A year high oil price followed by a slump of more than one per cent within 48 hours may be uncertain for producers, but potentially lucrative for the safety sector as companies chase efficiency over relentless production
Brady has launched a new colour label printer, the BradyJet J5000, which prints safety signs, lean labels and pipe markers at location and on demand
The Energy Institutes upcoming event in Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates will focus on health and safety issues in the energy industry
Should vital safety components such as cable and pipe transits be a design-based or a field-based decision? Roxtec suggests that designers and engineers take control of this issue by proposing the free, web-based tool Roxtec Transit Designer
Crowcon, a specialist manufacturer of gas detection equipment, has announced that the next generation of its Laser Methane mini (LMm) gas detector combines full ATEX approval with a new green laser guide-light for improved visibility across a range of conditions, including in strong sunlight
TASNEEF’s continuous efforts to support the business sector, with quality control certification and best practice models, are developed with an aim to support the national economy and give businesses a strong advantage in the face of international competition
In an exclusive interview with Health, Safety & Security Review Middle East, Dr. Waddah S. Ghanem, executive director – EHSSQ & Corporate Affairs at Dubai-based ENOC Group, highlights the need for EHS practitioners to be effective business executives with the management skills to drive the EHS agenda forward
“EHS practitioners need to have a thorough understanding and grounding in all aspects of the business and how it operates, at a strategic as well as a cross-functional and operational level, and to be an effective business executive, “ says Dr Ghanem. “In this way, EHS strategy can be aligned with the overall direction of the business.
“An EHS practitioner is someone who adds value by protecting the business – but how can you protect the business if you don’t understand how it works?” he continues. “If we don’t understand an ROI calculation or what drives the decision-making process, for example, we cannot be effective EHS practitioners.
He further points out that the forthcoming ISO 45001 safety systems management standard will increase the emphasis on OSH strategy and leadership.
There is also a need for EHS practitioners to develop all-round technical skills. “Generally people become HSE practitioners as a second career, and their technical skills depend on their background,” says Dr Ghanem, who is himself an environmental engineer by training.
“Practitioners may have gaps in their technical knowledge of certain areas. After all, HSE encompasses many different aspects, such as fire prevention and safety, industrial hygiene, occupational health, process safety management, environment, sustainability.
“On the behavioural side, someone coming from an engineering background may have a very high IQ but a less developed EQ. They may be able to make a good technical case, but they also need to have the empathy and skills to sell safety to the CEO as a value proposition, for example.”
So how can EHS practitioners develop the requisite skills? “Read up, go on training courses, go to conferences, workshops, different groups, join communities such as the Emirates Safety Group and Emirates Environment Group, learn about yourself, focus on reflective learning and personal development; there are so many things practitioners can and need to do,” advises Dr Ghanem. “There is a big responsibility on practitioners to prove their net worth.”
Speaking on the measures that ENOC Group has introduced to promote best practice, Dr Ghanem says, “We have embedded many tools, and developed our own standards, guidelines and approved codes of practice, based on best practice, working with peer organisations. In terms of our contribution to the best practice community we have run specialist conferences and best practice workshops focusing on particular areas, for example heat stress, emergency response and planning, permit to work systems.
“We share learning and experiences on systems with different companies from allied industries through presentations. We brought in a consultant to help us develop our own EHS leadership programme, and run best practice workshops for leadership. The ENOC leadership guidebook has been developed, through several months of consultation with the leadership team.
“We have created separate departments for sustainability, security and risk management, and business excellence and quality, and have created a technical committee on operational business excellence, exploring different business excellence models,” he continues. The next step which the Group is working towards is the creation of an integrated business and operational excellence model for the whole group, which will encompass EHS as well as sustainability, security and risk management.
Dr Waddah S. Ghanem will be speaking at the 2nd Annual Health, Safety & Security Forum on 23 October in Dubai. You can see the full interview on p15 in the latest issue of Health, Safety & Security Review Middle East, http://www.hssreview.com/current-issue
Axis and Canon announce change of global sales and marketing framework for network video portfolio
UAE shipyard round up period of intensive auditing with new ISO certification and approval from American Petroleum Institute
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised the 8th Annual Best Practices Conference on Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment on 25 September 2016 in Dubai
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has recorded an increase in the use of its smart services during Q2 of 2016
Schneider Electric, the energy management and automation company, has provided seafarers in Dubai with ‘summer essentials’ kits to help them cope with the hot months in a corporate social responsibility initiative