Saudi Arabia Hosts Global Conference On Occupational Safety, Sets Future Standards

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) recently wrapped up the sixth edition of the Saudi Global Conference for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), which took place from May 5 to 7. Under the theme "Scanning the Horizon", the event saw an impressive turnout, with over 8,000 attendees from around the globe and more than 100,000 participants joining virtually. The conference served as a platform for over 169 key speakers to discuss more than 15 specialized OSH topics, sharing insights into both regional and global best practices.

This year's conference highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts and leading experiences in the OSH sector. It focused on legislative, regulatory, and executive initiatives designed to enhance this critical area. An exhibition running alongside the conference provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of OSH's history and development, emphasizing the council's contribution towards achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 goal of making the Saudi labor market more attractive, safe, and sustainable.

Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of NCOSH, inaugurated the council's new website at the conference's outset. This online platform is set to offer a plethora of services, including training programs for work accident and injury investigators, as well as for occupational diseases. Additionally, it will support the documentation and reporting of related incidents and accidents, alongside providing specialized training programs.

The conference was graced by delegates from the International Labor Organization, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), ministries from several Gulf nations, and attendees from Djibouti, Mauritania, Comoros, and Somalia. A significant outcome of this gathering was the signing of 16 memoranda of understanding and agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation in OSH. Among the key recommendations made were to utilize Saudi Arabia's digital transformation successes to improve OSH systems worldwide, foster knowledge exchange with international organizations, and encourage organizations to prioritize OSH standards.

Several prominent entities including the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco), the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), and the Saudi Aramco Nabors Drilling Company (SANAD) sponsored and collaborated to ensure the conference's success. This collective effort underscores a strong commitment across various sectors to advancing occupational safety and health standards in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

With inputs from SPA