Doha, Qatar, has earned an impressive third-place ranking among 62 Asian cities in the 2025 Numbeo Quality of Life Index. This achievement highlights Doha’s evolution into a modern, globally competitive city that prioritises resident well-being.
The Numbeo index assesses cities based on factors such as purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, traffic, pollution, and climate.
Doha’s overall Quality of Life Index score reached 178.7, with a high purchasing power index of 151.8 and a strong safety score of 84.1. The city’s healthcare index stood at 73.4, while the cost of living remained relatively low at 47.8.
Other notable scores included a 6.2 Property Price to Income Ratio, 29.1 for Traffic Commute Time, 59.9 for Pollution, and 36.0 for Climate.
Doha follows only Abu Dhabi and Muscat in the rankings, a testament to Qatar’s strategic investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and sustainability. The city’s safety, healthcare facilities, and metro system contribute were evaluated to have contributed significantly to its high livability.
The Gulf of America, historically known as the Gulf of Mexico, remains a crucial region for offshore energy production, with companies like bp leading the way in health, safety, and environmental (HSE) improvements.
In recent years, bp has taken significant steps to strengthen its safety culture, implement advanced technologies, and refine operational protocols to mitigate risks and enhance workplace safety.
bp’s approach to HSE in the Gulf of America is guided by its Operating Management System (OMS), which provides a consistent framework for managing health, safety, security, and environmental risks.
The OMS integrates bp’s safety leadership principles, the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers’ (IOGP) Life-Saving Rules, and process safety fundamentals. These elements collectively drive a strong safety culture, ensuring that best practices are embedded across BP’s operations.
To reinforce this culture, bp has prioritised psychological safety among its workforce. Employees in operations are encouraged to voice concerns and report potential hazards without fear of retaliation.
Training sessions have been expanded to help employees integrate safety principles into their daily routines, fostering a more open and proactive approach to risk management.
The IOGP Life-Saving Rules address high-risk activities that account for the majority of serious industry incidents.
Since their adoption, bp has measured their effectiveness, conducting site visits and safety audits to assess compliance.
In 2024, operational safety teams visited production sites in Azerbaijan, refining facilities in Spain, and terminals and pipelines in the US to ensure adherence to these critical safety measures.
Technology plays a pivotal role in bp’s HSE advancements. Digital solutions such as the IRIS system (for health, safety, security, and environment reporting) and the LENS platform (for learning and knowledge-sharing) have enhanced BP’s ability to standardise processes and collaborate across sites.
Additionally, the company has deployed Nova, an integrated management tool that helps monitor risk controls and enforce safety measures.
Despite bp’s efforts, the company faced challenges in 2024, reporting a fatality and several life-changing injuries across its global operations.
These incidents have reinforced the need for continuous improvement in safety protocols. To address these concerns, bp has focused on leveraging lessons learned to prevent future occurrences, including a renewed emphasis on safe manual handling procedures and emergency response preparedness.
Process safety remains a priority, with bp implementing stricter mechanical integrity frameworks in refining and production activities.
The company has also integrated IOGP’s Process Safety Fundamentals, ensuring that risk awareness and operational reliability are at the forefront of daily activities.
bp’s offshore operations in the Gulf of America benefit from enhanced monitoring and AI-driven solutions.
In drilling activities, bp uses advanced surveillance systems that allow experts in Houston and Sunbury to detect early warning signs of potential hazards, enabling timely intervention.
Additionally, bp’s US onshore subsidiary, bpx energy, has adopted AI-powered driving safety measures, significantly reducing driver distraction and tailgating incidents.
In its announcement of a 4.1% revenue increase over the last year, Arabian Drilling listed HSE amongst its four top strategic priorities for 2025.
The addition of 13 unconventional land rigs in 2024 brings the operator's total fleet to 59. That increase represents a 20.4% growth against 2023.
Ghassan Mirdad, Arabian Drilling's CEO, described last year's performance as "strong and resilient."
CFO Hubert Lafeuille added, "Our strong balance sheet enables us to pursue geographical expansion, enhancing our ability to swiftly reposition ourselves to capture targeted growth opportunities that require our expertise."
Part of that repositioning includes the realignment of Arabian Drilling's strategic priorities for 2025, centring its approach around four pillars: increasing fleet utilisation, supporting the Kingdom's energy transition, expanding globally, and enhancing HSE activities.
The operator anticipates that Q1 2025 will maintain Q4 2024 performance and momentum.
Figure 1.
Larry Wilson, author and CEO, SafeStart, reviews the lessons of the ‘complacency continuum’
As we revisit the Paradigm Shifts series, we are now approaching its final stretch with article #9 out of 12: Critical Decisions – Part 1: Normal Risk vs. Making an Exception.
Before diving in, let’s briefly recall the key insights from the previous article, where we explored the complacency continuum and the importance of 'when' vs. 'what' in decision-making (Please see Figure 1).
When did you get hurt vs. what were you doing? And if you really think about it or if you really think about what has actually happened to you, you’ll realise that you have most likely experienced accidental pain – even if it wasn’t serious – in almost any activity you’ve ever done, whether it’s walking, running, cleaning, carrying something and dropping it on your foot, cutting, hammering, driving, cooking, sewing (you name it), chances are you’ve said, “Ouch” or something worse, more than once. So, if you can accept that the “what” isn’t really where the pattern is, because, we’ve all been hurt, a little or a lot, doing pretty much everything (as long as you were moving and/or things around you were moving). So, the pattern, especially in terms of our serious injuries, has been when we made both of the first two critical errors at the same time: we didn’t have our eyes on task and we weren’t thinking about what we were doing (mind not on task). And as a result, we didn’t get a reflex – which might have enabled us to hit the brake, jerk the steering wheel, catch our balance or break our fall, move our head quickly, etc.
So, we looked at the problem of figuring out “when” in the last article. When would we or when would they be most likely to have those “defenseless moments”? The conclusion was that they (at least the majority of them) would happen after the first stage of complacency, and – although the person wouldn’t likely know it – be happening more frequently as they passed into stage 2. Which helped to answer the question of why older, well-trained workers, with lots of experience were experiencing so many serious injuries and fatalities. Note: before the first stage of complacency, untrained workers or workers without enough experience do get hurt frequently. But they are usually more mindful in terms of paying attention. They just don’t have the skills or reflexes yet. So, that’s easy to understand and it’s easy enough to fix, if you’re willing to take the time to train them properly.
However, there’s more to it than just that. As mentioned, albeit briefly, in the last article, as time goes on people tend to get more complacent, not less. The increased level of complacency can also start to affect someone’s decision making. Not only do they have more “defenseless moments”, but if nothing bad has actually happened (vs. just another close call) then the person’s willingness to change will be very low, and certainly their belief that their behaviour “really needs to change” will be virtually non-existent. Hence the: “Oh yeah, well I’ve been doing it this way for 20 years and I’ve never been hurt yet!” So, for them, “normal” behaviour is “at-risk”. In other words, they normally don’t wear the face shield at the grinding wheel or they normally don’t wear a seat belt on the fork truck. And if someone has been using the grinding wheel without a face shield for 20 years, we can assume – with a fair bit of confidence – that complacency has gotten the better of them.
Then on the other side (see Figure 1), there are people whose normal behaviour is safe: they normally do wear the face shield. Just like people normally drive the speed limit or maybe a little above the posted speed limit. In other words, you know what you mean when you say, “I was driving at normal speed or at a normal speed for me, given the conditions”. Let’s just call it, “our own speed limit” which, as mentioned, might be slightly higher than the posted speed limit. But here’s the thing or the main point: we have all exceeded our own speed limit when we were in a “big rush”. So, if we are in enough of a rush, we will make an exception, and not only break government laws or company rules, we will even break our own rules. And the same thing can be true for frustration and fatigue. Normal people can and will make exceptions or can have their decisions compromised by rushing, frustration and fatigue.
I can remember when this paradigm shift hit me. I was in Houston doing a three-day workshop. Our video crew lives in the greater Houston area, so we got together after day one to look at some of the “Tool Box” videos for a series they started working on. Although the manager of the crew was very familiar with the concepts and critical error reduction techniques, the crew really only knew about rushing, frustration, fatigue and complacency. What I didn’t know (long story) was that the manager was not going with the crew to these shoots, so they were just asking for stories – true stories – that were about workplace injuries caused by rushing, frustration, fatigue and complacency.
Click here to read the full article and gain insights into enhancing safety through improved decision-making.
Stay tuned for Critical Decisions – Part 2: Deliberate Risk and Error, where we dive deeper into how intentional risk-taking interacts with human error and what we can do to mitigate it!
https://uk.safestart.com/paradigm-shifts/9-critical-decisions-part-1-normal-risk-vs-making-an-exception/
The Port of Duqm Company has signed an MoU with Oman Oil Marketing Company with the intention of co-developing and implementing solar systems, EV charging and biofuels at the Port of Duqm.
Signing the MoU on behalf of the Port of Duqm Company was its CEO, Reggy Vermeulen, who said, "We are committed to developing sustainable energy solutions at the port and this agreement strengthens our efforts towards achieving an environmentally friendly operational environment that aligns with Oman Vision 2040.
"Our partnership with OOMCO will open new avenues in the clean energy sector, contributing to the transformation of Port of Duqm into a sustainable logistics gateway at both the regional and international levels."
Tariq Mohammed al Junaidi, Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) CEO, was also present at the MoU signing.
"At Oman Oil Marketing Company, we are committed to providing innovative and sustainable energy solutions beyond fuel. Our advancements in solar energy, EV charging infrastructure and biodiesel support Oman's transition to clean energy.
"This MoU with Port of Duqm marks a key step in enabling the port to optimise energy use, reduce carbon emissions and enhance sustainability."
Navtech's MAS10 is the world's first 77GHz FMCW marine radar, promising all-weather navigation and safer manoeuvring.
The company partnered with leading marine operators for the product's development, inspiring its groundbreaking adoption of weatherproof W-band radar tech and rugged design to support its mission-critical applications.
Rachel O'Connor, Navtech Radar's marine business development manager, stated, "New challenges demand more advanced solutions. The MAS10 radar is purpose-built for marine automation, combining a 1km range with centimetre-level precision and all-weather reliability.
"The MAS10’s high-resolution imaging enables machine-learning-powered classification, setting a new standard for safe and intelligent navigation. With 25 years of Navtech expertise, the MAS10 is designed to enable safer and smarter navigation for the future of maritime operations."
Zero USV was one such operator partnering with Navtech for the MAS10 product development. Matthew Ratsey, Zero USV's founder and MD, added, "Navtech's MAS10 is such a unit, the definition and quality to pick up even the smallest of targets in cluttered environments is vital for the autonomous industry to continue seeking the goal of ‘jetty to jetty’ navigation where busy harbours still represent a significant challenge."
Several Louisiana federal agency offices are losing their leases as part of a statewide cost-cutting initiative spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal watchdog established by the Trump Administration whose stated aim is to streamline government spending and minimise waste.
The DOGE website, which analyses government cost-cutting measures, claims that the initiative has saved over US$105bn across the country through asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud eliminations, and lease terminations. As of March 6, the expected savings per taxpayer were US$652.17.
The largest cost-cutting strategy among the terminated Louisiana agency leases involved the Social Security Administration in Houma, which had an annual leasing cost of more than US$550,000.
The agency's lease was terminated through a "agency-approved lease termination," which means that the agency consented to evacuate the premises, according to Louisiana First News.
One of the eight federal agencies affected by these cuts in Louisiana is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). DOGE stated it was a “Mass Mod” termination, meaning leases that are cancelled through mass modifications.
OSHA's 8,041 sq ft Louisiana office, which is located in the state capital Baton Rouge, costs the US government US$187,451 every year. According to DOGE, closing this office space will save the government US$109,346.
OSHA is a division of the United States Department of Labour that oversees occupational safety and health.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA strives to ensure safe and healthy working conditions by establishing and enforcing standards, as well as providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.
There has been no official statement from OSHA at the time of writing this report.
Other organisations that are closing their offices include the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), which is the legal team within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A report by Fierce Healthcare hyas indicated that OGC is closing six of its ten regional offices. This however does not appear to be mandated by DOGE.
The report stated that HSS regional offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle will close. In certain cases, these regional offices are located in government buildings that were temporarily added to the General Services Administration's (GSA) non-core property list last week. This list suggested that the government is willing to remove federal buildings from its national footprint.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could also be impacted by spending cuts, given that the US government is looking to divest from non-core properties.
It remains unclear how the employees working for these all of these agencies will be affected.
Saudi Arabia's building sector is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and the Kingdom plans to strengthen fire and life safety (FLS) standards by introducing new Saudi Building Code (SBC) and Saudi Fire Code (SFC) rules in mid-2025.
To prepare for these developments, AESG has reinforced its Fire & Life Safety section by hiring fire protection engineers, senior fire protection engineers, and principle fire protection engineers in Saudi Arabia.
This strategic expansion strengthens the firm's capabilities to assist complicated projects requiring extensive mechanical and electrical fire protection skills.
AESG is one of the few active Fire & Life Safety businesses in Saudi Arabia, and it is one of only two International Consultancy firms accredited by Civil Defence as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) representative and reviewer, demonstrating the firm's profound commitment to Vision 2030.
“Saudi Arabia’s rapid expansion of mega and giga projects has significantly increased the demand for specialized Fire & Life Safety expertise. These large-scale developments require meticulous and complex fire safety planning, both from a design and regulatory standpoint. The complexity of Saudi projects necessitates both robust local knowledge as well as international expertise to develop equivalencies and alternative solutions, allowing AESG to go beyond standard code compliance and deliver high-value, performance-based fire safety solutions,” said Saeed al Abbar, CEO at AESG.
In 2024, AESG was instrumental in improving fire and life safety rules and systems for some of Saudi Arabia's most famous constructions, including essential infrastructure, healthcare institutions, and luxury hotel projects. The business also engaged with developers on significant new projects, ensuring that cutting-edge fire safety technologies were included from the start. Collectively, AESG's initiatives have helped protect nearly SAR 30 billion in constructed assets in Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead, AESG plans to develop its Fire & Life Safety branch in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
“We are strengthening our advisory services in policy, procedures, and governance, leveraging expertise gained from giga-projects. Additionally, we will introduce specialised solutions for industrial projects, further enhancing our service offerings in the Kingdom. Our goal is to grow our team by over 25% while continuing to elevate service quality, client experience, and governance advisory. With the upcoming Saudi Building Code (SBC-201) and Saudi Fire Code (SBC-801) changes, AESG remains committed to guiding clients through compliance with practical, high-impact Fire & Life Safety solutions—designed to be simple, effective, and achievable” said Abdullah Faza, director - fire and life safety, Middle East at AESG.
The company's expansion strategy involves the hiring of Samer Mehran as Senior FLS Consultant for its Egypt location. Mehran contributes over 15 years of industry experience, strong technical understanding, and leadership to AESG's continuous expansion in the Middle East.
Also read: ILO praises Saudi efforts to enhance worker safety
Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest producers and retailers of electricity and heat, has used Flyability’s Elios 3 drone to create 3D models of restricted areas inside a decommissioned power plant, improving its understanding of locations deemed unsafe for human entry.
Once decommissioned, power plants often remain untouched for extended periods due to safety hazards and security concerns. Large industrial facilities present risks such as falls, head injuries, and confined space dangers. Additionally, the proprietary designs and operational methods of power plants require protection, leading to further restrictions.
Despite these constraints, companies must continue maintaining decommissioned plants. However, limited access makes it difficult to assess structural conditions, posing challenges for routine inspections and long-term planning.
The decommissioned facility, no longer in operation, had been repurposed as a training site for firefighters, but certain sections were still off-limits due to falling debris risks.
A long-time Flyability customer, Vattenfall saw potential in the Elios 3, an indoor drone equipped with a LiDAR sensor, for creating precise 3D maps of no-go zones. The company conducted test flights at the plant to determine whether the Elios 3’s simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) capabilities could generate usable models.
Using the FlyAware SLAM algorithm, the drone processed real-time LiDAR data, creating 3D visualisations of restricted areas. The collected data was later refined with FARO software for higher-resolution post-processed models, enhancing the team's ability to understand the facility’s layout.
The test flights focused on a deteriorating stairwell, an area deemed unsafe for human entry. The Elios 3 successfully navigated the confined space, flying 30-40 m (98-130 ft) up the stairwell while maintaining a strong signal and collecting high-precision data.
Vattenfall’s R&D team confirmed that both the SLAM-generated and post-processed models met their inspection needs, demonstrating the potential for broader applications across other decommissioned plants.
Anders Lindström, Digital Inspection Specialist in Vattenfall’s R&D Department, said,
“The LiDAR capability is a great addition to the Elios' capabilities and it is so far the only drone with LiDAR capability in this size segment”.
Without the Elios 3, personnel would have needed rope access or scaffolding to inspect the site manually, a process that could take weeks and incur high costs. Instead, the drone completed the task in just 30 minutes, showcasing significant time, cost, and safety benefits.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) celebrated the commitment of RAKEZ-based businesses to high standards of health, safety and environmental practices at the annual HS&E Excellence Awards and Nujoom Al Salama Programme.
The awards recognised the significant strides companies have made in enhancing their HS&E protocols, compliance and innovation as well as exemplary adherence to safety standards, reinforcing the economic zone’s position as a leader in promoting a safe and sustainable business environment.
Highlights of the event included the Green Shield Award, which was presented to companies including Al Dobowi, Anchor Allied Factory – RAK Branch, Future Architectural Glass, and Jaleel Essential Food Industries for their dedication to environmental sustainability. Meanwhile, the Eversafe Compliance Award recognised businesses that demonstrated exceptional commitment to HS&E compliance and innovation, with awards going to A G M, Auto Bus Laser, Berg Industries, Conmix Ltd Ind., Gumpro Drilling Fluids, Kings Tobacco, Millennium Lubricant Refinery, Peikko Gulf, RAK Petropack, World of Tents Middle East.
Anchor Allied Factory, Jaleel Essential Food Industries, Joroga Worldwide, and Sobha Modular Industries received the FleetSafe Award for their exemplary transportation safety measures, while companies driving innovation in workplace safety, such as Jaleel Essential Food Industries, Kirby Building Systems, and Knauf RAK, were honoured with the Horizon Safety Innovator Award for their groundbreaking approaches to risk management.
RAKEZ also acknowledged newcomers who have made significant progress in their HS&E practices within their first year of operation. Geo Offshore Middle East and Milestones Pro received the HS&E First-Year Achievement Award, reflecting their rapid adoption of best practices. The Consultant Contribution Award was presented to EHS Management Consultants, HSEI Middle East Safety Consultancy and Training, and Lifeline Safety Consultancy for their pivotal role in guiding businesses toward higher safety standards.
A special segment of the event was dedicated to RAKEZ’s Nujoom Al Salama Programme, the UAE’s first star-rating initiative for HS&E performance. Seven companies, including Ace Cranes Engineering, Hira Industries, Huhtamaki Flexible Packaging Middle East, KWC ME, Vertiv Gulf, and Vesuvius Ras Al Khaimah, achieved the prestigious 5-star rating, recognising their industry-leading HS&E standards. Arc Middle East, Guardian RAK, Maico Gulf, Ni Met Recycling, Pioneer Cement Industries, and Unipods received a 4-star rating, while Anchor Allied Factory – RAK Branch and Naturelle earned a 3-star rating.
RAKEZ Health, Safety & Environment director Binu Kalarickan said, “At RAKEZ, we are committed to fostering a culture where health, safety, and environmental responsibility are integral to business success. These awards celebrate the dedication and proactive efforts of our clients in implementing best practices, ensuring safer workplaces, and promoting sustainability. Their achievements reflect the collective commitment of the RAKEZ business community to upholding the highest HS&E standards, which ultimately benefit not just individual companies but the entire economic zone."
RAKEZ also recognised its government partners in fostering a safer work environment, with representatives from RAK Municipality, Environment Protection and Development Authority, RAK Civil Defence, and RAK Public Service Department present at the event.
Brady Corporation has opened a new production facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia to manufacture its quality identification and safety solutions
The new facility will produce high performance pipe markers, signs and identification solutions for Middle East construction contractors, oil, petrochemical, food and beverage companies. These are designed for reliability in challenging environmental conditions and can withstand exposure to oil, grease, chemicals, high heat, humidity or UV-radiation.
Brady’s new Dammam facility also includes a large warehouse to provide next day deliveries anywhere in the Middle East. Orders that need additional production, including larger volumes and customised pipe markers, signs and labels, can be produced and delivered within 48 hours.
The new facility will enable Brady to reduce shipping costs, optimise labour expenses and reduce delivery times.
“Thanks to our new local production capability and storage capacity, Brady will be able to respond quickly to emerging facility identification challenges anywhere in the Middle East,” said Christophe Nelissen, Middle-East & Africa senior regional manager at Brady Corporation.
“Leveraging Brady’s worldwide identification technology and know-how, production in Dammam is now ready to start manufacturing at worldwide quality levels, using state-of-the-art print engines.”
It is also envisaged that the new facility will generate additional economy and labour in neighbouring communities as it strengthens and increases its service levels to Middle East companies.
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), is playing a leading role in an occupational safety and health coalition committed to safeguarding workers in all industries to drive business success
The Intersociety Forum (ISF) of two dozen organisations, calls for employers to go beyond legal compliance and adopt risk-based safety and health strategies. The coalition has released a report that highlights several ways a business model of safety and health can create a strategic advantage that powers positive business outcomes.
By adopting proactive, risk-based safety strategies, businesses can unlock greater productivity, reduce costs and strengthen their global competitiveness, the report says. ISF urges today’s business leaders and policymakers to prioritise occupational EHS as a foundation of economic competitiveness. Embracing safety as a strategic priority will enable businesses to forge a safer, healthier and more prosperous future — one in which both businesses and workers thrive, and position the US as a global leader in safety, innovation and workforce wellbeing.
“We urge today’s business leaders and policymakers to prioritize environmental, health and safety practices as a foundation of economic growth,” said ASSP chief executive officer Jennifer McNelly, CAE. “When workers are protected from injuries and illnesses, they perform at their best, which fosters productivity, innovation and global competitiveness. Safety strengthens resilience and enables businesses to thrive.”
Despite advancements in technology, workplace injury and fatality rates have remained relatively flat for the past decade, the ASSP points out. In 2023, a worker died on the job every 99 minutes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In its report, ISF identified three core principles that help ensure workers return home safe and healthy every day. These principles are:
1) Standards and worker well-being; safety is not just about compliance; it is about creating standards that foster business success while promoting holistic worker health.
2) Embracing risk and safety management systems, which help organisations proactively mitigate risk and embed safety into every aspect of decision-making; and
3) Revolutionising recordkeeping for predictive insights; traditional lagging indicators only tell part of the story. Leading indicators empower organisations to predict and prevent serious injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
“This guidance that goes beyond compliance can bring life to workplaces across the nation, empowering workers to perform at their peak,” McNelly said. “There are benefits to reducing operational disruptions and maximising efficiency through a sustainable workforce. Simply put, safety is good for business.”
“It’s vital that the coalition has achieved meaningful cross-organisation collaboration to speak as one voice from the safety industry,” she added.