This evening, the work and activities of the Saudi International Conference for Occupational Safety and Health in its sixth edition, which was held in Riyadh from 26-28 Shawwal 1445 H corresponding to 5-7 May 2024 G, under the title "Exploring the Horizon", were concluded, organized by the "National Council for Occupational Safety and Health", and under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Eng. Ahmed Sulaiman Al Rajhi, and by the participation of a number of Their Excellencies, officials and specialists, and local and international experts.

The conference witnessed the exchange of expertise and experiences and viewed best practices in the occupational safety and health sector at the local and global levels. It was followed by more than 100,000 interested people via live broadcast, and the attendance of more than 8,000 visitors from around the world during the three days of the conference. The conference discussed more than 15 specialized topics in active dialogue sessions, with the participation of more than 169 main and specialized speakers about the main themes targeted by the conference in this edition. Moreover 49 training workshops were provided along with accredited certificates.

The conference addressed the Kingdom's efforts and leading experiences in occupational safety and health, and its legislative, regulatory and executive journey to empower the sector. The exhibition accompanying the Conference reviewed the history and development of occupational safety and health, and the Council's roles in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 related to raising the attractiveness of the Saudi labor market and promoting its safety and sustainability.

At the opening ceremony of the Conference, His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health inaugurated the official version of the website of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, which includes several services, including the training program for investigators in accidents and injuries at work and occupational diseases, documenting reports and the results of investigations related thereto, and specialized awareness training programs.

This conference comes in partnership with a number of partners and sponsors, most notably the following: The General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) as a founding and organizing partner, in addition to King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), and Saudi Aramco Nabors Drilling (SANAD) as strategic partners.

The exhibition accompanying the Conference was attended by 15 partners and sponsors and 25 exhibitors from local and international entities in the public and private sectors, which contributed to exploring innovative models, advanced technologies and modern practices that enhance the sustainability of work environments and worker safety. It included an exhibition of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health to present the most prominent initiatives and efforts of the Council to enhance the reality of occupational safety and health in the Kingdom, in addition to two other exhibitions, the first for innovation, which reviews innovative solutions in protecting workers and reducing the risks of the work environment, and the latter, an exhibition for simulation Which helps to improve the performance of occupational safety and health within the work environment.

 In addition, 16 memorandums of understanding and agreement were concluded to promote cooperation in the field of occupational safety and health. Representatives from the International Labor Organization, the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Labor in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and a number of representatives from the ministries of labor from the Gulf countries, Djibouti, Mauritania, Comoros and Somalia were also present at the conference. Bilateral meetings were held on the margins of the conference with representatives of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, with the purpose of improving the reality of occupational safety and health at the local and international levels.

Recommendations at the conclusion of the conference included: Exporting the Kingdom's experience in developing the occupational safety and health system at the international level, especially in the field of digital transformation, cooperating with international organizations and entities to exchange experiences and knowledge that contribute to the development of the field of occupational safety and health, develop incentives for entities and institutions to comply with occupational safety and health requirements, sharing the Kingdom's experience in the National Program for Reporting and Investigating Occupational Accidents and Injuries and Diseases, and hosting workshops at the regional level to empower workers in the occupational safety and health sector, and empowering the Safety Council and Authorities Occupational health to meet the challenges coming as a result of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, develop legislation to ensure the compliance of small and medium enterprises with occupational safety and health requirements, establish a Gulf committee, center or body for occupational safety and health to benefit from the Kingdom's initiatives in facing challenges and enhance compliance with occupational safety and health requirements.