Latest news with #NCOSH
Barnama
19-05-2025
- Health
- Barnama
NIOSH-NCOSH Collaboration To Develop National Institute Of Occupational Safety And Health In Saudi Arabia
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, through the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), will play a role in helping Saudi Arabia develop its newly established National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NOSHI). According to NIOSH, it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia's National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) during the 7th Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May 4 to 6. It said the MoU is one of the main achievements of the congress, attended by a Malaysian delegation led by NIOSH executive director Datuk Ayop Salleh, representing the country's commitment to strengthening occupational safety and health (OSH) practices through international cooperation. 'The MoU opens up opportunities for strategic cooperation in institutional capacity building, expertise exchange, training development, consulting services and joint research initiatives," according to NIOSH in a statement. The conference, organised by NCOSH, brought together leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders in the field of OSH from around the world. According to NIOSH, Ayob's involvement as a guest panelist at two main sessions during the congress also reflects Malaysia's increasingly recognised role in the international OSH landscape, particularly in efforts to align OSH policies with industry needs, sustainable workforce development and global standards. 'NIOSH records the highest appreciation to NCOSH for the warm welcome and excellent organisation of the congress. "This experience has further strengthened bilateral relations and demonstrated a joint commitment towards creating a safer, healthier and more productive work environment," it said. NIOSH also expressed its commitment to supporting the establishment and development of NOSHI and hopes that cooperation with Saudi Arabia can continue meaningfully and with a high impact in the future.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Saudi regulator teams with Singapore scientists for heat-resilient workplaces
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's key occupational safety and health body is partnering with a Singaporean research center to develop tools and strategies to protect workers from increasing heat risks in the region. Workplace safety and health risks are rising worldwide as heatwaves become more frequent and intense due to global warming and climate change. Addressing these threats is part of Saudi Arabia's commitment to modernizing labor standards and fostering a safer, more productive workforce under the Kingdom's broader Vision 2030 reforms. To strengthen the capability of managing workplace risks associated with high temperatures, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health has teamed up with the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. 'Heat stress is not only a health risk — it is also linked to increased workplace accidents and injuries ... Effective management of heat stress contributes to safer work environments, reduces incident rates, and improves productivity, benefitting both employees and employers,' NCOSH Secretary-General Majed Alfuwaiz told Arab News. 'The Heat Resilience and Performance Centre in Singapore is recognized as a regional center of excellence ... with a distinguished record of integrating technology, science, and policy. Their comprehensive model — including physiological monitoring, digital tools, and workforce training — provides a strong foundation that can be adapted to meet the Kingdom's specific needs.' The cooperation agreement with the Singaporean center was signed during the Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference hosted in Riyadh last week. 'Given the Kingdom's diverse climate — from high heat and humidity in coastal and desert areas to cooler summer temperatures in southern highlands such as Abha and Al-Baha — adaptive, evidence-based approaches are essential to designing effective interventions that reflect the environmental and geographic characteristics of each region,' Alfuwaiz said. 'As the Kingdom progresses with its giga-projects under Vision 2030, safeguarding worker health and performance is a national priority.' Saudi Arabia's labor market has been expanding rapidly, with the construction sector fueled by Vision 2030 giga-projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project. About 2 million people are employed in the industry, and many more are likely to find jobs in the coming years as the Kingdom prepares to host several major international events: the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, Asian Winter Games in 2029, World Expo in 2030, and FIFA World Cup in 2034. The World Cup alone will involve the renovation and construction of 15 stadiums in five cities, along with transport networks and hotel infrastructure. The Saudi-Singaporean collaboration in heat resilience will focus on policy and regulatory frameworks related to occupational heat exposure and developing standards and interventions. Dr. Jason Lee, associate professor at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine who leads the HRPC, said that while the Saudi regulator will tap into Singaporean expertise in heat resilience, researchers will be able to 'gain insights on how NCOSH supports mega-infrastructure projects with many workers under heat stress, potentially paving opportunities to develop and scale solutions to better safeguard lives and livelihoods.' In the long term, the cooperation plan includes establishing a regional center of excellence in heat resilience for the Middle East and North Africa. 'The Heat Resilience and Performance Centre will first determine specific research and educational activities related to heat resilience with our partners from the Kingdom, sharing, learning, and tapping into each other's strengths towards a common goal that is to heat-proof our people in this warming world,' Lee said. 'Extreme heat is beyond morbidity and mortality. In many parts of the world, chronic heat exposure significantly suppresses human health and potential ... Becoming heat resilient is ever so important if you want to thrive prospectively.'
Zawya
25-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
The Saudi Minister of HRSD and Chairman of NCOSH announces the seventh edition of the Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference
Riyadh hosts leaders in occupational safety and health from governments, academia and the business sector to shape the future of this vital field Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – His Excellency Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) and Chairman of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH), today announced the launch of the seventh edition of the Global Occupational Safety & Health Conference (GOSH7). This was done in the presence of prominent OSH leaders from government entities, the private sector and academic institutions, inside the Kingdom and around the world. The Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference will be held over three days at the Four Seasons Hotel Conference Center in Riyadh from May 4 to 6, 2025. It will serve as a scientific platform to present key topics related to the future of occupational safety and health (OSH), along with the challenges and opportunities facing global labor markets. GOSH7 aims to promote a global culture of occupational safety and health by enabling constructive conversations about the latest trends and innovations, exploring best practices and exchanging vital knowledge. The conference will also focus on the development of policies and preventive measures to support OSH excellence, and the role of technology in improving work environments and enhancing OSH awareness. In a statement marking the occasion, his Excellency Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of HRSD and Chairman of NCOSH, said of the event: 'The Kingdom is proud to convene the seventh edition of GOSH7 in Riyadh, as we explore key issues facing work environments and develop progressive frameworks. 'The conference has become an important annual event for OSH leaders, and we look forward to the seventh edition being the most international one yet. GOSH7 is an important milestone in elevating global discussions about occupational safety and health, and continuing the critical job of improving compliance with OSH standards here, regionally and around the world.' His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Nasser Abuthnain, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor at the Ministry of HRSD, and Vice-Chairman of NCOSH, added: 'Strong and resilient labor markets are the backbone of economies around the world, and as work environments evolve, it is critical that we collaborate closely to adapt to the challenges, grasp the opportunities, and enhance workplace health and safety. 'I look forward to welcoming our partners from around the world to Riyadh for the upcoming GOSH7 conference to discuss the key issues facing global labor markets, foster economic prosperity and seek to build safe, sustainable and future-ready work environments.' An exciting new element at GOSH7 is a hackathon, which will bring together specialists from around the world to develop innovative solutions to enhance occupational safety and health practices. In addition, the hackathon is designed to identify and define practical ideas and solutions that contribute to raising global health and safety standards. The final element driving GOSH7 is the creation of a framework for occupational safety and health for the world that is in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and that defines the Future of Occupational Safety & Health.
