Bahrain is committed to promoting safe work environments and reducing occupational hazards, noted a top minister.
Ongoing national efforts to develop labour legislation to enhance occupational health and safety standards and implementing best practices to ensure safe and sound workplaces were highlighted by Legal Affairs Minister and acting Labour Minister Yousif Khalaf.
In a statement marking World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed on April 28, Mr Khalaf emphasised that protecting the health and safety of workers across all productive sectors is a priority in the labour development pathway, recognising workers as a fundamental pillar of the production fields.
He noted the importance of developing a culture of occupational health and safety, noting that the availability of health and safety standards and systems encourages higher productivity among workers, supports their professional development, advances their businesses, and contributes to the continuity of production processes and the growth of the national economy.
The minister also underscored the importance of adopting proactive measures to reduce occupational accidents, selecting safe and suitable machinery and technologies for the work, and ensuring workers comply with the use of safety equipment and personal protective gears.
He emphasised the ministry’s commitment to intensifying inspection and monitoring at workplaces, strengthening the role of occupational health and safety supervisors, and training and qualifying more national specialists in health and safety to achieve safer, accident-free work environments.
Mr Khalaf further noted the ministry’s keenness to strengthen co-operation with all relevant authorities to reduce occupational risks and hazards, and to enact relevant legislation and regulations.
Among these is the ministerial edict prohibiting outdoor work during peak midday hours, which has been extended to cover three months, from June 15 to September 15, starting this year.
He called on employers to continue adhering to the prohibition on outdoor work during the designated hours, urging them to reschedule working hours to comply with the edict and avoid cases of heat stress, sunstroke and other summer-related illnesses.
He also commended the high compliance rates achieved by establishments in implementing the midday work ban in previous years.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work is aimed at preventing occupational illnesses and accidents in the workplace.
The day is an initiative of the International Labour Organisation to raise awareness of the value of providing a safe and healthy work environment for everyone.
This year’s theme is ‘Revolutionising Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalisation at Work’.
The theme emphasises how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are changing the world of work.
This includes examining the opportunities and difficulties presented by sophisticated robots, AI and machine learning, exoskeletons, the Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality and unmanned aerial vehicles.
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