Energy minister, Bapco receive UK HSE delegation

Manama, Mar. 21 (BNA): Energy Minister Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, and Bapco executive management have received a high level delegation from the U.K. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Awali to discuss ways of collaboration in the areas of occupational health and safety. The minister welcomed Dr. Richard Judge, HSE Chief Executive and his team Dr. Bill Nixon, International Commercial Director; Elaine Harbour, Head of International Liaison – Middle East, to the Kingdom of Bahrain and Bapco. "The HSE has always been positively impacting the health and safety practices not only in the UK but also beyond" H.E. Dr. Mirza noted. "We value the existing relationship Bapco maintains with the HSE and hope it grows," Dr. Mirza added. Dr. Judge commended Bapco for not only achieving world class health and safety performance but also maintaining such performance. "We at the HSE congratulate Bapco for achieving 16.62 million employee-hours without a lost time injury which a clear testimony of Bapco leadership commitment to health and safety" Dr. Judge continued. In his presentation, Dr. Judge outlined the HSE scope of activities and how occupational health and safety legislations evolved over the years in the UK from the regulator managing risks to businesses managing their own risks. He also gave an overview of the HSE recent initiative which is set out to influence systems through the "Helping Great Britain Work Well" strategy which is based on six themes. This strategy helps ensure Great Britain maintains its world-class health and safety record, whilst also maximising the wider benefits that the system can bring. "There are many lessons learnt from the developing and rolling out of this strategy which I believe can benefit the Kingdom of Bahrain in reducing work-related injuries," Dr. Judge said. Opportunities for further development between HSE and the Kingdom of Bahrain will be developed following the visit. Dr. Mirza praised HSE initiatives and wished the HSE success in their endeavor to improving the health and safety practices worldwide.