A unique joint evacuation drill conducted by BAPCO and Bahrain Civil Defence/Fire Brigade will be the highlight of the Bahrain Health, Safety & Environment Forum, to be held from 17-18 June at the Wyndham Grand Manama, Bahrain
Building on the success of previous events in Dubai and Kuwait, the Bahrain Health, Safety & Environment Forum takes place under the patronage of the Bahrain Ministry of Labour and Social Development, and will provide a platform for the sharing of ideas and expertise on critical issues across the spectrum of health and prevention, safety, risk management and environment.
Researched and developed by Health, Safety & Security Review Middle East magazine, the event will provide valuable insights into effective health and safety programmes, highlighting best practices, process improvements, technology advances and innovative applications to enhance occupational health and safety performance.
First of its kind joint evacuation drill
A highlight of the Forum will be a first of its kind joint evacuation drill, bringing together the world-leading expertise and capabilities of BAPCO and Bahrain Civil Defence / Bahrain Fire Brigade. It will showcase several elements of excellence performed by the Civil Defence / Fire Brigade and BAPCO’s HSE team, with Civil Defence / Fire Brigade overseeing the whole operation. Key figures behind the initiative are Jack Waldron, working at heights specialist, BAPCO, and Captain Hamed Swar, head of the Fire Brigade.
“Mock evacuation drills have featured at health and safety events before – but this unique collaboration is in quite a different league,” said Martyn Black, head of Events and Training at Alain Charles Publishing. He explained that the drill will have no less than four different elements to it:
–Rescue and recovery from height
–Rescue and recovery from smoke-filled and confined space
–Rescue assistance using mobility tools and implements
–Pre-medical treatment onsite, pre-transfer.
Reflecting the high-level support from BAPCO and Bahrain Civil Defence, Ahmed Khalil, director HSE, BAPCO, will give the opening keynote address at the Forum, and Bahrain Civil Defence (Fire Brigade) will present on fire prevention and hazmat (hazardous material).
Bahrain may be a small country, but it punches above its weight in terms of health, safety and environment standards. At the session on safety, Hesham Abdulla, head of safety at Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA), will speak on the company’s culture of ‘extreme ownership of safety’ which engages the entire workforce in the commitment to achieving the highest safety standards. Also speaking will be Ali Mahdi, an occupational engineer at the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, who will address the role of legislation in controlling occupational accidents. A panel session will discuss the critical role of leadership in promoting an effective safety culture.
The business benefits of having a happy and healthy workforce are increasingly recognised. A session on health and prevention, moderated by Dr Maha Shehab, general secretary, Bahrain Health and Safety Society, will cover health risk assessments in workplaces and providing comprehensive healthcare through integrated and curative services.
In the area of risk management, Mazharuddin Shaikh, safety engineer, Kuwait Oil Company, will present on barrier-based inspection and training for excellence in risk management.
With the Fourth Industrial Revolution having a transformative impact on the workplace, a strong theme will be the role of modern technology in improving overall performance. A session on the future of OHS in the digital age will explore the use of drones for site inspections and risk reduction; IoT to enable companies to monitor potential hazards within the working environment; reducing risks using the EHS 4.0 framework; smart and connected firefighting systems.
“Health and safety practices continue to evolve in the Middle East,” said Soumen Chakraborthy, conference producer. “EHS professionals need to keep pace with the latest trends, technology and best practices to create a healthier and safer workplace while adapting to changing demographics in the workforce. It is also vital to learn how data analysis and new technology can prevent illness and injury.
“The Bahrain HSE Forum 2019 will bring together visionary speakers from multiple sectors amidst an audience of industrial hygienists, occupational health professionals, EHS specialists, safety professionals, risk management professionals, and others responsible for safety, health, and the environment at their organisations.”
For further information, see the website at www.hse-forum.com
