Regional Coverage

Middle East

Details: madhurima sengupta; Middle East

Topic: HSE
Region: Middle East
Date: 23rd October 2026
Year: 2026

Lost Time Injury (LTI) is a critical metric in occupational health and safety to ensure employee wellbeing.

Companies need to prioritise safeguarding employee exposure to any work-related injury or illness that might keep them from returning for the next scheduled shift or workday.
In high-hazard industries like oil and gas, tracking LTIs helps organisations measure safety performance, identify operational risks, and safeguard workforce well-being.

Maintaining a long period without an LTI requires continuous safety monitoring, strict compliance with international standards, effective hazard mitigation, and a strong culture of workplace accountability. Achieving extended LTI-free milestones highlights an organization's exceptional commitment to operational excellence.

Upholding safety standards

Sarir Oil Operations Company celebrates a major health safety and environment (HSE) milestone as it won the Occupational Safety Award from the Libya National Oil Company for surpassing 2,000 consecutive working days without LTI.

The award was received on the occasion of the Occupational Safety Day, in recognition of Sarir's' consistent upholding of safety standards. The NOC praised SOO for its preventive measures aimed at ensuring a safe, incident-free working environment.

This achievement reflects OMC’s vision in prioritizing the safety of individuals and the protection of the environment above all else; by the implementation of the highest international safety standards, along with continuous awareness workshops aimed at strengthening the culture of commitment and prevention among all employees.

Middle East

Details: Middle East

Topic: HSE
Region: Middle East
Date: 23rd October 2026

The healthcare sector is universally recognised as a physically and mentally demanding environment, where professionals routinely put the needs of their patients above their own comfort.

Yet, the quality of care delivered to patients is inextricably linked to the physical wellbeing and mental sharpness of the staff providing it. Recognising this crucial connection, Qatar’s Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is taking decisive action. Throughout October, the organisation is marking Global Ergonomics Month with a comprehensive workplace safety campaign explicitly designed to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and elevate overall employee wellbeing and performance. By placing workplace ergonomics at the very core of its operational strategy, PHCC is addressing one of the most persistent occupational hazards in the medical field.

Addressing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders

For nurses, doctors, and support staff, the daily realities of the job involve prolonged periods of standing, awkward postures, and the physical exertion required to assist those in need. Unsurprisingly, these factors lead to a high prevalence of occupational injuries. Dr Sameera Al Hajri, director of occupational health at PHCC, notes that musculoskeletal disorders—specifically those manifesting as back, neck, shoulder, and wrist pain—rank among the most frequent work-related health complaints in the sector.

To combat this, the current campaign places a heavy emphasis on manual handling and patient transfers. These specific activities represent significant risk points for work-related musculoskeletal injuries among employees. The initiative advocates for practical, preventative measures that staff can incorporate into their daily routines.

Key ergonomic interventions promoted during the campaign include:

Implementing safer manual handling and patient transfer techniques.
Encouraging routine stretching and physical movement throughout the working day.
Improving the overall organisation and layout of the immediate workplace.

Dr Al Hajri has highlighted that simple, strategic changes to working methods and workplace design play a critical role in dramatically improving working conditions and mitigating the risk of long-term injury.

Practical training and skills development

Understanding that theoretical knowledge must translate into practical application, PHCC has structured its campaign around active learning. The organisation is not merely distributing guidelines; it is actively facilitating hands-on experience. The corporation is rolling out practical sessions across three distinct health centres. These dedicated sessions provide a controlled environment where employees can safely practise manual handling and proper patient transfer techniques in real workplace settings.

Furthermore, the initiative embraces digital learning to ensure widespread accessibility. PHCC is currently developing a comprehensive online training module, which will be integrated directly into its learning management system. To supplement this, an e-learning lecture is being rolled out under the organisation's continuing professional development (CPD) programme, ensuring that ergonomic education remains an ongoing priority rather than a temporary focus.

The importance of cognitive ergonomics

While physical strain is the most visible occupational hazard, the campaign also acknowledges the often-overlooked psychological toll of healthcare work. The PHCC initiative explicitly addresses the cognitive side of ergonomics, which is just as vital for maintaining a healthy workforce.

This psychological component focuses on managing mental workload, fostering clear communication, and ensuring logical task organisation. By addressing these factors, the corporation aims to reduce cognitive fatigue, which can lead to burnout and clinical errors. The organisation stresses that consistent training and heightened awareness are key to helping employees proactively identify workplace risks, adapt their immediate environments, and adopt safer working practices across both physical and mental domains.

Investing in employee health and patient care

Ultimately, an ergonomically sound workplace benefits everyone involved in the healthcare system. Workplaces that are meticulously designed around the physical needs and specific job requirements of employees can significantly reduce chronic pain and daily fatigue. In turn, this reduction in physical discomfort directly improves staff concentration, overall job satisfaction, and operational productivity.

As Dr Maryam Al Muslemani, director of occupational health and safety at PHCC, explains, establishing a safe and supportive working environment is fundamentally an investment. It is not only a direct investment in the health and longevity of the employees themselves, but it also serves as a crucial investment in the standard of healthcare ultimately delivered to patients across the network.

Middle East

Details: madhurima sengupta; Middle East

Topic: HSE
Region: Middle East
Date: 23rd October 2026
Year: 2026

Public administration at the United Arab Emirates is undergoing a revolution in digital innovation and governance with seamless integration of cutting-edge technology.

This move is set to enhance citizen services, fortify cybersecurity, and streamline decision-making processes across all levels of government. The latest initiatives mark a decisive transition toward proactive, data-driven governance designed to shape a more agile and efficient future.

Revolutionising government work

The Government of the UAE has announced fresh measures for its work teams, including consistency in delivering deadlines, rapid adaption of Agentic AI and maintaining the country's international repute.

This message was delivered during the recent UAE Cabinet meeting, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

With more than 308 million digital transactions and 15.8 million government applications downloads across 1,633 digital services, the UAE remains in the highest tier of the cybersecurity index. "These results confirm that the digital transformation journey continues, and that investing in technology and AI is an investment in the quality and the future of government services,” said Rashid Al Maktoum.

In line with the UAE's cybersecurity standards and confidentiality principles, the Cabinet has launched a new agentic AI operating model that will be embedded in government work. Supporting analyses of potential programmes, policies and legislation, the Cabinet AI Advisor system will influence government decision making at the Cabinet and the Ministerial Council for Artificial Intelligence and Development.

Ensuring quality output

“In today's meeting the Cabinet approved the launch and rollout of the Cabinet AI Advisor system, a new step in improving government decision making, accelerating the study of projects and initiatives, and raising the quality of government output. The system works through 32 specialised AI advisors that analyse policies and legislation, assess their impact, review global best practice and put forward recommendations. The system will work with our ministers, 24 hours a day, to follow up on decisions and their implementation... The UAE government does not stop... and its decisions are continuous... We aim for a more efficient government, and faster and more accurate decisions,” said Rashid Al Maktoum.

Middle East

Details: Louise Waters; Middle East

Topic: HSE
Region: Middle East
Date: 22nd October 2026
Year: 2026

Working in confined spaces is by nature hazardous, with potential dangers ranging from reduced oxygen levels and the presence of toxic gases to risk of explosions and access difficulties

Confined spaces can present complex and changing risks. Even when a space is considered safe during the initial assessment, atmospheric conditions, work activities and operational factors can introduce new hazards once work begins.

How can you ensure worker safety when confined space conditions change after entry? And are your teams fully prepared to manage evolving hazards and respond effectively in an emergency?

Practical webinar

Join HSE Review and MSA Safety on Tuesday 17 November at 2pm GST for a practical webinar on 'Managing changing confined space risks: from entry to rescue', exploring how organisations can manage confined space risks throughout the entire confined space safety cycle, from hazard assessment and entry preparation through worker protection, ongoing monitoring, rescue readiness and safe exit. Using practical scenarios and drawing on industry best practices, the session will examine how changing conditions can affect space safety, why continuous risks awareness is essential, and how organisations can strengthen their procedures to protect workers at every stage.

What you'll learn

• Understand how confined space risks can evolve before, during and after entry
• Explore the confined space safety cycle, from initial assessment to safe exit
• Identify atmospheric, physical and operational hazards that can affect worker safety
• Discover practical readiness checks to strengthen confined space risk management
• Learn how proactive risk awareness and behavioural change can build a stronger safety culture

Expert speakers

• Rim Abou Chahine, EMEA segment marketing manager, MSA Safety
• Edward Clapham, segment marketing manager, portable gas detection from MSA Safety

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to gain valuable insights into managing confined space hazards and ensuring workers are protected from entry through to rescue.

Register now: https://alaincharlestraining.com/webinar2/msa-safety-managing-changing-confined-space-risks-from-entry-to-rescue

Middle East

Details: Louise Waters; Middle East

Topic: HSE
Region: Middle East
Date: 21st October 2026
Year: 2026

Saudi Arabia’s mega projects present an unprecedented HSE challenge: delivering projects at an unprecedented scale and pace while maintaining consistent standards across complex, multinational workforces and supply chains

Meeting expectations of stakeholders while maintaining safe standards of operation and prioritising worker welfare on fast-moving and demanding projects can be a challenge. Dealing with variations in safety culture and behaviour as well as disparities in levels of competence of multicultural workforces, along with potential communications difficulties arising from language barriers, is an issue throughout the Gulf but is exacerbated in the case of some of these megaprojects which have seen large influxes of migrant workers. Managing and monitoring workers over large and sometimes remote areas and protecting large sites is another issue. Localisation requirements and quotas mean that training to bridge knowledge gaps of local contractors and suppliers and bring them up to international standards is required.

Training for diverse workforces

It is reported that migrant workers are 66% more likely to make mistakes due to misunderstanding instructions and four times more likely to suffer from fatal accidents. Making training programmes and technical safety content more accessible, engaging and understandable for diverse workforces is therefore critical.

Tailoring training approaches that consider workers’ specific cultural and linguistic context should be considered, along with creating interactive engaging safety programmes that leverage visual learning techniques such as pictograms, visual aids and short videos. Digital learning technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and interactive e-learning training models can also be very effective.

Jincom for example is developing training programmes with project developers in the Kingdom translating safety content into multiple languages, using minimal text and powerful visuals to communicate critical safety information, based on the philosophy that pictures speak the most universally understood language.

Digitising delivery mechanisms to enable organisations to track training comprehension and engagement, ensure consistent messaging across diverse workforces and integrate safety content with existing management platforms is also key.

Subcontractor safety and competency

At HSE KSA 2025, issues around subcontractor safety and competency were discussed, where the importance of focusing on the safety management systems and practices of subcontractors was highlighted. Key takeaways included:
• The importance of a robust procurement process, with health and safety embedded right from the start and included in the assessment criteria
• The need for uniform HSE practices across projects and locations, with a focus on self-driven safety leadership and standards rather than relying on client-dependent compliance;
• The need for main contractors and subcontractors to have their own HSE management systems
• The role of joint audits, engagement and leadership to improve overall safety culture; joint audit programmes involving the PMC, main contractor and subcontractors can be implemented to identify and address safety gaps
• The importance of evaluating subcontractors through metrics such as Lost Time Injury (LTI) rates and safety statistics, with incentives and penalties to drive continuous improvement
• The role of technology in providing accountability, real-time visibility and proactive monitoring; digital platforms can be implemented to track subcontractor safety metrics and automate alerts for proactive monitoring
• The importance of accountability and leadership and integration of HSE into business priorities.

There is also a need to address any gaps through targeted, on-the job training programmes, with specific training programmes for the main risk-associated activities – particularly in light of the issue of the new Regulation on Organising Work in High-Risk Professions. This raises the bar for workplace safety and compliance and could have a significant impact on operators of megaprojects, where work can involve elevated safety risks, such as working at height, heavy equipment operations, welding, cutting and mechanical work. Provisions of the law include the requirement for workers to pass medical fitness examinations to obtain a license in order to be able to perform high-risk roles.

North America

Details: shivani dhruv; North America

Topic: Technology
Region: North America
Date: 19th October 2026
Year: 2026

Relay and Celona have formed a partnership to strengthen communications for frontline workers in industrial environments, with the aim of improving workplace safety and operational efficiency

Celona’s Orion platform combines private 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity across extensive industrial sites, enabling workers using Relay’s system for managing physical operations to stay connected in areas where conventional wireless networks may be unreliable.

Industrial sites, including refineries, factories and warehouses, often present significant connectivity challenges. Large campuses, remote locations and metal-intensive structures can weaken radio signals and limit public cellular coverage. Wi-Fi can also struggle to provide consistent connectivity across expansive indoor facilities and outdoor yards, particularly for mobile workers operating forklifts and other equipment. These gaps can disrupt communications through traditional two-way radios, increasing potential safety risks and making it difficult to maintain a complete record of operational activities.

Celona’s converged wireless platform combines enterprise-grade private 5G with Wi-Fi within an organisation’s network. Relay uses this connectivity to capture and organise spoken observations from frontline workers, converting them into actionable information within existing enterprise systems. Its approach allows workers in noisy industrial settings, including those wearing protective equipment, to communicate through familiar ruggedised push-to-talk radios rather than relying on typing into digital applications.

“Reliable connectivity is foundational to worker safety and productivity, particularly across large industrial environments where traditional wireless technologies can struggle,” said Puneet Shetty, SVP of Product and Field Engineering at Celona. “Together with Relay, we’re extending the benefits of converged wireless to frontline workers, helping maintain critical communications across even the most challenging areas of industrial facilities.”

The partnership aims to provide connectivity throughout industrial facilities while preserving a record of work carried out across operations. Relay devices have been tested on Celona’s network and are ready for deployment. The combined solution also supports real-time translation in 35 languages using AI models developed specifically for manufacturing environments. Panic alerts and location information provide additional tools for worker safety, while recorded observations, handovers and operational decisions help organisations retain information generated during each shift.

"The most important piece of equipment a frontline worker carries is the ability to reach someone. In a plant that's loud, hazardous, and spread across acres, that's the difference between a near-miss and an incident,” said Ibraheem Khalifa, Principal Product Manager, Relay. “Our partnership with Celona helps ensure frontline teams remain not just productive but also safe, no matter where in the facility they’re working.”

Relay and Celona are already being used together at customer sites in the food manufacturing sector.

North America

Details: North America

Topic: HSE
Region: North America
Date: 16th October 2026
Year: 2026

When the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled its preliminary fiscal year 2026 list of the 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo in September, the underlying message was clear.

The regulatory body continues to find familiar hazards dominating the landscape. However, rather than simply serving as a punitive record, the compliance problems behind these vast numbers offer employers a vital, strategic roadmap for identifying and resolving weaknesses within their own safety programmes.

The announcement brought few surprises at the very top of the rankings. General Requirements for Fall Protection secured the number one position for the 16th consecutive year, amassing a staggering 4,041 violations. Hazard Communication followed in second place with 1,961 violations, whilst Control of Hazardous Energy—commonly referred to in the industry as lockout/tagout—ranked third with 1,863 citations.

Yet, the true value of OSHA’s Top 10 extends far beyond a simple numerical ranking of infractions. It provides a comprehensive diagnostic tool for systemic industrial failures.

The persistent nature of compliance deficiencies

During the presentation, Prent Cline, the acting deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, offered attendees a closer look at the actual conditions inspectors are encountering during site visits. The data reveals a clear picture of why some of the same structural deficiencies continue to appear year after year, regardless of broader technological advancements.

A significant portion of the employers that OSHA inspects categorise as small and midsize organisations. Cline noted that in many of these cases, the businesses simply do not fully understand the complex regulatory requirements placed upon them. However, it is not merely inexperienced firms that struggle. Even seasoned, highly trained safety professionals can face complicated compliance questions when attempting to apply broad standards to nuanced, real-world operational challenges.

Interestingly, while the specific mix of industries that OSHA inspectors visit changes over time, the underlying fundamental problems remain remarkably persistent across the board.

“These are all issues that seem to crop up again and again,” Cline said.

Safeguarding against mechanical and energy hazards

Further down the preliminary list, the data highlights crucial areas where physical safeguarding frequently falls short.

Machine Guarding (1910.212): Rounding out the top 10 list with 1,072 violations, this standard reinforces the continuing and critical importance of protecting employees from hazardous machine motion. It also highlights the necessity of securing points of operation where workers interact directly with moving parts.
Control of Hazardous Energy: With nearly 2,000 violations, the lockout/tagout standard demonstrates that possessing safety locks is insufficient if the procedural application of securing energy sources is flawed or misunderstood by the workforce.

The complexities of eye and face protection

Ranking ninth on the list with 1,120 violations, Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) presents a unique set of compliance hurdles, particularly within the construction sector. OSHA inspectors have documented several recurring problems that highlight a disconnect between safety policy and practical, on-the-job application.

Inspectors frequently observed the following issues regarding protective eyewear:

Employees working with absolutely no eye or face protection at all.
Workers wearing standard eyewear that lacked the necessary side protection.
The use of protective eyewear that completely failed to meet the applicable regulatory specifications.
Workers substituting correct safety spectacles for their normal, everyday prescription glasses, which are not designed to provide the required industrial-grade protection.

Cline specifically pointed out that OSHA observed heavy concentrations of these violations among framing, roofing, siding, and masonry contractors. This trend was particularly noted in the residential construction and renovation sectors.

The human element of comfort also plays a massive role in driving noncompliance. Workers actively resist wearing their mandatory protection because the equipment frequently fogs up, becomes excessively hot, or is physically uncomfortable during long, intensive shifts. Consequently, eye protection becomes a hazard that is incredibly easy for management to miss during periodic safety audits, simply because compliance can change rapidly from worker to worker and from job to job.

By analysing these specific operational failures—from a lack of side shields to the complexities of machine guarding—organisations can move beyond mere regulatory box-ticking. The OSHA 2026 data serves as a compelling reminder that true workplace safety requires continuous, daily vigilance and a deep understanding of the practical challenges workers face on the ground.

Europe

Details: Europe

Topic: HSE
Region: Europe
Year: 2026

The modern professional landscape is undergoing significant transformation, yet one critical issue remains persistently in the shadows: workplace mental health.

While physical health and safety form the backbone of working life, the contemporary workforce battles an invisible crisis. Against a backdrop of staff shortages, an ageing population, and rapidly evolving practices, the psychological toll on employees has reached unprecedented levels. In response, the European Commission launched the Healthy Workplaces campaign this week. This initiative assists employers in preventing, assessing, and managing psychosocial risks, aiming to shatter the pervasive silence surrounding mental health struggles in professional environments.

The true cost of psychosocial risks

The financial and human cost of ignoring occupational well-being is staggering. Across the European Union, millions of professionals navigate intensely stressful environments, often without adequate support. The statistics paint a sobering picture of the current state of affairs:

Nearly half of all workers (45%) currently face active risks to their mental health whilst on the job, according to data from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).
Approximately 44% of the workforce reports experiencing severe time pressure or facing overwhelming task overload during their daily duties.
Only 45% of employees state they are actively consulted by management regarding the stressful aspects of their jobs.
Work-related depression currently costs the European Union more than €100 billion a year, a figure calculated by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) that accounts for absenteeism, reduced productivity, healthcare, and wider social costs.

William Cockburn, the executive director of EU-OSHA, highlights the direct correlation between modern employment demands and psychological strain. “We see psychosocial risks at the workplace, for example, long working hours, highly intense work, emotionally demanding tasks … and we link that to increased impact on workers’ health,” Cockburn said.

Breaking the silence and identifying hazards

Despite the immense burden these conditions place on both personnel and employers, a persistent stigma continues to slow meaningful action. The topic remains largely taboo in many corporate cultures. “Whether we're asking employers or workers, they identify a reluctance to speak openly about mental health issues as the … main obstacle to actually taking action,” he said.

To combat this, experts advocate for a fundamental shift in how psychological well-being is categorised by management. For Cockburn, mental health issues “need to be addressed like physical health issues at work”. The recommended approach is to systematically assess risks first and subsequently adapt whatever is required to minimise potential harm.

“We identify hazards like long working hours, like adverse relationships at work … to an extreme you can go to bullying and harassment, violence or threats of violence,” he added. By treating these factors as tangible occupational hazards, organisations can successfully dismantle the stigma and create safer environments for all staff.

Implementing preventative guardrails

While many still view mental health solely as a private issue, labour advocates argue that responsibility for prevention must centre on the workplace rather than the individual affected. Esther Lynch, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), champions this structural approach to employee welfare.

“We don't wait until people have a finger chopped off before we put guardrails in place,” Lynch said. “We do a risk assessment and say what's the risk associated with the way this work is carried out and then we put the guardrails in place”.

Achieving this vital preventative care requires open dialogue, and experts universally agree that workers must be an integral part of the conversation. “Worker participation is a legal obligation under European law, but it's also a key success factor for successful interventions in health and safety at work,” said Cockburn.

A strategic investment in the future

The Healthy Workplaces campaign represents a comprehensive effort to normalise these crucial conversations and equip organisations with tools to protect their staff. Ultimately, prioritising psychological well-being is a sound strategic investment for modern businesses.

Speaking at the campaign’s launch on Tuesday, Roxana Mînzatu, executive vice-president for social rights and jobs, articulated the broad benefits of proactive corporate policies.

“When we invest in building and keeping healthy working environments, we improve not only people's well-being, we reduce sick leave and staff turnover; we improve performance, and we don't put pressure on our health systems,” said Mînzatu. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”

North America

Details: shivani dhruv; North America

Topic: HSE
Region: North America
Date: 15th October 2026
Year: 2026

A four-year research programme in New Brunswick, Canada, will investigate the physical demands of caregiving and develop and assess interventions to improve workplace safety for long-term care workers and residents.

The initiative is backed by more than C$1.6mn in combined funding from WorkSafeNB, Mitacs, the New Brunswick Continuing Care Safety Association (NBCCSA) and ResearchNB.

The programme is led by Dr Michelle Cardoso, Associate Professor and Research Chair in Healthcare and Ergonomics at the Université de Moncton, and Dr Wayne Albert, Full Professor at the University of New Brunswick. It brings together researchers, healthcare organisations, government bodies and industry partners to develop evidence-based approaches to reducing occupational injuries while supporting quality resident care.

Healthcare workers in Canada experience some of the highest rates of work-related musculoskeletal injuries across occupations. In New Brunswick's long-term care sector, previous research estimates that these injuries cost approximately C$8mn annually. The financial burden is accompanied by lost working hours, staffing challenges and additional pressure on an already stretched healthcare system.

The research programme will examine the causes and patterns of workplace injuries, assess the physical demands associated with caregiving and test potential interventions. It will also work with healthcare providers to translate research findings into practical improvements in workplace safety.

A key area of investigation will be the use of technology and ergonomics to reduce the risk of injury. Researchers will evaluate innovative equipment, ergonomic interventions and evidence-based training methods designed to make caregiving tasks safer. Biomechanical and ergonomic assessments will be conducted in laboratory environments and real-world healthcare settings to understand the demands placed on workers.

The programme will also undertake province-wide research into workplace injury trends and investigate factors that influence the adoption of new equipment, technologies and safety practices. Research topics will include resident handling and transfers, toileting, injury surveillance, and barriers to implementing new solutions.

Rather than concentrating on a single study, the initiative establishes a long-term research platform to identify emerging safety challenges, evaluate potential interventions and build evidence to inform healthcare workplace practices. Its findings are expected to support evidence-based decision-making among healthcare organisations in New Brunswick and elsewhere.

Alongside its occupational safety objectives, the programme will contribute to the development of Canada's healthcare research workforce. Through Mitacs, it will provide advanced research training for 23 undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers. Participants will work with healthcare organisations and industry partners to investigate practical challenges facing the country's healthcare system.

The four-year initiative aims to strengthen the evidence available to healthcare providers as they assess ways to reduce caregiver injuries and improve safety for both staff and residents in long-term care settings.

North America

Details: shivani dhruv; North America

Topic: HSE
Region: North America
Date: 14th October 2026
Year: 2026

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has published a research report examining the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in environmental health and safety (EHS), highlighting both its growing use and the challenges organisations face when implementing the technology.

Titled Trust, Ethics and Governance: How Safety Leaders Are Thinking About and Using AI, the report draws on a survey of nearly 1,000 safety professionals conducted by ASSP between 6 July and 2 August 2026.

The findings show that 86% of respondents work in organisations exploring or scaling AI within EHS operations. Of these organisations, 66% began their AI-EHS initiatives within the previous two years, indicating a rapid shift towards integrating AI into workplace safety practices.

Reported applications span several operational areas, including report preparation, personalised training and education, incident analysis, pattern recognition, resource optimisation, predictive analytics, automated compliance, and real-time monitoring and alerts.

However, implementation continues to face financial, organisational and technical obstacles. Limited investment was the most frequently reported barrier, cited by 74% of respondents. Data quality followed at 62%, while 59% identified a lack of ownership, internal advocates or organisational priority. Concerns about trust, confidence and comfort with AI, alongside issues relating to data privacy, security and bias, were each reported by 55%.

The research also found links between AI adoption and organisational culture, perceptions of its value to EHS, ethical concerns and data quality. Data quality remains a challenge at different stages of implementation, while training is associated with greater knowledge of AI-EHS applications and increased confidence among safety professionals.

Emphasising the need to retain human responsibility as AI becomes more widely used, Monique Parker, CSP, president of ASSP, said, “While many safety professionals are using AI to support better decision-making and address real-world EHS challenges, human oversight remains essential. AI does not change our fundamental responsibility to protect people, property and the environment through EHS practices. This is why ASSP is meeting safety professionals where they are on their AI journey with several resources and programs to help address barriers to implementation, including the Applied AI for EHS Certificate with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the AI in EHS: A Practical Framework for Responsible Adoption course.”

ASSP will also use the survey results to inform its complimentary Standards-Based User Group (SBUG) on AI in Safety. The group aims to identify further implementation challenges and evaluate practical ways to address them.

The research was funded by the ASSP Foundation.

The full report is available on the ASSP website.

Middle East

Details: Louise Waters; Middle East

Topic: HSE
Region: Middle East
Date: 12th October 2026
Year: 2026

The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) has emphasised the importance of maintaining safety and compliance standards across petroleum products trading activities and fostering safe practices among companies and establishments operating within the sector

To ensure this, the Council seeks to maintain secure and efficient operations across every stage of petroleum products trading, including storage, transport, distribution and supply, as part of its regulatory and supervisory role and in line with the relevant legislation.

H.E. Ahmed Butti Al Muhairbi, secretary general of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of the Dubai Regulatory Committee for Petroleum Products, highlighted that Executive Council Resolution No. 85 of 2025 provides an integrated regulatory framework to improve the efficiency and reliability of Dubai’s petroleum products trading sector by regulating relevant sector activities, strengthening compliance with safety requirements and technical standards, and curbing unauthorised practices.

H.E. Al Muhairbi added, “Compliance with regulatory, technical and safety standards remains a primary responsibility for all entities within the petroleum products trading sector. This requires companies to maintain the validity of all necessary licenses and permits, ensuring that facilities and transport methods strictly adhere to approved requirements. It also requires proper implementation of operations, maintenance and safety procedures aligned with defined requirements, along with maintenance of relevant records and documentation. Ultimately, this approach enhances operational safety, mitigates risks, and actively protects personnel, facilities, and the environment.”

DSCE emphasised that key practices requiring close monitoring and attention within the petroleum products trading sector include the use of unauthorised facilities or transport methods, non-compliance with storage and transport regulations, trading in products that do not conform to approved specifications, and shortcomings in documenting product sources and movements. Inspection campaigns and operations carried out by DSCE, in collaboration with relevant government entities, have discovered cases involving the storage or trading of diesel at unlicensed facilities and its transport using methods that do not meet approved requirements. Such practices pose significant safety risks, including petroleum product leaks and their potential environmental impact.

DSCE has urged companies and establishments within the sector to strengthen compliance with approved regulatory and technical frameworks, ensure that licences and permits remain valid, verify that products conform to UAE-approved specifications, and utilise safe and authorised facilities for storage. The Council also underlined the importance of operating vehicles and using transport methods that meet approved requirements, implementing safe operating procedures during transport and handling, complying with maintenance and inspection programs, and significantly upgrading emergency response readiness across all infrastructure and transport assets.

The Council continues to strengthen its field monitoring framework through the permanent joint field inspection team for the petroleum products trading sector, in coordination with relevant government entities. These inspections and monitoring operations ensure compliance with approved requirements, identify unauthorised practices, and facilitate the execution of necessary measures in accordance with applicable regulations and resolutions. Since commencing operations in July 2022, the permanent joint field inspection team has conducted 449 joint inspection campaigns within the LPG sector.

These efforts reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global city in applying regulatory and operational best practices while advancing sustainable development.

Middle East

Details: Louise Waters; Middle East

Topic: HSE
Region: Middle East
Date: 9th October 2026
Year: 2026

Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) and Sharjah Police General Command have come together to discuss strengthening cooperation to enhance the security and safety of companies and organisations

H.E Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, director of HFZA, received a Sharjah Police delegation headed by Major General Ahmed Saeed Al Naour, director-general of the General Directorate of Prevention and Safety, accompanied by Brigadier Khalid Saeed Bo Zengal, deputy director-general of the General Directorate of Prevention and Safety, and several officials.

Reflecting the increasing focus in the region on a proactive approach to health and safety, the discussions focused on using smart technologies and systems to advance preventive measures, strengthen preparedness and business continuity, and improve the efficiency of services provided to investors, supporting Sharjah’s position as a safe and attractive business and investment destination.

The meeting reviewed HFZA’s security and safety systems and approved procedures, explored preventive safety requirements and discussed benchmarking practices to exchange expertise and identify effective approaches.

Al Naour said strengthening strategic partnerships and integration between government entities is fundamental to developing the prevention and safety ecosystem and raising preparedness across economic establishments in line with Sharjah’s economic growth and diversification. He said cooperation with HFZA represents a model of institutional integration based on exchanging knowledge, expertise and specialised practices, while using advanced technologies and systems to improve preventive procedures and their efficiency.

Al Naour added that Sharjah Police is committed to strengthening a preventive and proactive approach by expanding coordination and information exchange with strategic partners and continuously developing procedures that protect lives and property, ensure business continuity and support sustainable economic activity.

Al Mazrouei said strengthening security and safety is a key pillar in sustaining economic activity, reinforcing investor confidence and supporting business stability, growth and expansion.

He added that HFZA is working to promote an institutional culture based on prevention and proactive preparedness by raising awareness of approved requirements and standards and adopting practices that ensure a safe and resilient business environment.

Both sides stressed the importance of continued coordination, cooperation and knowledge exchange in security, safety and prevention, as well as sharing information on economic activities and preventive safety requirements to strengthen institutional integration, business continuity and Sharjah’s secure and sustainable economic environment.

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