Riyadh to host occupational safety talks in May
RIYADH: The 7th Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference will be held in Riyadh from May 4 to 6, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The event will gather local and international leaders from governments, the private sector, and academia, to discuss the future of occupational safety and health, as well as challenges and opportunities in global labor markets.
The conference aims to promote a culture of safety by fostering dialogue on the latest trends, innovations, and best practices while sharing essential knowledge, the SPA reported.
Ahmed Al-Rajhi, Human Resources and Social Development Minister. (SPA)
It will focus on developing policies and preventive measures to enhance occupational safety and health, with an emphasis on the role of technology in improving workplace environments.
Saudi Arabia's Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmed Al-Rajhi said: 'The conference will address critical issues impacting work ecosystems and work on developing optimal frameworks.'
Al-Rajhi highlighted the event as a milestone in advancing global dialogue on occupational safety and health and improving compliance with standards at regional and global levels.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Smart Hajj: How authorities are preparing for crowd control
MAKKAH: Each year, the eyes of the world turn to Makkah, where millions of pilgrims from a range of nationalities, ethnicities and cultures gather in a remarkable spiritual gathering that symbolizes the unity of Islam. In this vast diversity and sheer scale, the foremost challenge lies in managing the movement of crowds in a brief timeframe and a geographically constrained area encompassing the Grand Mosque and the Holy Sites. Alhough Hajj is, at its core, an act of worship, safeguarding pilgrims and managing their movements requires meticulous planning, technical precision, and close coordination between security, health, service and technology organizations. The movement of crowds in Makkah and the Holy Sites is managed by a centralized, data-driven strategy that relies on real-time inputs from surveillance cameras, aerial monitoring and location-tracking applications. (SPA) Preparations for this year's season underscored Saudi Arabia's ability to integrate advanced technologies, institutional expertise, and forward-thinking initiatives to successfully orchestrate one of the most complex logistical operations in the world. The movement of crowds in Makkah and the Holy Sites is managed by a centralized, data-driven strategy that relies on real-time inputs from surveillance cameras, aerial monitoring and location-tracking applications. This integrated approach allows authorities to respond effectively to emergencies, proactively reroute pedestrian flow, anticipate congestion points and guide pilgrims with precision, ensuring the seamless and dignified continuation of rituals at every stage. Coordinating the movement of over 2 million pilgrims in such a densely concentrated setting is a remarkable global accomplishment by any standard. Akram Jan, Crowd management expert Crowd management expert Akram Jan spoke to Arab News about the efforts that went into organizing the Hajj season. 'Coordinating the movement of over two million pilgrims in such a densely concentrated setting is a remarkable global accomplishment by any standard,' he said. Saudi Arabia, he said, has become a global leader in crowd management, offering valuable insights for other countries. Crowd control for the pilgrimage includes carefully calibrated timetables, which significantly reduce congestion and enhance overall safety. He said that such crowd control is achievable only through high-level inter-agency coordination, intensive field team training, and the ability to respond swiftly to changing conditions on the ground. Hotelier Mohammed Hakim spoke to Arab News about how the Kingdom's Hajj and Umrah preparations have progressed over the years. These changes have redefined the sector, shifting it from a seasonal service model to a comprehensive, year-round industry. He said: 'It is now evident that the experience of pilgrims extends far beyond the performance of rituals; it has evolved into a comprehensive, well-orchestrated journey that meets the highest standards of service and excellence.' 'We are now in the era of 'Smart Hajj,' where crowds are managed through applications, meals are distributed via digital platforms, and the quality of camps and accommodations is continuously monitored through real-time sensors and data analysis,' he added. 'Pilgrim satisfaction is measured from the moment they arrive in the Kingdom until their departure, all with an unprecedented level of digital transparency. 'We are entering a new era for Hajj and Umrah — one that transcends boundaries and is no longer confined to specific seasons. It is driven by a vision of continuous growth, institutional integration, and human empowerment, moving toward a values-driven economy rooted in a deep commitment to renewal and progress.'
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Saudi Interior Ministry issues Hajj safety and security guide
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior on Tuesday published a comprehensive guide designed to ensure the safety, security and smooth movement of pilgrims during Hajj. It provides detailed instructions for the pilgrimage experience, including directions to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and maps of pedestrian routes and walkways leading to key ritual sites such as the Tawaf and Sa'i zones. To help manage the crowds and ensure orderly movement of pilgrims, the guide highlights peak times within the Grand Mosque and its courtyards, as well as guidance on the use of vehicles during Hajj season. It also explains crowd-management protocols, and stresses the important need for all pilgrims to adhere to designated grouping times when performing rituals during the various stages of the pilgrimage, including Tawaf, Sa'i and the stoning of the Jamarat. The ministry said the guide is designed to help pilgrims perform their rituals safely, easily and with peace of mind, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It reiterated that official regulations require all pilgrims performing Hajj to have a permit, and warned of penalties for any person who breaks these rules. Citizens and residents were urged to comply with all Hajj-related regulations and report any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other parts of the Kingdom. Click here to view the Hajj guide online. Hajj begins on Wednesday, June 4, and concludes on Monday, June 9.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia urges pilgrims to stay indoors during Hajj high point
Saudi Arabia's authorities on Tuesday have asked pilgrims performing Hajj to remain in their tents for several hours during the high point of this week's pilgrimage, citing high temperatures. Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq al-Rabiah has requested that pilgrims refrain from leaving their tents between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday on the Day of Arafat, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). For more Saudi news, visit our dedicated page. Al-Rabiah 'explained that the high temperatures on the Day of Arafat require pilgrims to remain inside their camps from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. to protect their health and prevent any heat stress,' SPA said. The Day of Arafat traditionally marks the high point of Hajj, when pilgrims scale Mount Arafat on the outskirts of Mecca. There, pilgrims assemble on the 70-meter (230-foot) high hill and its surrounding plain for hours of prayer and Quran recital, staying there until the evening. There is little to no shade on Mount Arafat, leaving pilgrims directly exposed to the harsh desert sun for hours. 'We warn against climbing mountains or high places on the Day of Arafat, as it causes extreme physical exertion and increases the risk of heat exhaustion,' the health ministry said in a separate statement carried by SPA. Temperatures this year are forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, bringing together devotees from around the globe, gets under way on Wednesday. Officials have beefed up heat mitigation measures hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's Hajj, which saw 1,301 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit). This year, authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square meters (12 acres), thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, al-Rabiah told AFP last week. As of Sunday, more than 1.4 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, officials said.
