Muscat: The Ministry of Manpower, in cooperation with the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates – Madayn, organised yesterday (Monday) a meeting at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat to highlight details of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) awareness initiative that targets the industrial firms. 

The officials pointed out that the initiative aims at emphasising on the significance of embodying occupational safety and health at work environments, motivating private companies to instill the concept of OSH, enhancing partnership between the Ministry of Manpower and the private sector to advance OSH in the Sultanate, and contributing to the success of activities held to celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work in the coming April.

In its first edition, the initiative aims to target the companies in the industrial sector in coordination and partnership with Madayn. The meeting with the representatives of the industrial firms discussed details of the participation mechanism and the objectives of the initiative that focus on promoting a safety culture at the work environment. The industrial firms have the opportunity to participate through making a video that highlight OSH related aspects including preventive action that leads to saving lives, embodying OSH concept in the industrial facilities, successful crisis management, among other aspects. 

Elaborating on the initiative, Ahoud Al Ghafri, Industrial Safety Engineer at the Ministry of Manpower pointed out that the ministry is introducing the first edition of this initiative in cooperation with Madayn to strengthen partnership between the ministry and the private sector in several fields including occupational safety and health. Al Ghafri added that the results of this initiative will be highlighted during the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is annually celebrated by the ministry.

On the role played by Madayn in this initiative, Eng. Basim Al Zadjali, senior health, safety and environmental health specialist at Madayn stated that Madayn seeks to focus on the fundamental principles of occupational health and safety through awareness initiatives that target the industrial firms. “Madayn also plays a role in training the representatives in charge of risk assessment and dealing with emergency incidents. Additionally, Madayn undertakes inspection and supervision operations on a regular basis to monitor safety procedures, ensure health and safety compliance, and follow up occupational incidents and disease records,” Al Zadjali pointed out.