Regional Coverage
Regional Coverage
- Details
- Louise Waters
- North America
- Region: North America
- Date: 26 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) causes challenges for many industries, with the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry being one of the most affected, says MSA Safety
Hydrogen sulfide is a highly flammable, toxic and corrosive gas found in several industries including oil and gas, wastewater and chemical processing, which cannot reliably be detected by smell.
Oil, gas and petrochemical facilities handle raw ‘sour’ gas and oil which are naturally high in H2S. Extraction and refining processes release H2S, which may accumulate in confined, poorly ventilated spaces like processing units, pipelines and storage tanks. Closed systems with high-pressure conditions amplify the risks for workers.
Exposure to high levels of H2S can be fatal, leading to loss of breathing, coma, seizures and death. It is the second most common cause of fatal gas inhalation exposure in the workplace, second only to carbon monoxide.
H2S can also be harmful at low concentration levels, causing headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulties and a sore throat. These health impacts can become more serious with prolonged exposure.
The health impacts of H2S depend on how much is inhaled and for how long. The recommended exposure limit set by NIOSH (the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) for ten minutes is 10 ppm.
However, some U.S. states have developed ambient air standards for H2S well below OSHA and NIOSH standards due to concerns about health risks from chronic exposure.
For longer exposures to H2S, the recommended limits are much lower. For example, if you are exposed for up to 24 hours, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a maximum exposure of 0.1 ppm.
In response to concerns about the risks of H2S to human health even at low concentration levels, some countries have introduced equally stringent guidelines requiring businesses to monitor H2S at such concentrations.
Balancing safety and operational efficiency is an ongoing challenge in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. Some are tackling this challenge by integrating new technological solutions into their safety management practices and seeking out effective preventative measures, including regular training and effective ventilation. The use of Personal Protective Equipment is also important.
A particularly helpful method for avoiding excessive H2S exposure is constant monitoring by advanced gas detection systems such as MSA’s ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector, which can give an early warning of even subtle increases in H2S concentration, helping companies stay ahead of potential risks. The company has recently updated this to offer the option of a low-concentration hydrogen sulfide sensor that can detect H2S at very low levels.
Connected gas detection devices can help an organisation significantly improve worker safety by providing real-time monitoring of gas levels and worker location and behaviour, enabling safety managers to monitor the situation remotely and take immediate action if gas levels become or get close to becoming dangerous. This proactive approach to safety can help prevent accidents and foster a culture of safety within the organisation.
As with all toxic gases, early detection of H2S is an excellent way to alert safety managers to small increases in H2S emissions so they can help workers avoid harmful exposure, even at low concentrations.
- Details
- Matthew Hayhoe
- Middle East
- Region: Middle East
- Date: 25 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
Weeks after HIMSS recognised its Dammam hospital with Stage 6 certification, Saudi German Health welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Minister of Health, H.E. Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel, to its Makkah hospital.
Saudi German Health's vice chairman, Makarem Sobhi Batterjee, said the company was "deeply honoured to welcome... the Saudi Minister of Health to SGH Makkah.
"This visit highlights our long-standing commitment to enhancing the nation’s healthcare services by adopting a holistic approach that combines compassion and innovation.
"At Saudi German Health, we aim to advance the strategic objectives of ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ by delivering personalised care, guided by our guiding ethos of ‘Caring Like Family’. On this occasion, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our incredible team for making this achievement possible."
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- Middle East
- Region: Middle East
- Date: 24 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
Encardio Rite, a leader in geotechnical and infrastructure health monitoring, is set to host Safe Dubai 2025 in collaboration with the Society of Engineers – UAE.
The event, taking place on February 27 at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai, will focus on advancing infrastructure resilience and safety amid the city's rapid urban expansion.
Bringing together top industry experts, policymakers, academics, and innovators, Safe Dubai 2025 will provide a platform for exchanging insights and shaping a roadmap for long-term infrastructure sustainability.
The event comes at a time when the global geotechnical engineering market, valued at US$2.57bn in 2023, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% through 2030, reflecting the rising demand for advanced engineering solutions in high-risk environments.
Building resilience
Dubai’s skyline, home to iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Metro, stands as a testament to engineering excellence.
However, as urbanisation accelerates, there is an increasing need to prioritise safety, resilience, and sustainability in construction.
Safe Dubai 2025 will address critical topics such as resilient infrastructure development, cost management, risk mitigation, global best practices, AI’s role in construction, and sustainability in urban planning.
With its reputation as a global leader in urban transformation, Dubai has the opportunity to set a new benchmark in infrastructure resilience.
Safe Dubai 2025 aims to drive a multi-disciplinary dialogue, ensuring that innovation, safety, and sustainability remain at the forefront of the city’s development strategy.
“Dubai continues to lead the world in urban innovation, ensuring the safety and longevity of its infrastructure is paramount. Infrastructure safety is about people – reliable roads, buildings, and transportation networks directly impact public safety, economic stability, and quality of life,” said Arushi Bhalla, managing director, Encardio Rite.
“Safe Dubai 2025 is not just about engineering excellence; it is about creating a sustainable future where technology, resilience, and safety work hand in hand to shape the cities of tomorrow.”
Bhalla, who will be present at the event, will discuss topics surrounding the UAE's construction landscape & trends, UAE projects Encardio Rite are currently working on, the need for construction safety monitoring & reducing site uncertainty in urban development, impact of tech on the sector, green construction practices, and industry best practices and the latest innovations.
Key topics that will be addressed at Safe Dubai 2025 include: building a resilient infrastructure, managing costs, risk management, global best practices, how artificial intelligence is revolutionising the construction sector and sustainability in construction.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- Europe
- Region: Europe
- Date: 21 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
The 2024 European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER) provides fresh insights into workplace risks across Europe, with musculoskeletal disorders, psychosocial stress, and digitalisation emerging as key concerns.
The survey, conducted across all sectors, highlights persistent challenges, such as prolonged sitting and repetitive movements, while also revealing the increasing impact of modern work practices on occupational safety and health.
Musculoskeletal risks remain dominant, with 64% of workplaces citing prolonged sitting as the most common issue, followed closely by repetitive hand or arm movements, reported by 63%.
Additionally, 52% identified lifting or moving heavy loads as a significant risk. The growing prevalence of remote work—up from 13% in 2019 to 23% in 2024—has further contributed to concerns about ergonomic hazards and digital workplace risks.
Psychosocial risks have also become a major challenge, particularly in service industries. More than half of surveyed organisations (56%) identified dealing with difficult customers, patients, or pupils as a key issue.
However, 25% of organisations still fail to acknowledge psychosocial risks, a shortfall that underscores the need for targeted interventions.
Worrisome trends
Reflecting on the results, EU-OSHA executive director William Cockburn stated, “25% of organisations still fail to recognise the presence of psychosocial risks, highlighting a significant shortfall in addressing these important issues. This underlines the importance of our upcoming Healthy Workplaces Campaign, launching in 2026, which will focus on tackling the impact of psychosocial risks at work on workers’ mental health.”
Among workplaces that recognise psychosocial risk factors, 21% find them harder to manage than other occupational safety and health (OSH) risks. Perceptions vary by country, with Sweden (38%) and Denmark (37%) reporting the greatest challenges.
Employee participation in designing measures to mitigate psychosocial risks has declined slightly, dropping from 61% in 2019 to 55% in 2024.
Digitalisation is increasingly influencing workplace safety, with 43% of organisations incorporating digital technologies into their risk assessments, a rise from previous years. Spain and Slovenia lead the way, with over 60% of workplaces considering digital risks in their assessments.
Training on digital technology usage has also expanded, reaching 42% of workplaces overall and 75% in Malta.
Companies are also reporting new risks associated with digitalisation, including increased work intensity (34%), information overload (32%), and blurred boundaries between work and personal life (27%).
Encouragingly, consultation with employees on the impact of digitalisation has improved, with 35% of workplaces engaging workers on these issues—up from 24% in 2019.
These preliminary findings mark the beginning of a deeper analysis of ESENER 2024 data.
Additional reports will be published through 2026, offering further insights into the evolving landscape of workplace risks in Europe.
- Details
- Louise Waters
- Middle East
- Region: Middle East
- Date: 20 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Saudi Arabia’s Dammam Airports Company (DACO) have announced a collaboration to improve fire safety standards
This is designed to advance fire prevention and raise awareness of fire risks, and will entail the delivery of education, training, and certification for fire safety professionals. It will see DACO incorporating global best practices and developing new safety protocols, benefiting from NFPA expertise.
Through this agreement, DACO will gain access to NFPA educational and training resources as well as certification programmes. DACO fire and life safety specialists will also receive NFPA membership, enabling them to participate in relevant industry events and the ability to review standards and codes as needed. The collaboration will also leverage insights from the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem, a framework designed to reduce risks and prevent injuries, fatalities, and property losses caused by fire, electrical, and other hazards.
Mansour F. Al-Otaibi, chief financial officer at DACO said, “We are delighted to collaborate with NFPA to provide professionals in fire and life safety with access to world-class education and training on safety codes and standards, enabling us to create the safest possible environments. With the aim to enhance the Kingdom’s aviation sector, maintaining the highest fire and life safety standards remains a top priority to ensure the safety and well-being of both our employees and the public.”
Michael Brunzell, vice president of global business development at NFPA, added, “We are excited to team up with DACO to help them further improve fire and life safety standards. As infrastructure development continues to grow in the region, it’s vital for governments, professionals, educational institutions, and industry leaders to work together to maintain the highest safety standards. This partnership will help create a strong network where fire safety professionals can stay informed with the latest resources, enabling them to ensure safer environments for all.”
The US-based NFPA is stepping up its collaboration with Saudi Arabia to advance fire and life safety standards in line with the country’s rapid development. It set up an office in Riyadh last year to enhance direct collaboration with Saudi authorities and local stakeholders, as well as to act as a hub for safety initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa. Through it, NFPA is looking to play a key role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s mega-projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya which are central to the Vision 2030 plan.
- Details
- Matthew Hayhoe
- Middle East
- Region: Middle East
- Date: 19 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
The Abu Dhabi City Municipality recognised workers at the Jubail Island project and LEAD Development for completing 12 million man-hours without a lost time injury (LTI).
Engineer Abdulla Saeed Al Shamsi accepted the award, saying it "underscores the successful collaboration between our team, our partners at GCC, and all stakeholders. Prioritising the safety and well-being of our workforce is paramount.
"We are committed to maintaining the highest health and safety standards, and this award reflects the dedication and hard work of everyone involved."
The 12 million man-hours were achieved exclusively by the project's infrastructure workforce.
Upon completion, the Jubail Island project will comprise six residential villages centring around sustainable living in luxury.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- North America
- Region: North America
- Date: 18 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
A bipartisan group of 10 legislators has introduced a series of bills aimed at bringing New Mexico into multiple interstate health care compacts.
These agreements would allow physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, dentists, dental hygienists, emergency medical personnel, audiologists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists licensed in other states to practice in New Mexico without undergoing a lengthy in-state licensing process.
The push to join these compacts follows a key recommendation from Think New Mexico, a nonpartisan think tank, in its 2024 report on addressing the state's health care worker shortage. Interstate compacts streamline licensure by enabling states to recognise professional licenses issued by other participating states, making it easier for out-of-state health care professionals to work in New Mexico, including through telehealth services.
Currently, 41 states participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact for physicians, while other health professions have similar agreements with widespread adoption across the country.
Neighboring states such as Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, and Texas have all joined at least five interstate health care compacts, creating a more mobile workforce.
In contrast, New Mexico has only participated in one—the Nurse Licensure Compact—since 2003. This compact has been vital in maintaining hospital staffing, particularly in rural and border regions, where up to 80% of nurses at some facilities rely on multistate licensure.
Protecting patients
The proposed legislation has gained support from a broad coalition of organisations, including AARP-NM, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters New Mexico, the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, New Mexico Voices for Children Action Fund, and the New Mexico Public Health Association.
Additionally, governing boards and professional associations for the covered health care fields, such as the New Mexico Medical Board and the New Mexico Medical Society, have endorsed the initiative.
These compacts include strict safeguards to protect patients. For example, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact allows state medical boards to retain control over the licensing process and deny recognition of licenses if necessary. It also provides access to a centralised database of disciplinary actions and requires fingerprint-based FBI background checks for physicians.
By adopting these compacts, New Mexico aims to strengthen its health care workforce, improve access to care, and ensure that qualified professionals can practice in the state without unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.
Joining the interstate compacts would immediately expand the supply of health care providers available to care for New Mexicans,” said Fred Nathan, Jr., executive director of Think New Mexico. “A remarkably broad coalition has come together to support the passage of these compacts. For example, the Interstate Medical Compact for physicians is supported by both Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops. In fact, only one special interest stands in the way of New Mexico joining these compacts and opening its doors to more health care workers: the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association.”
- Details
- Matthew Hayhoe
- Middle East
- Region: Middle East
- Date: 17 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has awarded Dammam's Saudi German Hospital with a Stage 6 certification, recognising its role in healthcare innovation.
Specifically, the certification recognises its implementation of electronic medical records and wider digital infrastructure.
Saudi German Health's vice chairman, Makarem Sobhi Batterjee, said the certification "validates our unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare by utilising technology for the benefit of our patients and the broader community.
"This achievement demonstrates our ongoing efforts to provide high-quality, tech-enabled healthcare solutions that prioritise safety, efficiency, and exceptional patient care."
- Details
- Matthew Hayhoe
- Middle East
- Region: Middle East
- Date: 14 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
The new Operational Skills Development Program for Women aims to empower women, equipping them with the operational skills and knowledge required for successful careers in the water industry.
The training initiative covers all three pillars of HSE awareness, laying the groundwork with foundational technical training on a six-month programme.
Upon completion of the course, participants will have their performance evaluated before formal employment opportunities may be presented at various ACCIONA plants across Qatar, including the Ras Abu Fontas RO desalination plant.
Over 30% of ACCIONA's Qatar operations and maintenance workforce is currently comprised of women, but the organisation nonetheless remains committed to social development through the empowerment of women.
- Details
- Sania Aziz
- North America
- Region: North America
- Date: 13 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
AI-powered Integrated Operations Platform Motive has unveiled new AI features intended to tackle drowsy and distracted driving, one of Mexico's biggest traffic safety issues.
Safety managers can now proactively address driver weariness and other risky behaviours to increase fleet safety with Motive's AI-powered Forward Collision Warning and Drowsiness Detection, which have been introduced to the Mexican market.
In Mexico, driver weariness poses a serious concern to road safety. The Mexican Institute of Transportation (IMT) claimed that driver behaviour, particularly distracted and sleepy driving, was responsible for about half of all traffic collisions in 2023. Drivers are pushed to their limits by long driving hours, which are made worse by a lack of workers.
This leads to harmful behaviours including crossing into oncoming traffic, making unsafe lane changes, and being involved in fatal collisions.
Motive has introduced advanced AI-driven safety features designed to tackle driver fatigue and prevent collisions, enhancing overall road safety. Integrated with Motive’s AI Dashcams, these innovations proactively detect drowsiness and potential crashes, offering real-time alerts to drivers and safety managers.
Key features
The AI-driven feature identifies both early and advanced signs of driver fatigue, such as repeated yawning and prolonged eye closure. Once these indicators are detected:
- Drivers receive immediate in-cab alerts, encouraging them to take necessary breaks.
- Safety managers are promptly notified, allowing them to intervene and reinforce rest periods.
- If a driver begins to nod off, the system issues an urgent alert to wake them and prevent a possible accident.
Rear-end collisions, often caused by distraction or drowsiness, can now be significantly reduced with Motive’s AI-powered Forward Collision Warning. This system, available with all Motive AI Dashcams, continuously assesses vehicle speed, following distance, and estimated time to impact. When a driver approaches another vehicle too quickly, it triggers an alert, allowing them to brake in time. Studies show that such warnings can reduce rear-end crashes by 27%.
Motive’s technology generates alerts for these behaviours three to four times more frequently than competing solutions, giving fleet operators greater visibility into driver performance.
Organisations using Motive’s AI Dashcam have seen up to an 80% reduction in accidents, a 30% drop in accident-related expenses, and a 21% decrease in insurance costs.
Motive is further refining its safety tools with the upcoming Driver Fatigue Index (DFI), which will analyse multiple fatigue indicators such as yawning frequency, lane deviations, eye movement, unusual speed changes, total driving hours, and environmental factors.
The AI-powered drowsiness detection and forward collision warning capabilities integrate directly into Motive’s platform, equipping transportation, logistics, and fleet operators with the necessary tools to mitigate safety risks.
Also read: Intersec 2025 sets new benchmark for global safety and security
- Details
- Leah Kelly
- Europe
- Region: Europe
- Date: 13 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
It is nearly time for the doors to open on Offshore Network’s inaugural North Sea Health, Safety and Environment conference (HSE North Sea) which will make its debut this summer in Scotland.
Building on the success from previous HSE forums produced by Offshore Network (HSE GOM, HSE MENA and HSE KSA), the inaugural conference will deliver deep insights and analyses from Europe’s leading offshore industry experts covering diverse topics under the HSE umbrella.
With a focus placed on urgent HSE challenges offshore, delegates will spend two days gaining insights into the latest pioneering technologies dutifully addressing these factors and have the opportunity to learn even more with 10 bespoke tech demos.
An array of sessions and panels will take place over the two-day affair, including an exclusive key note address by Dr. Fawaz Bitar, Senior VP HSE & Carbon at bp. Other representatives from Ambrey, bp, IOGP, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Mental Health In Energy, Shell, and the UN Environment Programme will also be taking to the stage to deliver talks on safety culture, regulation navigation, emerging challenges, and mental resilience within the industry.
More than 150 delegates will descend into the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen on 11-12 June, 2025, to share knowledge and connect with operators, government representatives, experts and technology developers. With eight dedicated networking events and two exclusive breakout workshops, HSE North Sea provides unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and innovation in an ever-changing sector.
For more information about speaking, sponsorship or delegate packages, please contact Gabrielle Foster at:
- Details
- Matthew Hayhoe
- Europe
- Date: 12 February, 2025
- Year: 2025
The UK's Health and Safety Executive inspected 13 production operators across the North Sea as part of its Process Safety Leadership Principles (PLSP) programme; it has now published its findings and uncovered the risks that remain amongst offshore companies.
The PSLP were developed after the Executive flagged concerns about stagnating safety standards to the offshore industry in 2018. They cover management and regulatory skills to improve and ensure safety on sites.
Inspections took place between January 2022 and May 2024; industry leaders were also engaged with to determine exactly how the safety leadership principles were being embedded throughout project lifecycle stages. The final report, reflecting the outcome of the inspections, quality assessments and actionable next steps, has now been published.
Samantha Peace, director of the HSE's Energy Division, reported that "offshore companies are now engaging with one another on an unprecedented level... firms were looking at themselves, identifying areas of improvement, engaging with other companies and above all, finding solutions."
While these successes are, of course, critical to ensuring that safety regulation is not snubbed moving forward, the report found "several consistent themes" where safety was dismissed or lacking, and that the themes "were not unique to individual organisations."
One such shortcoming was the dwindling workforce, which has in turn sparked a decrease in knowledge and competency within operator workforces.
Despite the final inspection taking place in May of 2024, Samantha affirmed that the HSE "will continue to question companies on how they are implementing PSLP and whether they are still collaborating with other firms on the same level we witnessed during the programme."
The report itself promises "anonymous feedback... on any common trends or themes," identified by the Executive moving forward.