Deputy Premier patronises conference on occupational safety

Manama, Apr. 26 (BNA): Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa stressed the government's care for the health and safety of workers who are the core of development and productivity. He was speaking as he patronised today the opening of the third edition of the National Occupational Safety and Health Conference and Exhibition which is organised by the Labour and Social Development Ministry at the Gulf Hotel's Conference Centre under the theme "Towards an Effective Management of Work Environment Risk". The Deputy Premier stressed the need to exert more efforts to reduce work accidents amid the unprecedented development of production means from traditional and manual tools into complex modern ones. He underlined the importance of passing legislation and monitoring its accurate execution as well as organising awareness campaigns, intensifying training sessions and boosting the role of the risk management directorates in companies to lower the rates of accidents at work sites. The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out a decrease in the rate of work accidents over the past years which reflects efficiency of the government procedures to protect workers and ensure their safety. He added the Labour and Social Development Ministry has been keen to organise the conference at a time that coincides with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is celebrated on April 28, and the World Labour Day on May 1. The opening of the two-day conference was attended by ministers, senior officials, invitees and more than 300 participants. The event aims to boost awareness of the importance of promoting occupational safety and reducing the rate of work accidents, being the main pillar of the social protection system and sustainable development. Labour and Social Development Minister Jamil bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan pointed out a decrease in occupational accidents by 50% compared to the previous years. He stressed growing commitment to the summer outdoor work ban in hottest hours at construction sites to reach 98.7% in 2015, commending cooperation of private institutions with the ministry in this respect. He also pointed out the ministry's keenness to boost occupational safety and health by carrying out inspection visits to around 2000 labour homes nationwide to assess their compliance with the safety standards. The Labour and Social Development Minister thanked the Deputy Premier for patronising the conference which is of paramount importance in achieving the national goals aimed at protecting human resources and providing a safe and healthy occupational environment.