A presentation that I presented today 06/03/2012 in Saudi Safety and Security and Fire Conference held in Dahran International Exhibitions and Conference Center. As a forum of HSE professionals and business managers conferencing,we came up with agenda for promoting safety in the Saudi construction sector. Sincerely, Eyad Sallam Email: eyadas@eim.ae

1. Saudi Arabia Construction Sector Safety Culture
Transformation
Challenges & Recommendations
Presented By : Eyad Sallam
Corporate HSEQ Manager
Al-Khodari Group.

2. Construction Industry in KSA
 Widely recognised within KSA of being one of the most
dangerous business sectors.
 After traffic accidents, construction industry counts for
the 2nd major source of fatalities in the Kingdom.
 Tremendous growth in KSA in the construction sector
means more risks.

3. KSA Construction Safety Culture
KSA Construction Safety Culture is the
overall perceptions, interactions and
continuous interest and efforts towards
protection of people and assuring zero
accidents, by the construction sector
population and business decision makers

4. Challenges to KSA Construction Sector
Safety Culture
- No unified HSE standards
- Low budgets for HSE training. Project managers
and
business makers are cash conscious.
- Shortage of professionals.
- Needs regulatory enforcement on HSE
requirements (similar to OSHA).
- Barriers or fear to report incidents ( more reporting,
more experience).
- Absence of technical and HSE experts in incidents
investigations.

5. Recommendations To Face Challenges
 For projects where the client and the contractor makes targeted and
visible efforts to manage health and safety, accident frequency
rates can be reduced.
 Mandating the deployment of more competent HSE professionals in
construction sector.
 Forming a committee from construction HSE experts and business
decision makers to establish and enforce a unified HSE standard for
KSA Construction Sector.
 Deliver health and safety awareness seminars to the business
decision makers and how HSE will add value (Saudi Society of
Safety engineers is a promising project, and Aramco efforts are
visible). But efforts from all sectors are needed.

6. Recommendations To Face Challenges
 Form dedicated institute to qualify Saudi HSE
professionals for Construction Industry.
 Construction industry to benefit from oil and gas
industry.
 Inspirational leadership from business managers to
implement behavioural safety leadership with
employees.
 Focusing on leading safety indicators rather than lagging
indicators.
 Construction sector business managers are encouraged
to implement safety award and motivation systems.

7. KSA HSE Culture Positive
Transformation/Indicators
 Many parties started collaboration to formulate HSE mandates on
industries: MOL, GOSI, and Saudi Safety Engineers society.
 MOL supports safety of employees by ministerial decrees ( e.g, decision #
1559 of 1431 H) that mandates a break for workers(working under direct
sun) from 12- 3 pm for July & August to protect them from heat stress.
Effective from 2011.
 More companies are applying for OHSAS 18001 compliance.
 Reduction in occupational accidents by 7.6 % from 1429 to 1430, and by
6.5 % from 1430 to 1431. and statistics in progress.
 More involvements of MOL, MOH, civil defense, Aramco(big efforts in
driving safety), etc in driving HSE culture in the Kingdom.
 New organizations dedicated to driving HSE are formed, like Saudi society
of safety engineers.
 Construction companies are more interested in employing HSE managers.
 More HSE training companies are opening and the demand is quite good.
 It’s mandated that all government bodies employ HSE officers.

8. Is HSE Part of Your Business Decision
Making?
If you are a business manager, ask yourself:
- Do you allot a budget for HSE training?
- Do you make HSE part of your projects planning?
- Do you resource HSE professionals for your new projects?
- Do you promote HSE steering committees?
- Do you evaluate your staff based on their HSE commitments and
performances?
- Do you respond genuinely to HSE legal requirements?
- Do you talk about HSE in business meetings?
- Do you lead by example ?
- Do you not allow any workers start without HSE induction?

9. Thank You For Listening