Industrial Insights
Industrial Insights
- Details
- Louise Waters
- Industrial
- Topic: Industrial
- Date: 3 July, 2024
- Year: 2024
The 2024 edition of The Future of Maritime Safety Report from Inmarsat Maritime calls for the maritime industry to embrace data sharing and collaborative problem-solving as the industry navigates significant changes, such as the transition to greener propulsion technologies
The report recommends that the shipping industry establishes a list of standard data points to monitor and report, including casualties and incidents, injuries or deaths at sea, and near misses. It also endorses trend analysis to support the development of safety measures, with a particular emphasis on developing risk treatments for well-known and recurring issues.
The report reveals that Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) distress calls decreased by 7.6% in 2023 over the previous year. Despite this decline, the service was still triggered on 788 occasions, underlining the ongoing challenges in maritime safety and the need for improvements. It highlights the emergence of potential new safety risks associated with future fuels, and escalating geopolitical tensions.
Identifying trends
Peter Broadhurst, senior vice president, Safety and Regulatory, Inmarsat Maritime, said, “By harnessing the power of anonymised safety data, we can identify trends, develop specific mitigation measures, and enhance the overall safety of our ships and crews."
He noted that modern technology offers unprecedented opportunities to improve safety through better data analysis and sharing.
“We collect vast amounts of safety data, yet the current siloed-working model hinders our ability to fully leverage the actionable insights available to us. By pooling data, we can create a more holistic and objective view of maritime safety to inform performance improvements and ultimately reduce the occurrence of preventable safety incidents to save lives at sea.”
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 2 July, 2024
- Year: 2024
International SOS has advised UAE companies to prioritise workforce safety as global heat waves are predicted to intensify.
Workers face significant dangers in extreme heat conditions, such as heatstroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. These risks can reduce productivity, increase accidents, and result in fatalities. Each year, excessive heat contributes to 22.85 million occupational injuries and 18,970 work-related deaths.
In the UAE, heat stress is a persistent issue for outdoor workers, especially during summer when temperatures can soar up to 50°C. To address this, the Ministry of Labour has enforced a nationwide ban on outdoor work from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM during summer months.
The Ministry also requires employers to clearly display working hours and provide rest areas with drinking water, first aid kits, and sun protection measures. In 2023, nearly 95.5% of employers complied with this ban, thanks to stringent inspections.
Various sectors are affected by extreme weather, with certain jobs being at higher risk due to physical demands and outdoor conditions. Indoor industrial workers are also vulnerable if factory and workshop temperatures are not properly regulated.
Warmer temperatures expected
High heat levels can make even basic office tasks challenging, leading to mental fatigue and reduced cognitive abilities. Excessive heat exposure poses serious health risks, including heatstroke and potentially death. Organisations must take proactive measures to mitigate these risks and ensure the well-being and productivity of their workforce.
Dr Ehab Chalabie, medical director, medical services, Middle East, International SOS, said, “...Organisations must go beyond basic heat stress prevention and integrate heat stress risk assessments into their health and safety policies. Furthermore, training employees to recognise early signs of heat illness is critical. Early intervention can prevent a medical emergency and long-term health consequences. By fostering a culture of heat awareness and encouraging frequent hydration and breaks during peak temperatures, organisations can empower their workforce to stay healthy and safe.
“It is also important for organisations to be able to distinguish the different stages of heat-related illness. Heatstroke, the most severe heat illness, is a medical emergency and can cause long term impact if prompt medical attention is not given. Symptoms include a core body temperature exceeding 40°C, nausea and/or vomiting, confusion and seizures. Recognising the early signs of heat stress, such as sweating, dizziness, headache and cramps, allows swift intervention to prevent escalation to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.”
International SOS has provided guidelines for organisations to mitigate health risks from extreme heat events. These include conducting regular heat-specific risk assessments to identify high-risk areas and vulnerable employees. Organisations should integrate heat safety into their health and safety policies by providing shaded areas, hydration stations, and appropriate workwear. Training employees on heat stress awareness, proper hydration, sun protection, and recognising symptoms is crucial. Developing and communicating robust response protocols for heat-related illnesses is also recommended.
Additionally, organisations should continuously review and update their heat response plans to ensure they reflect the latest best practices. These measures aim to protect the workforce from the dangers of extreme heat, maintaining productivity and ensuring employee well-being.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 1 July, 2024
- Year: 2024
Larry Wilson, author and CEO, SafeStart, explains the contributing factors to critical errors. Read on:
Welcome back to the Paradigm Shifts series! In the last article we looked at serious injuries, the contributing factors and just how often mind not on task and eyes not on task were involved, or at least how often they were both involved in the serious injuries that have happened to us (almost every one). And if it’s of any comfort, the same questions have been asked to over a million people in 66 countries, so you’re not alone. The same two critical errors that contributed to your serious injuries also contributed to theirs (and mine).
In this article, like in the first four of this series, you will find a couple of new ideas or paradigm shifts that are somewhat counter-intuitive or almost the opposite of what most people think, that we will explore in more depth. We will also look at some practical, extremely cost effective (free) ways to reduce serious injuries 50% or more. But for now, let’s go back to the last article and the importance of those first two critical errors, eyes and mind not on task.
What we found was that for almost all of us, if we exclude sports, eyes not on task and mind not on task were involved in a very high percentage of our serious injuries, whether they were at work, at home, in the community or on the road. But it doesn’t seem quite right (almost misleading) to say that these two critical errors were just “involved”, because we are never trying to get seriously hurt anywhere or anytime! It’s more like these two errors had to happen or that they have to happen at the same time. Otherwise, if we see it coming, we will almost always get the benefit of our reflexes—which, in most cases, will be enough to prevent a direct hit, blind fall or a head-on collision.
This is not to say that these two critical errors by themselves cause all the serious injuries and fatalities. There are always at least two (or more) contributing factors. But quite often those other factors like the type of hazardous energy: electrical, mechanical, thermal and amount or kind of protection vary considerably as you go from burn to fall to motor vehicle accident. Whereas the first two critical errors, eyes and mind not on task—happening at the same time—are involved in almost every one. And since mind not on task is bound to happen if you know how to do something well, there is much more “leverage” or efficiency in getting people to put some additional effort or more effort than they are currently making (none) into improving their safety-related habits: like moving their eyes first, before they move, looking for line-of-fire potential before moving, looking for things that would cause them to lose their balance, traction or grip, etc.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 1 July, 2024
- Year: 2024
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) has received the esteemed Silver Award from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), a British charity focused on saving lives and preventing life-altering injuries from accidents. This international accolade underscores RAKEZ's dedication to upholding and improving safety standards across its operations.
RoSPA's awards programme honours organisations worldwide that lead in promoting and maintaining top occupational health and safety standards.
HSE a priority
RAKEZ prioritises the health and safety of all individuals within its jurisdiction through various initiatives and standards. The economic zone has implemented comprehensive Health, Safety, and Environment (HS&E) regulations for all businesses operating under its authority. These regulations encompass occupational safety for industrial operations and health and safety protocols for construction processes, ensuring a secure working environment.
To aid businesses in adhering to these regulations, RAKEZ offers detailed guides with practical advice and information, and organises regular awareness seminars and training programmes. These sessions, led by pre-qualified experts, cover a wide range of topics, from basic safety awareness to specialised training for high-risk roles. Additionally, RAKEZ conducts regular inspections and audits to ensure compliance with its HS&E standards, promptly addressing any potential issues.
RAKEZ's commitment to health and safety is further evidenced by initiatives like the RAKEZ HSE Appreciation Awards, which recognise businesses that demonstrate exceptional commitment to HS&E, motivating others to achieve similar standards. The recent Nujoom Al Salama programme also rates businesses based on their HS&E performance, assessing compliance with regulations, incident rates, and proactive safety measures.
RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “We are thrilled to receive the RoSPA Silver Award for our proactive approach to health and safety management. We believe a safe workplace is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental right for every employee. This recognition reflects our continuous effort to create a secure and accident-free environment for all those who work within our jurisdiction.”
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 28 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has launched the RoSPA Level 2 International Award in Defensive Driving, and has been named as an accredited provider of Defensive Driver Training by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP)
Developed by the RoSPA Qualifications team, the RoSPA Level 2 International Award in Defensive Driving aims to improve a driver’s ability to drive safely and with confidence in whatever environment and conditions they operate in. The qualification is available to organisations whose employees drive regularly for work, on public roads and company premises.
The international qualification in defensive driving will see qualification centres offer defensive driving techniques such as hazard awareness, speed management, and risk assessment. Suitable for a variety of road users, including those operating off-road and heavy vehicles, the qualification ensures drivers understand the legal, cultural, and environmental requirements of driving in their region. They will also be educated on human factors such as distractions, fatigue and driver behaviour, and journey conditions, including driving on different types of road surface and the use of vehicle safety systems.
Penny Brooks, Driver Qualifications portfolio manager, said,
“We are proud to say that RoSPA has been accredited by the IOGP and now provides the oil and gas sector with a qualification that seeks to improve safety and save lives.”
Accidents involving road vehicles are a leading cause of death and injury in the oil and gas sector. Vehicle-related accidents contributed to more than a quarter of worker deaths in the USA’s oil and gas industry from 2014-2019, according to a report from the USA’s CDC, with around 20% of these involving lone workers.
- Details
- Louise Waters
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 27 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has launched a summer safety campaign to enhance the safe use of petroleum products, particularly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and promote a culture of safety awareness across the commercial, industrial and residential sectors
As part of this initiative, the DoE teams will engage with gas operators, establishments, and individuals over the summer months to raise awareness of safety standards, offer support, and increase awareness about the importance of compliance with the new regulations. This will include visits to restaurants, shopping malls, hotels, palaces, residential apartment buildings, villas, storage facilities, and large plants.
Marking the start of the campaign, the DoE acting director general of regulatory affairs, Dr Saif Saeed Al Qubaisi, visited Al Khalidiya Mall and Al Bateen Park Villas and Buildings in Abu Dhabi to inspect their central gas systems and offer support on complying with safety standards.
Dr Al Qubaisi said, “Safety is our top priority. One of the key objectives of this campaign is to reach as many stakeholders as possible. By engaging our stakeholders in person, we hope to build relationships, provide guidance on the new standards, and ensure that operators are complying with them.”
Eng. Ahmed Alsayed Mohamed Alsheebani, the DoE’s acting executive director of regulatory affairs for the petroleum products director, urged all sector operators and establishments to reach out to the DoE for any clarifications regarding regulations, the permitting system, and safety standards.
The DoE was recently mandated to regulate all aspects of trading petroleum products (for all non-ADNOC private operators) in the Emirate, and is developing a unified permit platform to govern and monitor trading activities of petroleum products and unify standards.
Alsheebani explained, “Effectively, we are consolidating and streamlining the petroleum products sector codes (starting with LPG) and collaborating with relevant Abu Dhabi partners to ensure a safer, sustainable, more environmentally friendly sector.”
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 26 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
Sharjah city is organising safety awareness campaigns for protecting people from the heat.
Muhammad Al Zarouni, Director of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Health and Prevention in Sharjah, announced the launch of the 13th edition of a campaign to prevent heat exhaustion and related illnesses in Sharjah. Organised in collaboration with the Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs, the campaign is titled “Your Safety is Our Goal” and aims to raise health awareness among all community members about the dangers of high temperatures. The campaign particularly targets workers and will extend to all cities in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Al Zarouni stated that the campaign, which runs throughout the summer, includes field visits to construction sites and educational lectures to disseminate health information to diverse segments of society, regardless of nationality.
He further explained that the campaign emphasises proper behaviours and awareness of the health risks associated with heat exhaustion, as well as ways to ensure a safe working environment. The initiative provides free medical exams, including blood pressure, diabetes, and vision tests, along with free eyeglasses for workers in need and cold beverages to help them stay hydrated.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- Fire Safety
- Topic: Fire Safety
- Date: 25 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
Brigadier Ali Mohammed Al Kubaisi, Director-General of Civil Defence, led the Interior Ministry delegation at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) conference in the USA.
During the conference, Bahrain Civil Defence signed a cooperation agreement with NFPA. This initiative aligns with directives from General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Interior Minister and Chairman of the Civil Defence Council, aiming to enhance the civil protection and safety system in Bahrain and update public safety and fire prevention standards.
Brigadier Al Kubaisi praised the Interior Minister's commitment to developing the civil defence system to ensure rapid response, professional handling of reports, preservation of lives and property, and the enhancement of public safety. He also acknowledged the Chief of Public Security's ongoing support for civil defence plans.
The agreement aims to strengthen the safety and fire prevention ecosystem, improve training and expertise in fire safety, and explore new technologies to enhance safety requirements in buildings and facilities. It will also facilitate joint action plans to elevate Bahrain's safety standards to a global level, involve civil defence in research, expert qualification, and media awareness, and provide consultancy for future projects and initiatives.
The conference featured over 350 exhibitors, more than 120 educational sessions and workshops, and offered a platform for networking with fire protection
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 24 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
According to Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the 25th edition of the Intersec, which took place in Dubai earlier this year, resulted in a potential business buying capacity of more than US$16.7bn.
Significant business was done at the event, including a strategic agreement between the Judicial Inspection Authority (JIA) and Moro Hub, a Digital DEWA subsidiary, to create an advanced website for the authority and establish a comprehensive Judicial Performance Management system. Additionally, at Intersec 2024, Moro Hub and the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) inked a strategic agreement to expand coordination and cooperation in the field of smart city security.
Digital Mobility Services (DMS): Econocom and Streamax have forged a strategic alliance to create intelligent transport systems in Saudi Arabia that leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence to improve the effectiveness of public transit.
Growing economy
According to Business industry Insights, the homeland security industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is expected to reach a valuation of US$15,601.75mn by 2028. With factors like automation and the growth of airports and passenger traffic propelling the industry forward, Intersec is set to continue fostering significant business opportunities and partnerships as it gets ready to return to the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for its 26th edition from 14-16 January next year.
Grant Tuchten, portfolio director at Intersec organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said, "This monumental achievement underscores the importance of Intersec as a pivotal platform for fostering business partnerships and driving the industry's growth. The potential buying capacity generated at Intersec highlights the event's influence and its critical role in facilitating groundbreaking deals and collaborations that shape the future of safety, security, and fire protection."
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- Industrial
- Topic: Industrial
- Date: 21 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
The Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (Sewa) has declared that the northern emirate's Al Haray's commercial and industrial districts will soon have access to electricity.
Following the strictest safety and security guidelines, the first phase aims to establish 12 sub-distribution stations with a voltage of 11 kV and a length of 12 km. The total cost of these stations is US$5.1mn.
Sewa emphasised that it was still committed to supply the Al Haray development with clean, safe water.
It said that the installation of the main water lines and pipelines has already started.
These pipes range in diameter from 100 mm to 300 mm and are composed of Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) material. To serve all users in the industrial and commercial sections of Al Haray, the pipes will have a total length of 30,000 linear metres.
Saud Abdulaziz, the director of the Khorfakkan Department at Sewa, said it was giving power connection in both industrial and commercial areas of Al Haray.
The implementation of the commercial area link will cost AED 7 million, while the industrial area connection would cost more than AED 12 million.
It also stated that these activities will not stop until a permanent 33 kV main distribution station is built in order to completely power the region.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- HSE
- Topic: HSE
- Date: 20 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
After signing an agreement in February 2024 to enhance building safety and construction standards in Oman, the International Code Council (ICC) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP) initiated a workshop series in Muscat in May 2024.
This project, focusing on safety standards, sustainability, and technology integration, aims to be completed by early 2026. The three-day workshop series is designed to develop six comprehensive building codes specifically tailored for Oman.
Oman's adoption of these new codes, based on the 2021 International Codes (I-Codes), will elevate national standards and promote best practices, ensuring citizen safety and positioning Oman as a leader in construction safety and sustainability.
The initial workshops brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, design professionals, and industry experts. Over the three days, discussions covered the project scope, findings from the ICC’s exploratory trip, research, local construction practices, and regulatory systems.
These sessions fostered in-depth conversations, identified key gaps, and concluded with strategic recommendations for enhancing Oman’s building codes. This collaborative effort ensures that the new codes will be comprehensive and aligned with Oman’s future aspirations.
The foundation of the ICC's 2021 International Codes (I-Codes) allows for a consensus-driven approach to code development.
The success of their adaptation in Oman depends on active involvement from local stakeholders. Through these extensive workshops, Oman is customising the I-Codes to suit its specific needs, ensuring broad support and effective implementation.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- ESG
- Date: 19 June, 2024
- Year: 2024
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.”