Blackline Safety, a provider of connected safety technology, has published a whitepaper titled Navigating Radiation Risks: Key Concepts for Protecting Workers and Responders.
The document helps fire-hazmat teams and first responders better understand and mitigate radiation exposure, ensuring the safety of workers, the public, and the environment.
It outlines critical concepts about radiation, starting with its classification into four main categories: alpha, beta, neutrons, and electromagnetic waves (gamma rays). It also distinguishes between non-ionizing radiation, which is generally less harmful, and ionising (nuclear) radiation, which poses greater health risks. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effective risk response.
Radiation sources are categorised into two types: naturally occurring radioactive materials, present in the air, food, and water, and artificial sources, such as medical imaging, nuclear energy, and weapons. Each source has different effects on the body, making tailored responses essential. Additionally, the paper highlights how radiation is measured differently across regions.
In the U.S., it is expressed in millirems (mrem) per year, while internationally, millisieverts (mSv) are used. Familiarity with these units is vital for accurately assessing health impacts.
Robust safety protocols
Gamma radiation presents unique challenges as it is undetectable by human senses. Detection technologies are essential to identify its presence and implement appropriate safety measures. Blackline Safety emphasises that gamma radiation, while present in small natural doses in the environment, becomes a severe health hazard at higher exposure levels. Effective radiation safety plans must prioritise three core principles: time, distance, and shielding.
Advanced technologies, such as Blackline Safety’s EXO 8 Gamma area monitor, play a pivotal role in implementing these principles. The EXO 8 Gamma can detect up to eight gases alongside gamma radiation and connects directly to the cloud, offering enhanced real-time monitoring and response capabilities.
“For those on the front line, such as first responders, hazmat teams, and workers in industrial fields like mining and oil and gas, there’s an increased risk of accidental exposure to dangerous levels of radiation,” said Christine Gillies, chief product and marketing officer at Blackline Safety. “Quick thinking and robust emergency protocols are essential to ensure worker and community safety.”
“This whitepaper responds to a growing industry need to educate workers on the different types of radiation, early detection strategies, and approaches to address the broad spectrum of radiation risks, faster and smarter,” she said.
Caterpillar Safety Services has introduced "MindShift for Leaders," a five-session training programme aimed at equipping leaders with the principles of human and organisational performance (HOP) to drive safer workplaces.
Designed as a virtual series, the sessions guide participants to rethink and adjust their approaches to leading and managing safety, encouraging a shift in mindset toward more resilient safety cultures.
"MindShift for Leaders" moves beyond traditional safety management methods, which often rely on policies and processes based on managerial assumptions rather than on the realities of how work is actually performed. The programme leverages HOP principles as a foundation to build error-tolerant systems, fostering open discussions around safety and supporting organisations in creating adaptive safety cultures that account for human variability and build resilience.
“Expecting perfection from workers is not realistic, and traditional methods of managing safety do not account for factors that can disrupt a system. A human and organisational performance mindset does not manage the incident itself but assists organisations with building more error-tolerant safety systems that allow people to stay safe, even when they make a mistake," said Zach Knoop, manager at Caterpillar Safety Services.
Five HOP principles
Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) promotes a mindset built on understanding human behaviour, communication, and responses in the workplace. Rather than following a strict process, it encourages organisations to create error-tolerant systems that drive learning and improvement without focusing on blame.
Caterpillar Safety Services’ “MindShift for Leaders” programme comprises five 90-minute virtual sessions, each centred around core HOP principles. The programme teaches that errors are inevitable and that protecting workers means designing systems that can withstand mistakes. Rather than assigning blame, the focus shifts to identifying and addressing organisational weaknesses that contribute to incidents. HOP also highlights that behaviours are driven by context; understanding the environment in which actions occur can reveal the real drivers behind decisions. Leaders are encouraged to create a culture of learning by valuing insights from workers who are closest to the job, promoting a flow of ideas that can prevent incidents and improve practices. Finally, the way leaders respond to mistakes has a profound impact on team morale, and the programme instills the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership.
“MindShift for Leaders” aligns with Caterpillar Safety Services' vision of a Resilient Safety Culture, underpinned by the principles of Mindset, System, Ownership, and Leadership, providing leaders with tools to foster safer, more resilient workplaces.
At a recent seminar on climate-resilient solutions, Dr. Jacinta Dsilva, research director at SEE Institute, emphasised the importance of health and safety in building sustainable urban environments.
As communities face mounting environmental challenges, particularly in the UAE and the wider Middle East, urban planning must prioritise both physical and mental well-being to ensure resilience against climate threats.
Dr. Dsilva explained the pressing need to integrate health and wellness into urban design, stating, “Sustainable urban planning enhances both physical and mental well-being.” She pointed out that walkable spaces, green areas, and cyclable routes not only make cities more livable but also improve the overall health of residents by reducing stress and promoting physical activity. In today's fast-paced, tech-dominated world, these spaces foster vital social connections, which are crucial for mental health.
Reducing environmental risks
She also touched on the role of community engagement in promoting health and safety. “Social connectivity…really creates a lot of social well-being,” Dr. Dsilva noted, explaining that bringing people together through community events and shared spaces can reduce isolation, a growing issue in modern urban life. In a world where social media often replaces face-to-face interaction, urban planners must design spaces that encourage real human connections.
Addressing the environmental risks that directly impact community safety, Dr. Dsilva spoke about the importance of mitigating climate-related threats like flooding and extreme heat. Nature-based solutions such as wetlands can reduce flood risks by “up to 40%,” while initiatives like cool roofs and urban forests can lower urban temperatures by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius. These strategies not only make cities more resilient to climate change but also safeguard the health of vulnerable populations, particularly in extreme weather conditions.
Dr. Dsilva also emphasised the importance of waste management in ensuring a safe and healthy urban environment. She pointed out that “waste segregation and recycling programmes” can drastically reduce the waste sent to landfills, helping to prevent pollution and improve public health. By embracing circular economy principles, communities can reduce the environmental hazards that endanger both human and environmental health.
In closing, Dr. Dsilva urged urban planners and communities to take proactive steps in creating resilient, healthy spaces. “We need to focus on sustainable urban design,” she said, “and ensure that health and wellness are at the core of these efforts.” Her call to action was clear: as climate challenges intensify, prioritising health and safety is essential to building thriving, resilient communities.
Organisations across the Middle East are becoming more exposed to supply chain vulnerabilities stemming from human behaviour.
This critical issue will be a focal point at the Security Leaders’ Summit during Intersec 2025, where industry experts will examine the complex link between human actions and supply chain security.
The 26th edition of Intersec, the global flagship event for safety, security, and fire protection, is set to run from 14-16 January 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
Risk assessments
Speaking ahead of the Summit, where he will highlight the impact of human fallibility on security measures, Stuart Frost, BEM, head of enterprise security and risk management within the UK Government, said, “The primary risk in any supply chain is not just the failure of security controls, but the fact that “humans are fallible and make mistakes simply because they are human.”
Kamco Invest’s GCC Projects Market Update from January 2024 highlights that the UAE’s contract awards surged to US$79.5bn in 2023, a significant increase from the US$29.7bn recorded in 2022.
Frost notes that security often takes a backseat in contract decisions, with business, financial, and commercial considerations dominating the process. He stresses the importance of conducting comprehensive risk assessments to ensure that security concerns are properly integrated alongside other business priorities.
In the Middle East, organisations face distinct challenges where supply chain risks are intensified by the region’s geopolitical and economic complexities. Many businesses overlook the vulnerabilities within their lower-tier suppliers, potentially triggering wider disruptions.
“Supply chain breaches can threaten the very survival of an organisation and, if resilience is not built into the system, the organisation might not be able to recover from such an event,” Frost added. "Post-contract assurance should be performed at least annually to ensure the controls are still effective and the risk position is managed."
Dubai Municipality has secured seven new Certificates of Conformity (CoC) with international standards (ISO) and British standards across several key areas, reflecting its commitment to innovation, excellence, agility and institutional resilience
The Municipality received the specification ‘10845-1’ owing to its use of best practices in the management of engineering contracts specialising in construction, and the ‘ISO 19011’ for establishing an institutional system to manage internal audits on quality and administrative standards in accordance with international best practices.
Promoting effective governance
It achieved the ISO 37000 certification in recognition of its efforts in promoting effective governance, as well as developing and implementing a governance framework in line with the requirements of the new international standard, and the ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management systems (EMS). Additionally, the Municipality has obtained ISO 50001 certification for energy management, achieved by creating and implementing an institutional framework that maximises energy use while lowering consumption as well as achieving environmental sustainability and efficient resource management goals.
The Municipality secured the ISO 56002 certification for successfully implementing an innovation management system the ISO 38500 international standard for IT governance and digital transformation.
These specifications and certifications bring the Municipality’s total number of international certifications to 34.
H.E. Dawoud Al Hajri, director general of Dubai Municipality, said, “The Municipality embraces an institutional approach based on a culture of leadership, innovation, governance, sustainability and optimal investment in human and tangible resources. This distinctive approach has substantially contributed to accomplishing numerous international achievements and credits, which distinctly reflect the culture of excellence, agility standards and the pioneering institutional flexibility that we adopt within our line of action targeted at solidifying the Emirate’s position on global competitiveness indicators.”
H.E. Al Hajri added that owing to its remarkable human resources comprising of leaders, employees and specialised task forces, the Municipality has been able to continue offering exceptional municipal services and implementing strategies and projects that successfully meet global standards and benchmarks.
H.E. Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, presented the ratification instrument for the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), to the ILO director-general, Gilbert Houngbo.
The minister said, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is pleased to ratify the ILO Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187). This significant step reflects our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety and health in the workplace. By aligning with international best practices, we aim to safeguard our workforce, enhance productivity, and contribute to sustainable economic growth. This ratification underscores our dedication to creating a safer and healthier work environment for all employees in the kingdom. “
Houngbo said, “The central importance of occupational safety and health was confirmed in 2022, when the right to a safe and healthy working environment was included among the fundamental principles and rights at work. I sincerely welcome the ratification of Convention No. 187 by Saudi Arabia, demonstrating its commitment to this fundamental principle and right. Convention No. 187 is one of the fundamental ILO instruments on occupational safety and health and serves the improvement of occupational safety and health in a continuous and sustainable manner, with a view to preventing occupational accidents and diseases.”
In preparation for the upcoming Eid al Adha festival, South Batinah Municipality in Muscat has launched several awareness campaigns to ensure the health and safety of the community.
According to a statement released by the municipality, various departments in the governorate have implemented programmes aimed at raising awareness and preventing potential health hazards.
In Rustaq, the civic body has been distributing informational leaflets to citizens, highlighting the importance of using designated slaughterhouses for sacrificial animals and properly handling sacrificial waste.
Meanwhile, specialists from the municipality in Musannah have conducted inspection visits to restaurants, cafes, and food stores to assess compliance with health regulations.
In April 2024, the UAE witnessed its most significant rainfall in 75 years, catching many developers unprepared for its impact on the built environment and surrounding infrastructure
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released a report highlighting the serious impacts of climate change on the safety and health of workers worldwide
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council approved a series of initiatives and measures to urgently mitigate the impact of the severe weather in Dubai, which were formulated at a recent meeting he held with heads of government entities
