‘This conference is a good start in the right direction’

On the eve of the pioneering Regional Conference on Occupational Health being held in Muscat from December 11-13, His Excellency Hamed bin Hilal al Busaidi, Undersecretary of Labour, Ministry of Manpower, gives his insightful comments on the issue in an interview to OER

Your Excellency, could you cast some light on the objectives of the National Safety & Occupational Health Committee in your capacity as the Committee Chairman?

The Ministerial Decision No 145/2004 specified the objectives and responsibilities of the National Safety & Occupational Health Committee (NSOHC) as follows:

- Prepare the National Plan for Safety and Occupational Health.
- Examine the serious work-related accidents and determine ways to avoid them.
- Coordinate between the programmes adopted by the Ministry of Manpower, other ministries, the private sector and other parties concerned with Safety and Occupational Health.
- Apply benefits gained from successful experiments in the field of safety to all organisations to ensure that the work sites are more safe.
- Encourage studies and research in the field of Safety and Occupational Health.
- Act as an advisory body on Safety and Occupational Health issues.
- Cooperate with Arab and World Safety and Occupational Health organisations.
- Make comments on Occupational Safety laws and regulations.
- Encourage nationals to get involved in Safety and Occupational Health.

Oman attaches special importance to human resources development. To what extent do you think Occupational Health can support this trend?

The importance attached to safety and occupational health increases with the industrial and technological progress, diverse industries and varied manufacturing methods involved. Thus more concern is placed on safety and occupational health to secure suitable work environments and staff protection. The Ministry deems appropriate to encourage Omanis to get involved in this field and get the proper training.

The idea of organising the first Regional Occupational Health Conference crystallised at the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). How would you evaluate PDO’s efforts in this field as a leading organisation in embedding the concept of Occupational Health in general?

PDO is a leading and distinguished organisation at the national level. It pursues and spreads the concept of Occupational Health by participating in events inside and outside Oman.

How do you view PDO’s Health and Safety record bearing in mind the risks associated with the oil and gas industry?

PDO’s initiatives in this trend are useful and valued, as the company saves no effort to urge other companies — oil industry operators in particular — to boost the Occupational Health effort.

How far does the unique Regional Conference on Occupational Health serve the objectives of the National Safety & Occupational Health Committee?

This conference is a good start in the right direction to instil the concept of Safety and Occupational Health, and determine the strategies for the way forward.

PDO initiated, early this year, the establishment of the Road Safety Institute in coordination with the Royal Oman Police (ROP). To what extent do you think such an initiative could serve the company’s efforts in improving the road safety performance?

The institute is an excellent initiative, as it benefited from the PDO’s experience and road safety excellence to improve safety performance throughout the country. The Royal Oman Police too are playing their role to ensure the safety of people and educate them about traffic rules.

Do you think the conference on Occupational Health will motivate the private sector to focus more on occupational health?

The conference will indeed motivate the private sector, and the other parties concerned with this issue, to maximise their efforts and focus more on Occupational Health. This requires cooperation between the government and public sectors to instil the concept of Occupational Health in the minds.

What is the role the private sector should play in order to proceed with the implementation of the recommendations the conference is expected to issue?

The private sector should play a significant role to support the expected recommendations of the conference. It should comply with the Safety and Occupational Health requirements at all work sites, and promote such requirements so that the benefits can be realised by the individual and the community alike.

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