverse process challenges of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable resources. We are excited by the prospect of working collaboratively with Carbon Clean to deliver modular, compact, and scalable solutions for carbon capture across our chosen markets.”
Aniruddha Sharma, chair and CEO, Carbon Clean, commented, “Our fully modular, columnless technology will transform the industrial carbon capture sector – solving the longstanding cost and space barriers. The Carbon Clean team have delivered a breakthrough and we are excited to partner with Celeros Flow Technology for manufacturing and fabrication. This partnership will play a significant role in accelerating the number of deployed units, enabling CycloneCC technology to be fully commercialised and rolled out at scale.”
Cannon Artes is constructing an advanced wastewater treatment and water reuse plant within one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the Middle East.
The facility, designed to support the water recovery requirements of a major polyolefin plant in Qatar, will process up to 25,000 cubic metres of effluent and cooling-tower-blow-down water daily. With a recovery capacity of 780 cubic metres per hour, the plant significantly reduces discharge rates, achieving nearly 80% water reuse.
This far exceeds regulatory standards. The facility is part of a nearly US$2bn project to establish a new polyethylene plant. The plant, designed with two polymerisation units and an annual capacity of nearly 2 million tons, incorporates advanced membrane technologies to manage industrial wastewater and cooling water blowdown.
Industrial effluents are treated using Cannon Artes’ proprietary EmbioArt Membrane BioReactor (MBR), while cooling water blowdown is processed with ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies. The facility has a total treatment capacity of approximately 1,000 cubic metres per hour.
The project also includes a 600 cubic metre-per-hour remineralisation plant, equipped with six advanced calcite filters. This system increases pH and reduces the corrosivity of recovered water, setting a new benchmark for industrial remineralisation technology.
The Qatar project highlights Cannon Artes’ capability to execute large-scale, complex contracts. The company handled every aspect, from process design to procurement, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and delivery. All components were customised to meet client specifications, integrating cutting-edge technologies like EmbioArt MBR, UF, and RO for maximum efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Construction commenced in August 2024, with infrastructure expected to be completed within six months by early 2025. Full mechanical completion is slated for Q4 2025, demonstrating an impressive timeline given the project's complexity.
With projects delivered in more than 80 countries, the company has provided customised solutions to industries including oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food and beverage, solidifying its reputation for excellence in industrial water management.
“Cannon Artes was chosen as the supplier of choice earlier this year, due to our proven ability to deliver large-scale and complex industrial wastewater treatment solutions that meet the highest environmental and efficiency standards,” said Alessio Liati, sales director at Cannon Artes. “To give an idea of the project’s scale, the water treatment plant alone spans an area comparable to three football fields, with more than 1,600 reverse osmosis membranes, 360 ultrafiltration modules, and over 17,000 sqm of active MBR membrane surface.”
Following the launch of the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC) at COP28, oil and gas companies are accelerating efforts to track, monitor and control their methane emissions
Eni has been awarded “Gold Standard reporting” of the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) for its commitment to reporting emissions at the highest data quality levels. OGMP 2.0 is an initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, aimed at setting the global standard for methane accountability and transparency in the oil and gas sector as a necessary step to effectively track and target mitigation with measurement-based data. Eni has been awarded “Gold Standard reporting” for having effectively reached highest data quality levels.
Eni has set itself the goal to reach near zero methane emissions by 2030, in line with the OGDC objectives, and has more than halved methane emissions between 2018 and 2023. Eni’s Upstream methane intensity of 0.06% in 2023 places the company among the leaders in the sector. A founding member of the UNEP Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP), the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) and Methane Guiding Principles (MGP), the company is signatory to the OGDC as well as the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction trust fund (GFMR), an initiative launched by the World Bank to support governments and operators in developing countries to eliminate routine flaring and reduce methane emissions from the O&G sector to near zero by 2030. Eni has also signed collaboration agreements with National Oil Companies (NOCs) aimed at sharing its industry-leading experience in methane management to enable methane reduction across the sector.
Meanwhile TotalEnergies, which is also aiming for near-zero methane emissions by 2030, has announced that the company is going a step further in the monitoring and reduction of its methane emissions with the deployment of continuous, real-time detection equipment at all of its operated Upstream sites, enabling real-time identification of methane emissions, both fugitive and stationary, and immediate corrective actions to stop them. This continuous detection plan will be fully implemented by end-2025 and will use existing and proven technologies such as loT2 sensors, InfraRed cameras, flowmeters and Predictive Emissions Monitoring Systems on combustion sources.
The company will meet as soon as this year its target to reduce emissions by 50% compared to 2020, a year ahead of plan as a result of numerous initiatives, including the successful deployment of its AUSEA drone campaigns.
“Slashing methane emissions is a short-term priority to contribute to the fight against climate change. Continuous, real-time detection will enable our operators to act in an even more decisive manner in order to reduce our methane emissions and to repair leaks to achieve our near-zero methane emissions ambition. As a champion of the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), I am proud that TotalEnergies is leading the way in deploying such equipment at large scale and we will continue to work with the industry to share best practices in measuring and fighting methane emissions”, said Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.
See also https://oilreviewmiddleeast.com/energy-transition/positive-progress-towards-ogdc-goals
The International Code Council (ICC) is participating in Big 5 Global, held from 26–29 November, showcasing its innovative solutions for building safety, sustainability, and resilience.
The organisation is contributing to critical industry conversations through its participation in a panel discussion titled "The Path to Zero: Energy Efficiency in HVAC Systems and Sustainable Construction.”
Representing ICC, Mohamed Amer, regional director of operations for the MENA region, will provide insights into achieving net-zero energy goals by integrating modern building codes with advanced technologies.
The session will explore cutting-edge HVAC innovations and strategies to enhance energy efficiency, aligning with regional sustainability objectives.
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore ICC’s suite of services, including code development, product testing, certification, training, and consulting. These solutions are designed to help stakeholders improve compliance and safety standards, fostering long-term benefits for the construction sector.
The organisation is also strengthening collaborations across the MENA region, partnering with architects, consultants, and regulatory authorities to promote sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient construction.
Amer said, “Big 5 Global offers a critical platform to showcase our services and contribute directly to the evolution of sustainable building practices in the MENA region. Through our service offerings, we help our partners build safer and more energy-efficient structures that align with the regional sustainability goals.”
The third edition of SIBEC, powered by SIBCA, a leading provider of fire, life safety, and ICT solutions, successfully concluded in Abu Dhabi from 13–15 November 2024.
This year’s event, themed ‘Innovation That Keeps You Safe,’ highlighted the critical role of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in advancing fire and life safety across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Drawing a record number of participants, the two-day event convened regional and global experts to explore emerging trends in sectors such as building management systems (BMS), extra-low voltage (ELV), audiovisual (AV), HVAC, lighting, and ICT.
A standout announcement during SIBEC was SIBCA’s launch of the Trainovation Fire and Safety Training Academy in Abu Dhabi.
Approved under the NFPA Network, the academy is set to offer professional training on fire protection, building safety, electrical hazards, and industrial safety.
Courses will be delivered by certified instructors, providing practitioners with up-to-date knowledge of NFPA codes and standards to enhance safety practices in the region.
“We would like to thank everyone involved in making the third edition of SIBEC a resounding success. More than just a conference, SIBEC provides attendees with an unparalleled chance to forge connections, pave the way for meaningful partnerships, and directly experience the latest high-quality products and services on the market, all in the interest of improving fire and life safety,” said Ibrahim Lari, Chairman & CEO of SIBCA.