Advancements In Workplace Safety Celebrated At Health Hackathon Closing Ceremony

Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor and Vice President of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thanin, graced the closing ceremony of the Occupational Safety and Health Hackathon on Tuesday evening. The event, which unfolded over three days at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, saw participation from over 600 individuals and attracted around 2,120 attendees. It was a collaborative effort between the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health and Umm Al-Qura University, drawing in a wide array of participants from occupational safety and health professionals to students and innovators keen on workplace safety advancements.

During the ceremony, Abu Thanin underscored the significance of partnerships in enhancing workplace safety regulations within the Kingdom. He announced the establishment of a research and innovation center in collaboration with Umm Al-Qura University aimed at elevating safety and health standards in the Saudi labor market. Abu Thanin emphasized that this center would provide "a stimulating environment" for researchers and innovators to devise new solutions for improving occupational safety and health in workplaces. He also highlighted how safe work environments contribute significantly to better employee performance and living conditions.

Prof. Muadi bin Muhammad Al Madhab, President of Umm Al-Qura University, reiterated the university's dedication to promoting scientific research and innovation. He mentioned programs designed to support entrepreneurship and empower researchers, students, specialists, and innovators. These initiatives are intended to transform innovative ideas into projects that contribute to the knowledge economy, meet the demands of local and global job markets, and align with Saudi Vision 2030's objectives.

Abu Thanin also unveiled five research grants worth SAR200,000 provided by the Center for Research and Innovation in Occupational Safety and Health to support field research. He shared insights into the positive impacts of collaborative efforts, including a 30.7% reduction in workplace injury rates over six years, an increase in occupational safety and health specialists to 23,971, the creation of over 11,171 new jobs in the sector, with an ambitious target of reaching 45,800 specialists by 2025. Additionally, he mentioned the launch of 16 training programs aimed at raising awareness about occupational safety and health issues.

The hackathon showcased applications of advanced technologies in tackling occupational safety and health challenges through various means such as educational technology, augmented and virtual reality, logistics, supply chain management, property management systems, transportation technology, healthcare technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and AI. Forty teams consisting of students, innovators, and researchers competed in this event which also included workshops, panel discussions, and dialogue sessions.

The winning teams announced were "Nabh", "ParaVest", "Thod", and "FMA". This hackathon marks a significant step by the Center for Research and Innovation in Occupational Safety and Health towards fostering sustainable solutions for occupational health and safety challenges. It was inaugurated by Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and President of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health during the 5th Saudi International Conference on Occupational Safety and Health in 2022. This initiative reflects the council's commitment to empowering qualified leaders and promoting technical innovation to enhance workplace environments across all sectors.

With inputs from SPA