Saudi Arabia's ascent in global workplace safety

Arab News

4 days ago

This week, Saudi Arabia is taking the stage at the 25th Global Conference of the International Occupational Risk Prevention Foundation in Cartagena, Colombia.
Saudi Arabia's National Council for Occupational Safety and Health has been nominated for the ORP Recognition 2025 — an award previously given to global institutions like the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization. It is a moment that reflects just how far the Kingdom has come in the field of workplace safety.
But this is not just about recognition. It is a chance to share the progress we have made, build new partnerships, and invite international stakeholders to take part in the journey ahead — including the upcoming GOSH8 conference in Saudi Arabia next year.
The nomination comes on the back of sustained national effort. Over the past six years, workplace injuries in Saudi Arabia have fallen by 30.7 percent and occupational fatalities by 70.6 percent.
These outcomes are supported by one of the region's most active inspection regimes, with more than 411,000 supervisory visits conducted in the first quarter of 2025 alone. The compliance rate with occupational safety and health requirements now stands at 73 percent, showing that reforms are being implemented effectively.
Today, Saudi Arabia ranks among the safest labor markets globally, recording 242.2 injuries per 100,000 workers. Behind these numbers is a wide-ranging approach that includes new regulations, strong enforcement, and a serious investment in awareness and prevention.
One example is the national rule banning outdoor work during peak summer heat hours — a policy designed to protect workers from rising climate risks. Another is the mandatory health insurance requirement for all private sector workers, ensuring access to medical care.
NCOSH has also launched 16 awareness programs in eight languages, contributing to an increase in worker awareness of occupational hazards to 72 percent. Together, these steps are changing workplace culture.
The momentum was on full display in May, when NCOSH hosted the seventh global Conference on Occupational Safety and Health in Riyadh. Themed 'The Future of Occupational Safety and Health,' the event brought together over 12,000 participants from 60 countries.
It was the largest event of its kind in the region, featuring more than 80 technical sessions — including workshops and panel discussions — with the participation of over 190 speakers from around the world, alongside a global safety hackathon that engaged more than 1,000 innovators from nine countries, and the launch of several major initiatives — including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a national incentive program to reward excellence and compliance and the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health Award.
That commitment was further recognized in July, when NCOSH received the Mukaidono Safety Award at Expo 2025 in Osaka. This honor celebrates organizations that deliver tangible improvements in workplace safety, and it reflects the Kingdom's progress in policy reform and real-world impact.
All of this ties back to Vision 2030, and to the leadership of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Saudi Arabia is making it clear that worker safety is a foundation for sustainable economic growth and a future-fit labor market.
The challenges we face today — from climate change and mental health to the rise of flexible and freelance work — do not stop at national borders. That is why we are committed to working with others, listening, and sharing what we have learned.
Saudi Arabia's approach to occupational safety is still evolving, but we are moving forward with purpose, with openness, and with a clear goal to make every workplace safer for everyone.
• Majid bin Ibrahim Al-Fawiz is the Secretary General for the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH).