HSSE Review Magazine April - June 2015 by Adaikkappan

aPRIL - JUNe 2015

Promoting Health Safety Security & Environment

QataR sets GLOBaL staNDaRDs fOR WORKeRs’ WeLfaRe

● KEEPING A WATCH ON EARTH HOUR • HEART ATTACKS - THE NUMBER ONE KILLER

• DO CCTV CAMERAS HELP PREVENT CRIME?

CONTENTs HEALTH

6 8 10 12 14 16 17 18

1040 BEDS BY NEXT YEAR: SCH REPORT HMC TO INCREASE HOSPITAL BEDS AND PARKING SPACES HEART ATTACKS: THE NUMBER ONE KILLER THREE HOSPITALS BEING BUILT EXCLUSIVELY FOR SINGLE WORKERS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME HELPS REDUCE WAITING TIME FOR PATIENTS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE -THE SILENT KILLER THE NATIONAL HEALTH STRATEGY GOALS AND PROJECTS SEHA PUTS QATAR AT THE FOREFRONT OF GLOBAL INITIATIVES

SAFETY

IOSH – Chartered body for health and safety professionals

NEW WELFARE standards set for CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

27 28 30 34 38

International traffic medicine conference to be held in November Raising Awareness on Children’s Safety in Cars ABB’s Proactive Approach to Safety New and Revised: Qatar Construction Specification 2014 SAFETY is not by ACCIDENT

ISSUE: 1 ● April - June 2015

SECURITY

42 44 46 48 50

FOCUS ON co-operation against CYBER THREATS PARKING LOTS to come under SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS Can surveillance cameras help prevention of crime? ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SECURITY GUARDS Collective Action against Cyber criminals

WHAT’S NEW

74 75 76

The Edge Picture Company opens Doha office Volvo - New service offered for ‘Safest Cars in the World’ Petrotec committed to Safety

ENVIRONMENT

52 54 56 59 60 62 65 66 68 70 72 73

Karwa Goes Green International Day for Celebrating freshwater ISO 14001: Maintaining Environmental Sanctity Working Towards A Brighter, Greener Future Jotun Green Step - For a more colourful world Letting the sun Work for Qatar EARTH DAY 2015 Exploring Key Dynamics of Building Smart Cities Proper Waste Treatment and Disposal Methods Home Automation Living in the Future SEOUL Succeeds in WWF’s EARTH HOUR Challenge 2015 Tarsheed campaign saves QR 600mn for Kahramaa

Disclaimer: While great care has been taken to ensure that all articles in the HSSE REVIEW magazine, readers should be aware that the content is not intended as to be a substitute of informed medical advice or care. Readers must not use the information in the magazine to diagnose or treat a health issue and therefore HSSE REVIEW bears no responsibility or liability for actions taken by readers pertaining to these matters. HSSE REVIEW has the right to edit and publish correspondence. Views and opinions expressed by the writers are their own and need not be necessarily endorsed by the publishers. HSSE REVIEW endeavours to publish accurate information and updates in every section at the time of going to press. However, the magazine does not accept any liability in case of unintentional errors.

+974 4005 3800

+974 4006 1888

Email: info@primedia-qatar.com

www.primedia-qatar.com

Promoting Health Safety Security & Environment

Chief Executive Officer Aldrin Menezes Editor Khalid Ahmed Mohanna Production Manager Adaikkappan Palaniappan Graphic Design Pavithran OP, Ajith Compilation Management Abdul Shukkoor E.A IT Sowmya G. Sales V.L.S. Naraayen Circulation Glynnis Vaz Consulting Editor G. J. Williams Published by

From the Publisher

ealth, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE) regulations in the Gulf region in general and Qatar in particular have become increasingly stringent in recent times and the need to confirm to latest international standards has never been greater. HSSE rules and regulations has become a part and parcel of every day working life for every industry be it Oil & Gas, petrochemical, construction, telecoms, automobiles, medical or hospitality etc. Even schools and homes are known to be following better HSSE standards. HSSE REVIEW is the first magazine to be published from within the GCC region devoted exclusively to promoting HSSE. Printed quarterly from Qatar, the magazine is written by a team of international experts, well experienced in their respective fields aimed at keeping you abreast with the latest products and services within the industry. HHSE REVIEW is targeted at all HSSE managers, decision makers and senior executives of relevant government bodies and major public and private corporations. The magazine is circulated through a professional distribution network to a specific audience and also made available at major HSSE conferences and seminars in the GCC.

Tel: +974 4005 3800 P O Box: 36022, Doha, Qatar editor@hssereview.com www.primedia-qatar.com For Advertising and Subscription contact: info@hssereview.com Printed at: Doha Modern Printing Press Copyright ÂŠ 2014-15 All rights reserved no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, without the prior written permission of Primedia Qatar WLL. HSSE REVIEW thanks the Ministry Culture, Arts and Heritage, (License number 5192 dated 22/12/2014), Supreme Council of Health, Qatar News Agency and all local news agencies, especially the Gulf Times Newspaper, for being the first information source for some local news and pictures.

As a HSSE manufacturer, distributor or service provider, the magazine offers you with a perfect media pathway to prospective customers with economical ease and reliability. Furthermore, HSSE REVIEW provides organisations with an excellent opportunity to increase brand awareness and recognition of their product and services. We invite you constructive criticism and suggestions in helping us promote and create a greater and better awareness of Health, Safety, Security and Environment in Qatar and the region. Happy reading!

Aldrin Menezes

Chief Executive Officer

1040 Beds By NEXT YEAR SCH REPORT

atar will have 1,040 new hospital beds by next year, according to the annual report released by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH). A further 2,148 new beds will be added between 2017 and 2022.

6 health

The report details the actions that SCH and its partners are taking to reform the healthcare system and its efforts to meet 405 published national reform targets. It said that over 38mn free key health services were provided to the public last year. The reforms target reduced reliance on the hospital sector through more primary and community-based care and increased reliance on the private sector. Launching the report, HE the Public Health Minister Abdulla bin Khalid al-Qahtani said: “We began this publication so that we could methodically and publicly take stock of our progress in the health sector.” The year 2014 had seen an unprecedented level of activity from the SCH and its four public partners, the Primary Health Care Corporation, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners and the National Health Insurance Company.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

In 2014, they opened seven new and refurbished facilities and advanced the construction of 25 health centres, 11 hospitals, and 82 other new and refurbished facilities for opening between 2015 and 2022. “By next year alone, SCH and its partners will add 1,040 new hospital beds. The SCH has approved the opening of a further 2,148 new HMC beds between 2017 and 2022,” the report said. “Bringing the country’s 2022 planned total to 5,578 hospital beds, this is well ahead of the 5,686 beds required by 2033 as projected in the Qatar Healthcare Facilities Master Plan 2013-2033, launched by SCH on 1 July 2014.” The plan presents the country’s longterm healthcare demand and supply plans, based on official population projections, the Qatar National Master Plan, and international best practice. Since the plan’s publication, the SCH has already received and approved additional facility and bed proposals by the private sector. In 2014, the SCH licensed 219 private sector facilities, the highest number yet, and added 168 private providers to the national health insurance network.

Among the highlights of the 2014 report are: over 38mn free key health services provided to the public; region’s first patient-centred longterm care facility opened; 100% of Qatari nationals covered by Seha, the new national health insurance scheme; a new colorectal cancer screening programme launched; a new community mental health service hub started; achievement of up to 94% satisfaction with public hospital care; achievement of up to 99% satisfaction with public primary care; world’s first 48-hour cancer referral target on track; ambulance response rates targets met for the second consecutive year and E-Jaza national sick leave system launched. An independent study over the same period and published on April 3 by 24/7 Wall St, an online financial news and opinion agency, ranked Qatar as the world’s healthiest country based on 21 system and health indicators. The SCH and its partners intend to improve these results. “They will continue expanding and remodelling provision. The public can play a key role in meeting our healthcare ambition through improved health behaviour which SCH is supporting through the launch of Qatar’s largest national health promotion campaign. 

health

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

HMC to Increase HOSPITAL BEDS and PARKING SPACES The number of hospital beds across HMC will increase from 2,100 to over 4,200 while car parking spaces will increase from 8,000 to 24,000 between 2015 and 2030.

amad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced a 15-year facilities master plan which will see a doubling of hospital beds and tripling of parking spaces. Between 2015 and 2030, the number of hospital beds across HMC will increase from 2,100 to over 4,200 while car parking spaces will increase from 8,000 to 24,000.

8 health

A number of new hospitals and other facilities, which are under construction, will be completed soon while several other projects are under planning. Patients will also benefit from increased healthcare services as the number of specialist clinics and the operating theatre capacity at HMC will be more than doubled during this period. Between 2015 and 2030, specialist clinics will increase from 400 to over 1,000 and the operating theatre capacity will increase from 40 to more than 90. The details of the master plan were announced recently by HMC managing director Dr Hanan al-Kuwari at a press conference. Hamad al-Khalifa, chief of facilities at HMC; Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, deputy chief of Medical, Academic and Research Affairs and director of Medical Education, HMC; Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, medical director,

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Hamad General Hospital; and John Smith, head of Facilities Planning, HMC, were present. Dr al-Kuwari described the master plan as “a major expansion and modernisation of the country’s healthcare infrastructure and service delivery model which will result in extensive and lasting benefits to the patients and the nation”. “Qatar is a modern and rapidly evolving country and its citizens and residents deserve easy access to sophisticated services and facilities as well as high quality healthcare,” Dr al-Kuwari stated. “By bringing our Doha facilities together onto one unified campus, HMC’s expansion plans will bring comprehensive and integrated services and facilities to patients, visitors and our staff as well as providing the best environment to attract, retain and inspire the best talent. The new facilities are expected to turn the country into an international hub of healthcare services and facilities,” the official explained.

The plan is one of the region’s largest healthcare expansion includes development of an integrated, nationwide network of hospitals, services and care centres.

Theatre Facility, extension of Paediatric Emergency Centre, Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, Simulation Centre, Specialist Clinical Centre, the Hamad Bin Khalifa Translational Research Institute, the new Trauma and Emergency Department and Women’s Wellness and Research Centre. Many of the new facilities will be in the Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City.

HMC officials pointed out that the new plan would expand and unify HMC’s current sites to enhance the Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City (HBKMC) into a high-tech healthcare, research and education district in central Doha. Major features of the new HBKMC campus include unified clusters of clinical services, enhanced access for public transport including metro rail, more hospital beds and additional parking facilities. The master plan also aims to transform HMC’s service delivery in areas outside of Doha with a network of new ambulatory care centres across Qatar. Hubs for secondary care will also be created at Al Khor, Al Wakrah, and Cuban Hospitals using the model of one programme of care across multiple sites. The plan also includes a significant expansion of HMC’s services outside of Doha, bringing care and services patients need closer to them.

The budget for the extended nine-month period up to December this year entails an expenditure of about QR164bn with focus on health, education, infrastructure and transport sectors as well as projects related to FIFA World Cup 2022. Gardens, covered and air-conditioned walkways, open spaces and a bridge over C-Ring road to connect hospitals of the central Doha sites are some of the features of the master plan HMC. It aims to develop HMC’s current hospitals at the central Doha sites into one, integrated complex. According to officials of the HMC, the latest and most advanced healthcare facilities and services will be made available to the people of Qatar when the new healthcare projects under HMC are completed, turning Qatar into a hub of medical services. At least 12 new projects are under construction while several others are in the planning stage as part of efforts to boost the healthcare facilities and services by HMC.

In addition, there will be expanded and renovated facilities within Hamad General Hospital, Women’s Hospital, Heart Hospital and Al Khor Hospital. There are also plans to expand its medical staff, clinics and hospital beds outside Doha by increasing the capacity of Al Khor and Al Wakrah hospitals. HMC is also building five new diagnostic and treatments centres that will run clinics for a range of issues including diabetes, internal medicine, orthopaedics, rehabilitation and imaging outside Doha. HMC officials said the current central Doha site of HMC will also have a metro railway station which will add to the convenience of the people. They added that the covered air-conditioned walkways and the landscaped areas of the site will encourage patients, staff and the visitors to walk through the complex. 

The new facilities under construction includes the Communicable Diseases Hospital, Ambulatory Care Centre, Bone & Joint Centre Outpatients Department, extension of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Operating

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

9 health

View of the proposed Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, Metro Square.

There are a number of projects in the planning stage which will soon get into the implementation stage. They are Al Shamal Hospital, New School of Clinical Sciences, New Tertiary Hospital, New Cancer Hospital, Ambulatory Speciality Centre, Al Wakra Master Plan, New Al Wakra Psychiatric Unit, Al Maha Children’s Development Centre, Al Wakra, New Ambulance Service Headquarters and expanded Ambulance Services, New Blood Donor Unit and expansion of Blood Bank services, increased car parking facilities, Breast Triple Assessment Clinic at the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research and new Diagnostic and Treatment Centres.

There were about 1,600 heart attacks last year making it the number one killer in the country. Moreover, Qatar’s addiction to fast food is causing an epidemic of the coronary disease in the young and has made even women vulnerable to heart attacks.

HEART ATTACKS: the Number ONE KILLER 10

health

ver 3,000 patients last year underwent coronary angiography to diagnose their illness and half of these patients required medical interventions such as stenting, according to experts at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Of the total angiograms performed last year, 2.5 percent were on people aged below 30 years and some 25 percent were in the 30-40 age group. An even more alarming factor is the rise in heart diseases among young people. More than 10,500 patients were seen at Hamad’s Heart Hospital last year and Of the 533 Qataris who were given an angiogram more than 30 percent were women. The ratio of women among expatriates (200 out of over 2,600) was relatively low due to the predominance of men in the expat population. Qatar’s addiction to junk food is causing an epidemic of heart diseases in the young and has made even women, who are less likely to

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

develop heart attacks, vulnerable to the disease. Dr Omar Al Tamimi, a senior consultant at the Heart Hospital said, “We have concerns about the growing fast food culture in the region and are advising people to reduce the habit of eating out and instead opt for healthy, home cooked meals It is essential to fight the lure of eating out and stick to a healthy diet.” Diabetes, hypertension and smoking are major risk factors associated with heart attacks in Qatar. Healthy diet and regular physical exercise are two important preventive measures. The Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Heart Hospital’s first annual Cardiothoracic Surgical department report revealed that 84% of the cases treated by the unit included male patients and 16% involving female patients, while their average age was 55 years. The publication, published by the cardiothoracic surgery team, openly discusses operative complications in line with medical practice in Western developed countries, demonstrating the hospital’s and the Corporation’s commitment to perform thorough reviews of all medical care practices. The Cardiothoracic Surgery department has four consultant cardiac surgeons and two consultant thoracic surgeons. The Heart Hospital’s inpatient section includes a 12-bed ward and seven Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for cardiothoracic surgery. According to the new report, Video Assisted Thorascopic Surgery (VATS) was used in around 40% of the operations performed by the team.

More than 36 robot assisted coronary artery bypass surgeries have been performed to date. rates and helps with a faster recovery time. “The Cardiothoracic Surgery department of Hamad Medical Corporation is based at the Heart Hospital, which opened in September 2011,” Heart Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgery chair Dr Abdulaziz al-Khoulaifi mentioned adding: “This is where both adult cardiac and thoracic surgical cases are performed. This annual report is an important step towards informing the public and the wider medical community about our work and achievements.”

The surgeon is able to view the instruments that are being used along with the anatomy on which the surgeon is operating.

To date according to the report, a total of 36 robot assisted coronary artery bypass surgery, which started at Hamad General Hospital in 2009, have been performed while two cases of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) programme that started at the Heart Hospital in October last year have been successfully performed and the programme is recruiting more patients for the procedure.

The use of VATS, which is a form of surgery on par with international standards and being used in around 35% of cases in the UK, reduced infection

Furthermore, the report also summarised the important post-operative outcomes of patients who have undergone open heart surgery.

VATS is a type of thoracic surgery performed using a small video camera that is introduced into the patient’s chest via a scope.

An important aspect of the report is the consistent implementation of a risk scoring/stratification model that assesses the risk of any open heart procedure in adults. The model is called the Euroscore and is the most robust risk stratification model in use worldwide. It forms the basis on which patients are assessed and treated before, during and after open heart surgery. Heart Hospital chief executive officer Dr Lionel Jarvis said: “This report gives us a chance to reflect on the great work done by the team in the previous year, our first full year of operation at Heart Hospital, as well as allow us to look at areas to focus on in the years ahead.” 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

11 health

The annual report is an important step towards informing the public and the wider medical community about our work and achievements.

Three hospitals Being Built Exclusively for single workers

12 health

hree hospitals that are being built, exclusively for single workers, in the Doha Industrial Area, Mesaieed Industrial City and Ras Laffan will have large clinics to provide occupational health services, a top official of Supreme Council of Health (SCH) said. “These clinics will provide all occupational health services for all the workers, thereby minimising the risks associated with their works,” explained Dr Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad al- Thani, director, Public Health, SCH, on the sidelines of a training programme on basic occupational and environmental health services. “The occupational health hazards are common to both white collar and blue collar workers. Proper care and services can lower the deaths due to

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

occupational hazards as well as accidents that might keep the employees away from work for long time.” Pointing out that occupational health hazards are common to all professions, the official observed that doctors can be affected through the use of syringes and contract some contagious diseases whereas engineers might face accidents on the work sites. The training SCH is offering will help in facing such hazards. “The SCH is looking to build occupational health capacity by training the primary care physicians or more accurately, physicians of first contact for expanding and improving occupational health services to protect, promote and maintain health of the large population of expatriate male

Dr Mohamed Ali al-Hajaj, head of Occupational Health Services at SCH said that the training is done in five modules in cooperation with the East Mediterranean Regional Office of WHO. “This is the second module and the first one was completed last year. The third and fourth one will be competed in March and May and the last one will be towards the end of the year. We have representatives from Primary Health Centres, Red Crescent and private hospitals.” The SCH official also said that the training will be an ongoing process. “ In the present module, 30 general practitioners are participating. The trained doctors, in turn, will train the other doctors. This will be an annual event hereafter.” It is estimated that about 2.6bn people belong to the global workforce and according to ILO, over 2mn die each year from occupationally related diseases and injuries. Another 160mn suffer from nonfatal diseases and 270mn from nonfatal injuries that occur annually. This leads to a loss of about 4% of the global gross domestic product.

New Communicable Diseases Hospital to be opened soon The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will soon open a new Communicable Diseases Hospital that will provide excellent healthcare services and academic research. The state-ofthe-art hospital will be located within the Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City to care for patients with serious infectious diseases. Dr Hanan al-Kuwari, managing director of HMC said: “It is expected that the new hospital will be completed by the third quarter of this year. Most probably we will be able to complete the other formalities and the commissioning of the hospital within a short period of time. We expect that it will be operational by late 2015 or early 2016.”

Nuclear medicine facilities to be expanded Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will be able to administer advanced nuclear medicines when the new facility for its Cancer Care Centre is completed, according to a senior official. HMC will soon have advanced equipment for nuclear medicine such as Positron Emission Tomography Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PETMRI) which is available only in very few countries, Dr Huda al-Naemi, executive director, Occupational Health and Safety, said on the sidelines of the sixth Gulf Nuclear Medicine Conference. The conference was held in Doha for the first time. Nuclear medicine is used for the treatment of several diseases, including cancer. Dr al-Naemi, however, pointed out that it is mainly used for detection of diseases and to identify the extent of a disease in a patient. “Nuclear medicine is the method of treatment through the use of radioactive materials inside the body of patients either by injection, inhaling or orally. This is used to cure several diseases especially cancers, like thyroid cancer.This treatment is used to cure a patient without surgery. This is more effective to cure tumours depending on the stage of the cancer. If it cannot be cured by this medicine, it is referred for surgeries and other treatments.” Dr al-Naemi said this mode of treatment is practised in HMC. “However, it is done only at a certain level. Presently we have the facility only up to the level where patients, administered with radioactive materials can be sent home. “In certain cases, the patient needs to be provided higher doses of nuclear medicine and cannot be released from the hospital as others can be affected by radiation. In Hamad, we do not have the facility for accommodating such patients. They are sent abroad for such treatment. This will be implemented in future when the new stateof-the-art facility for the cancer care centre comes up.”

The official also said that the quality of the images, made available through nuclear medicine needed improvement. Dr al-Naemi said that nuclear medicine used to be called “unclear” medicine but no more. “It was unclear even for healthcare providers some 30 years ago. The idea is to have the material absorbed into the body of the patient and the patient will emit radiation. It is safe and is in use for more than 50 years as the amount of radiation is very limited,” she added. Dr al-Naemi pointed out that the workshop for quality control of the nuclear medicine equipment had overwhelming participation. “Quality control of the equipment is very important for better quality of the images. Many delegates had come mainly for this particular workshop. We were not able to accommodate all, as the seats were limited. We will have another one for GCC countries very soon. This conference also provided an opportunity for the participants to discover Qatar’s achievements in nuclear medicine, particularly the use of state-of-the-art technologies within HMC, such as the Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/ Computed Tomography (CT) and the cyclotron machines, used in medical imaging for diagnosis and treatment. The availability of such modern technologies has benefited many patients in Qatar who would otherwise have to travel abroad.” More than 350 delegates took part in the conference and about 20 world renowned speakers gave presentations during the conference. The GCC Nuclear Medicine Society was formed 12 years ago and Qatar has been a member since the launch of the society. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

13 health

labourers, primarily in the construction industry, who have limited access to healthcare services and may operate in hazardous environments,” Dr Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani added.

According to D Abdullatif al-Khal, deputy chief of Medical, Academic and Research Affairs and director Medical Education, HMC, the new hospital will contribute to scientific research and healthcare excellence in the country. “The new facility will have 65 beds in single rooms which have the capacity of being converted into isolation units. It will work very closely to control the spread of several infectious diseases and will meet the healthcare needs of Qatar’s population irrespective of their nationality,” he said. “Several infectious diseases such as swine flu, Sars and Mers among others, will be handled at the hospital. It will also provide outpatient services such as travel medicine,” al-Khal said.

“A major component of the new hospital will be education and research. It aims to sustain a healthy nation by educating the public in managing communicable diseases that have public implications such as TB, influenza, HIV and travel-related diseases and infections. Highly qualified medical professionals will give high quality treatment and educational facilities,” the official added.

health

Al-Khal also noted that the new hospital will provide international level specialised treatment and services that are available only overseas at present. According to the official, it will provide high quality patient care and medical research and contribute new knowledge for generations to come. The hospital will be a leading facility for travellers to obtain requisite vaccinations before their visits abroad and will also be a centre that can provide assistance and care if they have any major concerns following trips overseas. With a highly specialised team of physicians and nurses and experienced support staff, the hospital will dedicate resources to medical informatics. A focus on immunology and infections will assist with data collection and enable the hospital to play a key role in supporting national public health initiatives. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Fellowship Programme Helps Reduce Waiting Time for patients Through its Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship Programme, the psychiatry department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has significantly reduced the waiting time for evaluating and treating patients with mental health issues at Hamad General Hospital’s (HGH’s) emergency department.

he waiting time from the point of referral has been considerably reduced as a direct result of the Fellowship Programme, contributing significantly to improved patient care. “Reducing the waiting time was a major factor in our decision to form the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship Programme, which is in line with the National Mental Health Strategy,” said Dr Adel Zaraa, senior consultant and chief of psychiatry at HGH’s Emergency Department, and director of the ConsultationLiaison Psychiatry Fellowship Programme, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa.

In his concurrent role as associate professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, he has recommended that medical students have a mandatory rotation in the Programme as part of their psychiatry clerkship.

“The role of a consultation-liaison psychiatrist is to see medical, surgical and emergency patients who may also have co-existing mental health problems, and vice versa. We started the Programme in June 2012 and expanded to the Emergency Department in May 2014,” he explained. Mental illness can occur for a number of reasons and can affect anyone regardless of social circumstances, age or gender. Dr Zaraa emphasised that as with physical illness, mental illness is treatable and the key to treatment is early diagnosis and support. He explained that about 320 patients at the Emergency Department are evaluated for mental health problems every month.

Around 320 patients at the Emergency Department are evaluated for mental health problems every month. “We have been evaluating and making decisions on their treatment within one hour of the request by the medical or surgical team. This way, we have not only reduced the time that patients spend in the Emergency Department, but we have also reduced the waiting list for admissions to the Psychiatry Department by 18%.” Under the Programme, Arab Board certified psychiatrists are trained in emergency room psychiatry, where they work with the treating medical or surgical team, and receive additional training abroad. Such a training programme for emergency department psychiatrists is rare even in the US, according to Dr Zaraa, an eminent psychiatry expert who has practiced and taught extensively in the US and internationally.

The Programme is part of a research study that Dr Zaraa will be presenting this month at the European Congress of Psychiatry in Austria. He is further engaged in several other research studies aimed at improving mental health services in Qatar, and commended the participation of his colleagues in the research. “This testifies to the high commitment at HMC to providing evidencebased care and increasing patient satisfaction with our services.” The Consultation-Liaison Service is one of several specialist services offered by HMC’s Psychiatry Department. The Department provides diagnosis, treatment and support across the spectrum of mental illnesses, ranging from the mild to the severe and complex. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

15 health

HMC’s psychiatry department team.

“Our efforts to establish this Programme in Qatar were recognised by the US-based Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine during its annual board meeting in November last year, where our team received a special award,” recalled Dr Zaraa, who during that time was also nominated by the American Medical Association to be an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and appointed as an editor for MedCrave Online Journal based in Chicago, US.

High Blood Pressure: the Silent Killer High Blood Pressure (BP), also called Hypertension, is a risk factor for heart and kidney disorders and strokes. Lowering high BP, or keeping it normal, can help avoid heart problems. Here’s how you can do this. 1. Maintain a healthy weight. There are many statistical tables that calculate your ideal body weight based upon your height, build and age. 2. If you are overweight, lose some. Being overweight increases your risk of high blood pressure by six to eight times. 3. It also matters where you are overweight. People with a pot-belly - weight around their waist - are at higher risk for hypertension. 4. To lose weight, eat fewer calories than you burn off. For instance, you could cut down from 3500 calories a day in the first week to 3000 calories a day for the second week, and then to 2500 calories a day for the third week and so on. 5. Do it slowly, but steadily. Aim to lose one-half to one pound a week. 6. Be more physically active. Fit some light activity nto your daily routine. 7. Take a walk at lunch time or dinner. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. 8. Park a block or two away and walk the rest of the distance. 9. Work in the garden or backyard, or to an aerobics session daily. 10. Choose foodstuffs lower in salt and sodium. Eat no more than 6 grams of salt a day. 11. Check food labels for information of sodium in the food. Look for products with “unsalted” or “sodium free” labels. 12. Buy fresh poultry, fish and lean meat, and fresh, or canned with “no salt added”, vegetables. 13. Cut back on frozen dinners, pizza, canned soups, broths and salad dressings, which are high in sodium. 14. Avoid alcohol. 15. Other things too may help prevent hypertension, like calcium, potassium, fish oils, magnesium and stress management.

16 health

Tips: 1. Don’t try crash diets. Slow, steady weight control works. 2. Even light activity helps, if done regularly. 3. Watch food labels and your salt intake. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

The National Health Strategy: Goals & Projects The National Health Strategy 2011-2016 (NHS) is intended to propel Qatar toward the health goals and objectives contained in the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030):

Seven National Health Strategy Goals: to the whole population • An integrated system of healthcare offering high-quality services • Preventive healthcare, taking into account the differing needs of men, women,

and children • A skilled national workforce capable of providing high-quality health services • A national health policy that sets and monitors standards • Effective and affordable services in accordance with the principle of

partnership in bearing the costs of healthcare • High-calibre research directed at improving the effectiveness and quality of

healthcare The NHS provides a guiding work plan through projects and associated implementation plans to achieve the goals of QNV 2030. It is a strategy for reform with far-reaching and fundamental changes across the entire healthcare system. The case for health reform is compelling, and the vision and commitment of Qatar’s leadership, the availability of financial resources, and the size and manageability of the country, coupled with the reform efforts that have already begun, provide Qatar with a prime opportunity to create the health system that will provide the necessary effective and safe healthcare to its people. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

health

• A comprehensive world-class healthcare system whose services are accessible

Seha puts Qatar at the Forefront of global initiatives The National Health Insurance Company (NHIC) is a government-owned entity that manages and operates Seha, the national health insurance scheme in the State of Qatar. The scheme provides mandatory health insurance coverage through a network of public and private providers and forms a key component in the realisation of the National Health Strategy and the overall Qatar National Vision 2030.

18 health

eha was borne out of Qatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-term development goals, in particular the Qatar National Vision and the National Health Strategy which calls for the establishment of a social health insurance system to bring greater efficiency and transparency to the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health care sector. The Seha network includes both public and private providers, offering people quality and choice depending on their preferences and needs.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Stage 1 of the scheme was launched in July 2013, covering Qatari females aged 12 and above for gynaecology, obstetrics, maternity and related womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health conditions. As of 30 April 2014, the second stage provides comprehensive insurance coverage to all Qatari nationals for their basic health care needs. The introduction of Seha puts Qatar at the forefront of global initiatives calling for universal health coverage, including United Nations and World

The scheme currently covers all Qatari nationals for the full spectrum of basic health services for both in-patient and out-patient services including preventative care, emergency treatment, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, long-term care, radiology, ophthalmology, laboratory testing and prescription medicines. The basis for registration is the Qatari National ID card (QID). Seha uses the same identification numbers as the QID. Qatari nationals are automatically registered in the scheme. First time users of the scheme are requested to provide details of their residential address which can be found on the plate installed by the Centre for Geographical Information System (CGIS) on all buildings across the country. Qatari nationals are covered for their basic health needs by the National Health Insurance Scheme the National Health Insurance Company. The scheme has thus far covered Qatari women aged 12 and over for gynaecology, obstetrics, maternity and related women’s health issues and its expansion to cover all citizens marks an important milestone in achieving Qatar’s long-term vision and goals, for transforming and improving the health sector. The national health insurance services is under a new brand – Seha – and a refreshed corporate identity Meaning “health” in Arabic, the name and the flowing curves of the new logo represent ease of access to a wider choice of quality health care providers. Speaking the launch of the scheme last April, Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, Acting CEO of the NHIC said, “We are glad to announce stage 2 of the National Health Insurance Scheme -Seha -to cover all basic health services for Qatari nationals.

This important milestone is in line with Qatar’s goal of providing its citizens with the best possible health services, underscoring Qatar’s position at the forefront of healthcare provision amongst Middle East countries. “Communicating with the public and ensuring scheme beneficiaries know how and where to access health care services is very important to us. As such, we are launching a presence on social media to better communicate with scheme members, to answer any queries people may have and to keep the public informed and updated about the scheme and its services,” Dr.Faleh continued. Seha also opened the doors to its first Customer Service Center for scheme beneficiaries. Located on the sixth floor of Amwal Tower in the West Bay area of Doha, the Customer Service Centre offers insurance scheme members an additional level of support alongside the already operational call centre. Customer Service Center Staff will be on hand to assist members with any queries, including general information about the scheme and its roll-out, coverage, member rights and the network providers. Dr. Faleh continued: “We are working with the health care providers to ensure the expansion of services is as smooth as possible and to make the transition to Seha seamless for the scheme’s beneficiaries. Our aim is to ensure the highest level of service when a member visits a Seha network provider.” A recent patient satisfaction survey carried out by the Qatar Statistic Authority on behalf of the NHIC indicated the health insurance scheme has already achieved high levels of acceptance and satisfaction among those who have used it. The survey showed Qatari women who had received treatment for maternity and women’s health related issues under the scheme since July 2013,were overwhelmingly satisfied with the

scheme and its service. 84% of respondents stated the scheme had met or exceeded their expectations. An overwhelming majority of 90% of respondents rated very highly the women’s health benefits received under the scheme, while 84% said the scheme offered them greater freedom of choice when seeking healthcare. Four fifths of the respondents (79%) rated the hospital experience under the health insurance scheme very favourably. 90% gave top marks to their interactions with the scheme through the Seha call centre, while 87% gave a similar rating to their interaction with the scheme’s information booths set-up in hospitals. The Seha provider network includes a selection of quality public and private hospitals and clinics. Eight providers –HMC Women’s Hospital, Al Emadi Hospital, Al Ahli Hospital, Doha Clinic, Al Wakra Hospital, Al KhorHospital, the Cuban Hospital and Al Hayat Medical Centre - are currently included within the network. The updated network for Stage 2 will be announced prior to its launch. Sehaforms a key milestone in meeting the objectives of the Human Development pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims for a healthy, productive society in Qatar and calls for accessible healthcare services Information and updates on the scheme are available at the Seha website www.seha.qa and through social media at facebook. com/SehaQatar and twitter.com/ SehaQatar. Members can also call the Seha call centre on telephone 4020 8444. The Seha provider network includes a selection of quality public and private hospitals and clinics. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

19 health

Health Organization resolutions calling for member countries to provide universal health care as a key goal for development.

IOSH - Chartered body for Health and Safety professionals As the world’s biggest professional health and safety membership organisation, they are the voice of the profession, campaigning on issues that affect millions of working people.

OSH sets standards and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training.

20 safety

Founded in 1945, IOSH is the only Chartered body for health and safety practitioners and the world’s largest health and safety professional membership organisation. Their members are the most trusted and sought after people in the health and safety profession. IOSH in Qatar now meet regularly and their meetings are attended by both IOSH and non IOSH safety practitioners and all are welcome. The branch meetings usually take place at Texas A&M University in Doha from 18:30 - 20:30 and normally there are some refreshments and food to share. This year’s Qatar Branch AGM will take place on Thursday 30 April with exact timings and venue still to be confirmed.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Upcoming Branch Meetings: Please check the IOSH website page regularly for upcoming meeting dates and further information on each particular meeting, speakers, topics and time. These branch meetings are a great way to network, attain CPD points, and hear a range of speakers on HSE topics. Please do come along, you will be made to feel welcome. For more information please visit IOSH Qatar website: http://www.iosh.co.uk/ Membership/Our-membership-network/ Our-Branches/Qatar-branch. 

safety

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

AL MUFTAH CONTRACTING Company (AMCC)

adhering to strictest quality, HEALTH, Safety AND Environmental standards

22 safety

stablished in 1977, (AL MUFTAH CONTRACTING COMPANY (AMCC) is one of the biggest multi-disciplined civil engineering and construction firms in the State of Qatar. Over the years, the company has built a reputable track record for successfully completing numerous projects in high-rise and commercial building construction, industrial construction, and property development. As one of the biggest and most important workhorses of AL MUFTAH GROUP is the AMCC Civil Division adheres to the strictest QHSE standards and invests a huge amount of resources to ensure that it employs only the most advanced construction and engineering methods. All of the team members apply their specialized skills and make significant use of modern technology to guarantee the success of the projects. The ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, and OHSAS 18001:2007 certifications also stand as testament to their commitment to delivering leading-edge and costeffective solutions, and to affording the clients and partners only the best kind of service possible. This dedication to excellence underpins the

longevity of the relationships AMCC builds with them. AMCC believe that construction is more than just creating a built environment. It is also about building structures that inspire wonder, creating spaces that help people thrive, and it is also about engineering Qatar’s future one project at a time.

Services provided • Engineering, procurement, instal-

lation, and commissioning (EPIC) projects • Civil

engineering infrastructure facilities like sewage systems, potable water systems, telephone networks, high-voltage/low-voltage networks, running tracks, and tank foundations

• Plumbing and firefighting installa-

tions • Construction of commercial build-

ings, high-rise buildings, villas, pre-engineered buildings like workshops, aircraft hangars, car parking shade, supermarkets, and offices • Industrial earthwork projects, site

grading, renovation of buildings, and demolition works

• Electrical works, including elec-

trical substations, installation of switchgears, uninterruptible power source (UPS), transformers, cabling, wiring, etc. • Instrumentation construction work,

including industrial instrumentation, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, switchgear control systems, pneumatic control piping, etc. • HVAC installation (right up to

commissioning) • Maintenance

services for civil, mechanical, and electrical works (as required or scheduled)

Certified Standards Bureau Veritas has certified Almuftah Contracting Company’s Civil Division to be compliant with the requirements of management system standards for the design, engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (EPIC), and with the civil, mechanical and electrical construction and maintenance of commercial, industrial and residential projects. The standards are as follows: 1. ISO 9001:2008 2. ISO 14001:2004 3. OHSAS 18001:2007 Advertorial

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

The Management of the company ensures that this policy is communicated, understood, implemented, and maintained throughout the organization and all other interested parties. • ABB • Chiyoda Corporation (Japan) • Grandi Lavori Fincosit (Italy) • Hyundai Engineering (South

Korea) • Meisei Corporation (Japan) • Ministry of Municipality and

Mr. V.S. Mannangi, Division Manager, Al Muftah Contracting Company, receiving the HSE Achievement Award from M/S ABB Qatar

1. Project: Al Meera Convenience Store at Umm Slal Ali Client: M/s. Al Meera Consumer Goods Co., Date Awarded: February 11, 2015 2. Project: Al Meera Convenience Store at Al Wakrah Client: M/s. Al Meera Consumer Goods Co., Date Awarded: February 11, 2015

• Qatar Army • Qatar Petroleum (QP)

1. Timely delivery of services to its customers

• Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO)

2. Compliance to all relevant legal documents and other requirements needed by the State and

• Qatargas Operating Company

3. Prevention of environmental pollution, ill health, and accidents at its work places by implementing effective Health & Safety and Environmental Management System practices.

•

AMCC will continually improve the effectiveness of Quality, Health & Safety, and Environmental Management System by establishing, reviewing, and accomplishing its objectives.

•

• Qatar Fuel (WOQOD)

•

• •

• • •

(Qatargas) Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO) Qatar Real Estate Investment Company Al Meera Consumer Goods Company Qatar Steel Company (QASCO) Qtel Ramada Hotels Ras Laffan Liquefied Gas Company (RasGas)

QHSE Policy AMCC is a leading company in the field of Construction of Residential & Commercial Buildings, Infrastructure Facilities & MEP Works, Oil and Gas Plant Shutdown and Maintenance, which is committed to provide quality services to its customers. AMCC plans to achieve this commitment to quality by developing and implementing an Integrated Management System in line with ISO 9001:2008, OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 14001:2004 standards. AMCC continues to apply innovative efforts to continually improve the effectiveness of the Integrated Management System by achieving the following objectives: Advertorial

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

23 safety

Some of the ongoing projects

Urban Planning • Qatar Airways

NEW WELFARE standards Set for Construction WORKERS HSSE REVIEW looks at the new set of guidelines that Qatar has issued, aimed at protecting the rights of thousands of expatriate workers employed on construction projects, as the country prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

welfare across the country,” said Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

The standards laid down specifications for workers’ accommodation, “setting clear guidelines for everything from the number of beds per room to a minimum standard for cleanliness and hygiene”. Companies violating these guidelines will be penalised, the statement said.

The Supreme Committee will require contractors and sub-contractors, to ensure “world-class” health and safety for workers, equality in their treatment, and protect their dignity. The committee said it had “engaged” the International Labour Organisation (ILO) “to look at the entire process from recruitment to living and working conditions upon arrival, and made sure to incorporate all of this into its planning ahead of any major stadium construction work”.

safety

atar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has released the Workers’ Welfare Standards which require “contractors to set up bank accounts for their workers, which will help facilitate payment, creating an auditable transaction system that will help the Supreme Committee verify that all workers are being paid in full and on time”.

“We have always believed that Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup would be a catalyst to accelerate positive initiatives already being undertaken by Qatar, which will leave a legacy of enhanced, sustainable and meaningful progress in regards to worker

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

“We already see this progress taking place across Qatar on a daily basis, and will continue to work hard to make our vision become the everpresent reality on the ground.”

FIFA had said the Qatari committee’s report would be used to prepare a hearing at the European Parliament on the conditions of migrant workers.

Workers at a construction site.

After the session at the European Parliament, another detailed report will be delivered to the FIFA Executive Committee on March 20 and 21. The Workers’ Welfare Standards states that all contractors and sub-contractors engaged in the delivery of its projects must be used to prepare a hearing tomorrow at the European Parliament on the conditions of migrant comply with principles set out in the charter and relevant Qatari laws. The Supreme Committee said the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) had increased the number of trained labour inspectors by 30%. Furthermore, the Ministry has conducted 11,500 spot checks in the past three months. A total of 306 companies have been classified and

their performance will be published to workers and owners, setting an example for best practice in the country. Representatives from some of the largest infrastructure projects in Qatar, including the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and Qatar Foundation, plan to meet in the coming months to discuss adopting a unified standard, in line with the government’s vision for improved social development as part of Qatar National Vision 2030. “We will continue to work closely with our partners to achieve practical solutions which will leave a sustainable legacy for Qatar long after 2022,” said Farah al-Muftah, Chairwoman of the Supreme Committee’s Workers’ Welfare Committee. FIFA president Sepp Blatter held discussions recently on Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup.

The talks at the Al Bahr Palace came ahead of the FIFA Executive Committee’s meeting in Zurich on March 19 and 20 where a final decision on the dates for the event would be made. . Blatter expressed his appreciation to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani about Qatar’s commitment to host an outstanding edition of world’s greatest sporting event. The FIFA chief pointed out that he saw “major positive developments”, especially with regards to the workers’ welfare standards presented by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in its recent meetings with the FIFA Executive Committee. “It was important for me to have an opportunity to get the latest information directly from the highest political authority ahead of the executive committee meeting,” said Blatter.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

25 safety

Dr Theo Zwanziger, former president of the German Football Federation, attended the hearing as the FIFA representative mandated to deal with the matter.

“As various human rights groups have recently noted, progress has been made already, especially with regard to the welfare standards introduced by the Supreme Committee relating to 2022 construction sites,” he said. Blatter added that HH the Emir had given his “personal commitment” to the welfare of migrant workers involved in development work for the event. “It is encouraging to hear the Emir’s personal commitment to workers’ welfare and to get a sense of the improvements planned for all workers in Qatar,” said the FIFA leader. He added that all stakeholders should make a “collective effort” for the success of the World Cup which, he said, could act as a catalyst for social change. “It is clear that Qatar takes its responsibility as host seriously and sees the FIFA World Cup as a catalyst for positive social change,” he said.

Human rights groups have backed Qatari reforms in recent weeks, especially the proposed move to electronic payments, which should ensure many staff get paid on time.

safety

Blatter did not visit any construction sites. FIFA said that was the responsibility of secretary-general Jerome Valcke, who was in Doha recently, and at the time visited some of the sites. According to media reports Qatar said it would more than double the number of migrant labourers in the country to 2.5 million by 2020. 

amendMENTS to the Labour Act HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has issued Law No 1 of 2015, amending some provisions of the Labour Act No 14 of 2004, making it binding on employers to transfer each worker’s salary to his or her account at any of the financial institutions in the country. Article No 2 of Law No 1 of 2015 has replaced Article 66 of Law No 14 of 2004 with a new text. It stipulates that salary and other amounts due to the worker shall be paid in the Qatari currency. Remuneration of the workers appointed on the basis of an annual or monthly salary shall be paid, at least, once a month, while that of all the other workers shall be paid, at least, once every two weeks. The employer must transfer the remuneration to the bank account of the worker at any of the financial institutions in Qatar, in a way that allows the worker to withdraw it at the designated time according to the stipulations of the law. The employer shall not be discharged from the responsibility of paying the wage otherwise. A decision regarding the regulation to protect the remuneration of workers shall be issued by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. Violators of the new law shall be punished by a prison term of not more than a month and/or a fine not less than QR2,000 and not exceeding QR6,000. Article No 4 of the new law stipulates that employers shall modify their situation in accordance with the provisions of this law within a period of six months of its implementation. However, the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs may extend the grace period to a similar period or periods. All competent entities shall implement the law, each in its area, and it shall be published in the official gazette.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

International traffic medicine Conference to be Held in November The 24th World ITMA Congress ITMA organizes world congresses covering all areas of Traffic Medicine and its associated disciplines. The motto of the 24th international congress is Traffic Medicine and Road Safety in Fast Developing Countries.

xperts from areas such as health, traffic and transport will gather in November for the international traffic medicine conference to be held at Sheraton Doha. Informing this recently, National Traffic Safety Awareness Committee secretary-general Brigadier Mohamed al-Malki said the three-day meet starting on November 16 would deliberate on the importance of making the country’s roads safer for its residents and visitors, including vehicle users and pedestrians. The conference, to be held for the first time in the Middle East, will have many professionals as speakers from areas such as transport, health, traffic, construction and different sectors of engineering, among others. The sessions of the conference would focus on topics such as reducing road accidents across the region, including in Qatar, and making the country’s roads and construction sites accidentfree, making use of the knowledge and expertise of the participants from different areas of activities.

has been working relentlessly over the years on issues such as road traffic accidents, highlighting the importance of the safety of road users. Briefing journalists on the agenda of the event, Dr Wafa al-Yezidi of Hamad Medical Corporation said considering the growing importance of the issue of road safety, the country has expressed its desire to host the conference, where many participants would also showcase recent equipment developed at global level to reduce road traffic accident deaths. Also, topics such as driving by heart patients, those with eye-related disorders and rheumatic ailments would also be featured in the conference. At the briefing Brigadier al-Malki exchanged documents with Dar Al Sharq Media Management CEO Abdul Latif Abdulla al-Mahmoud, making the company the main organiser of the event, to be held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. 

Delegates to this congress will include medical doctors, physiologists, psychologists, traffic safety experts, vehicle designers and manufacturers, engineers, policy makers, police officers, and insurance experts. The congress will be a great opportunity for exchanges between experts from many disciplines connected to traffic safety and traffic injuries. This congress will focus on the progress in traffic safety and traffic injury prevention and treatment in recent years, and will bring famous traffic medicine experts together to share the most advanced traffic medicine concepts, theories and techniques in order to promote traffic crash prevention, traffic safety, first-aid, medical treatment, and accordingly reduce the mortality and disability resulting from traffic injury in the world, to raise the road user’s health standard and the quality of life. ITMA’s mission to reduce harm from traffic crashes grows more and more important as well over one million people are killed on the world’s roads each year. That number keeps increasing as the number of vehicles is increasing, causing yet more deaths and injuries from traffic crashes. 

The Stockholm-headquartered International Traffic Medicine Association

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

27 safety

Brigadier al-Malki (second from left) with other officials at the announcement of the international traffic medicine conference.

Raising Awareness on Children’s Safety in Cars Kulluna, the health and safety campaign organized and delivered by Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad International Training Center (HITC), and sponsored by ConocoPhillips Qatar, has earned accolades for its child passenger safety project.

By Sonia Denton

safety

he award, Industry Recognition for Outstanding Road Safety Improvement, was received by the Director of HITC and Chairman of Kulluna, Dr. Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen. “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of all my colleagues who share my commitment and passion to promote road safety for children in Qatar. This recognition is a testament to our efforts to help future generations to be safer and healthier,” he stated. The acknowledgement comes through following a number of car seat training sessions conducted by Kulluna, in collaboration with Safe Kids Worldwide, to educate the community and increase awareness amongst Qatar’s residents about car safety - with a special emphasis on the significance of using car seats for children.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Under Kulluna’s Child Passenger Safety Training (CPST) course, about 40 volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, with a desire to save children from car-related injuries and deaths, were trained by HMC staff and visiting US specialists to become child car seat technicians and instructors. The participants emerged from the intensive training course, with a strong understanding of how to use different kinds of car seats, how to install them properly, how to perform inspection, and how to select the most suitable car seat for each child, according to his or her age, weight and height. According to Dr. Saifeldeen, “Kulluna’s ambition is to have a greater number of technicians who will be able to pass on the knowledge about child passenger safety to the wider

However, the use of these seats is still relatively low in Qatar and many parents are unaware of how to install the seats properly, according to Dr. Saifeldeen.

A properly installed car seat can save a child’s life in case of a car accident. The public has to learn the necessary precautions in order to keep their loved ones safe and free from any danger to health. To facilitate the interaction between the technicians and general public, Kulluna also holds regular “Car Seat Check-Up” events, where parents and caregivers have an opportunity to get their child’s car seat checked, and also gain detailed advice on purchasing or upgrading car seats. Special educational caravans are on the go between different venues to offer any child safety advice, but if anyone is unable to gain from this facility, they are encouraged to contact HITC directly, which provides free of cost education to the public on the appropriate use of children’s car seats. Dr Saifeldeen cautioned parents and other family members never to leave children unattended in enclosed spaces such as cars, particularly during the hot season, as the temperature inside a car can rise quickly and cause heatstroke. He has also encouraged all community members to be vigilant about children’s safety. “If you pass by a car and notice a child sitting alone in it, raise an alarm – ask around for the parents, and if there is a need, call the authorities. We all play a part in keeping children safe from danger.” 

Safety Belt Fit Test Buckling up on every ride is the single most important thing a family can do to stay safe in the car. Here are a few tips to make buckling up a part of every car ride.

When is Your Child Ready for a Seat Belt? • Be sure your kids are ready for a seat belt by giving them the

following Safety Belt Fit Test: • Your children’s knees should bend at the edge of the seat

when their backs and bottoms are against the vehicle seat back; and • The vehicle lap belt should fit across the upper thighs; and • The shoulder belt should fit across the shoulder and chest.

Children are usually between 8 and 12 years old when the seat belt fits them properly. • If your children fail the Safety Belt Fit Test they should return

to their booster seat. • Do not place the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind

the child’s back. • Once your children pass the Safety Belt Fit Test, teach them

the importance of using seat belts on every ride, whether they’re with you or not. This is a habit you can instill at an early age. If they learn this lesson early, they’ll be more likely to buckle up when they’re older or when you’re not around. • Kids are VIPs – just ask them. VIPs ride in the back seat, so

keep all kids in the back seat until they are 13. • When adults wear seat belts, kids wear seat belts. So set a

good example and buckle up for every ride. Be sure everyone in the vehicle buckles up, too. • A lap and shoulder belt provides the best protection for your

bigger children and should be used on every ride. • We know kids like to slouch or lean against the windows during

the drive, but it makes a difference in terms of safety. Side airbags could be a potential danger if your child is out of position. Have your children sit upright when using seat belts.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

safety

community and guide parents and caregivers on how to secure their children safely in car seats. Therefore, we are also working on having all training materials translated to Arabic for nonEnglish speakers,” he added.

A Proactive Approach to Safety

azard (defined as anything that has got a potential to cause harm) are all proactively identified, risk assessed and appropriately managed to avert workplace accidents. On the other hand, Risk Assessment (systematic process of evaluating the potential risks that may be involved in a projected activity/ task) which includes changes to operations, processes, personnel both for routine and non- routine activities, are always undertaken prior to any work activity. This always helps to assure the workforce community that all levels of work can be executed safely with minimal workplace safety incidents.

30 safety

As part of ABB commitment to Occupational Health and Safety Management system, ABB ensures all applicable legal statutory, regulatory and other occupational health and safety requirements have been identified, documented, maintained, communicated, understood by all relevant sections of the workforce and implemented across the company. In some instances, there might be situations where the local legislation prescribed has health and safety standard requirements that are less stringent than that of ABB. In such situations, the ABB safety standards will take precedence and thus be applied. To ensure accident prevention during all work activities, ABB management has set very high standards for occupational health and safety and these have been well received by the ABB workforce community as an ideal way to proactively manage unsafe acts, unsafe working situations and behav-

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

iors. Particular emphasis is also given to ensure that lessons are learned from previous incidents/ accidents that have occurred in other ABB units to ensure that all necessary actions/ precautions have been undertaken to prevent reoccurrences in ABB in Qatar. On the brighter side, researches have shown that there is always a potentially significant cost benefits associated with implementing efficient and effective occupational health &safety management system which invariably results to accident/ loss prevention at the end of the day. The benefits which includes reduction in the following insurance premiums, accident investigation costs, medical costs for the injured workers, replacement/ training cost for the injured workers, repairs/ replacement of damaged equipment, legal costs, reputational costs, business interruptions and associated production losses/ downtime. Mostafa Al Guezeri, managing director, ABB in Qatar said: “it’s always wiser, better and profitable to avoid all these concerns by investing in efficient and effective safety management systems. These initial investments naturally costs money in the short run but in the long run it can save lives, reduce injuries, and increase overall profit and that is the preferred way for ABB in Qatar.” Pradeep Bhalla Country QHSSE Manager, ABB in Qatar said “Health and Safety is our first priority at ABB, and we can only maintain and improve our high standards in Qatar by continually ensuring that training standards are maintained. As well

Managing Director ABB Qatar

as having proactive safety initiatives such as daily tool box talks, unscheduled safety observation tours, energizing safety and environmental audits and many other safety related activities with our management, employees and external partners. However, we can have all the processes and tools in place but if we don’t change people’s behaviors then we will not sustain our safety record and our ambition to ensure a 100% incident-free workplace. We are on the right track in ABB in Qatar, with all of our employees determined to ensure that they and those that work with and for ABB go home safely at the end of each working day.” ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies. ABB’s solutions help utilities and industries around the world to improve operating performance while saving energy and lowering environmental impact. Head quartered in Zurich, Switzerland, ABB employs 140,000 people across 100 countries with a history spanning 120 years of pioneering technologies to serve the world’s energy needs in a more sustainable way. ABB technologies are used along the entire energy value chain – from extraction of resources and its transformation into electricity, liquefied natural gas or refined petroleum products to their efficient use in utilities, industry, transportation and buildings. ABB helps customers squeeze the most value from each unit of energy they generate, transmit, distribute or use. ABB’s portfolio ranges from water meters to robots, and from ultrahigh-

Pradeep Bhalla

Country QHSSE Manager ABB Qatar

voltage direct current transformers to control systems that manage entire power networks, factories, homes and hotels. ABB’s success has been driven particularly by a strong focus on research and development. The company maintains seven corporate research centers around the world and has continued to invest in R&D through all market conditions. ABB has been involved in Qatar since the 1960s and has had a representative office since 1995. ABB in Qatar was formed locally in 2005 in partnership with the Hawar Group. ABB has a long term commitment to Qatar and is proud to contribute to the country’s present and future development. Over the years, ABB has been involved in a host of major industrial and infrastructure projects in Qatar, including: turnkey, engineering, procurement, installation, construction, commissioning, and service for all industries. Today ABB equipment powers and controls much of Qatar’s key infrastructure reliably and efficiently. And thanks to our strong track record, ABB is an approved supplier for both Kahramaa and Qatar Petroleum and their respective subsidiaries. ABBin Qatar businesses have got clearly defined roles, responsibilities and accountability at all levels and functions within the organization to ensure effective implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System. These have all been defined, documented, and communicated to all appropriate personnel and currently been

managed by senior management and competent professionals to ensure effective and efficient implementation across ABB in Qatar. Additionally, adequate resources (including human, technical, functional and financial) have been made available to ensure that these system are effectively sustained. Over the years, ABB has continually demonstrated to all its stakeholders, its unflinching commitment to the highest Health & Safety Standards prior, during or post work activities. The company’s safety focus was reinforced with its global Safety Week in 2014, which featured 2,500 training sessions with more than 140,000 participants in more than 40 countries. In Qatar, ABB makes safety as a top priority and this is evidenced by the fact thatan ABB Qatar Substation project recently won the 2014 ABB Global CEO award for excellence in safety from amongst 140# other participating ABB units. Also, ABB in Qatar’s continual success in effective management of Occupational Health and Safety has been helped by how the understanding of these two concepts (Hazard and Risks) has been assimilated by the ABB workforce community. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

31 safety

Mostafa Al Guezeri

We Perform to Protect

Mr. Saoud Omar H A AI-mana Chairman

32 safety

Gulf Fire and Safety Equipment W.L.L, is one of the leading manufacturer and supplier of Fire Fighting Equipments. The very birth of the company was based on a few products and service but over the years GFS has become one of the most successful Fire Fighting Company in Middle East. We achieved it by performing a Unique and Creative solutions that meets the clients expectations not only by realizing the clients business needs, but particularly to provide the best service to minimize the losses due to fire. We upgrade ourselves as per market trend and accordingly accomplishing the companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; standard. We hold years of rich experience and in-depth knowledge about Fire Fighting

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

and Safety Equipment. By our broad business skills and dedication, we have been able to offer immaculate services to our clients. The company is strongly backed up with the support of reputed international fire equipment manufacturers and the products are well recognized and approved by various international and local authorities like UL, FM, LPCB, Kite Mark and QCDD. We personally thank all our existing customers and employees for making gulffire and safety a successful and wealthy organization in entire gulf. We GFS guarantees you to provide the best Products and services. We also request your precious support in future as well.

GULF FIRE & SAFETY EQUIPMENT WLL We Perform to Protect

ISO 9001:2008 We Gulf Fire and Safety Equipment W.L.L, basically focus on Fire protection systems. We offer a wide range of Fire Alarm, Fire Fighting Equipment, Fire suppression Systems, Pipes & Fittings of all kinds and in various sizes.

Erw black, galvanized steel pipe

Clean agent system

Grooved, threaded pipe ﬁttings

Sprinkler system

Fire pumps

Tel: +974 4029 6712 ■ Fax: +974 4468 5331

PO Box: 40938, Doha, Qatar ■ Email: info@gulfﬁresafety.com ■ www.gulfﬁresafety.com

New and Revised: Qatar Construction Specification 2014 The newly revised Qatar Construction Specification 2014 has established technical safety standards for the Construction Industry. This article focuses on the Health and Safety Regulations contained therein.

What is QCS 2014

34 safety By Mark W. Kenyon CFIOSH EurOHSM Mark is an experienced Health and Safety Engineer. A Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner with 30 year’s industrial experience both as an electrical engineer and as a Health and Safety professional.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

The Ministry of Environment recently introduced the latest version of Qatar Construction Specification (QCS) 2014 known as QCS 2014. The new specification is mandatory for all government and private sector projects three months after issuance of the Ministerial Decision 210 in October 2014. Originally developed in 2000, QCS has been revised and improved in 2002, 2007, 2010 and QCS 2014 has been introduced with the aim of making roads and buildings safer by improving their quality standards. The 5th Edition of the Qatar Construction Specification (QCS 2014) supersedes Qatar Construction Specification 2010 (QCS 2010) in all respects and contains some 273 parts in 29 sections.

The purpose of the technical regulation Qatar Construction Specification 2014 (QCS 2014) is to provide technical guidance in connection with the execution of construction projects in the State of Qatar. The guidance includes the establishment of acceptable material quality and workmanship for those kinds of work which commonly occur in engineered projects in the State of Qatar. As well as outlining the Specification for buildings, roads and rail QCS 2014 contains the legislative framework for the enforcement of Health and Safety standards in Construction. The specification is predominantly based upon UK and American standards, whereas the Health and Safety Regulatory Document contained in Section 11 is based predominantly upon UK legislation and guidance. Qatar Construction Specification contains regulation that is enforceable as criminal law in the Qatar Courts and also guidance on how to implement the regulations. It is divided into two parts: • Part 1 – Regulatory Document • Part 2 – Safety and Accident Preven-

tion Management/Administration Systems (SAMAS) This article will discuss the format and structure of QCS 2014 and look briefly at a number of key elements that have changed, however an article of this type is limited given the size and detail contained in almost 1500 pages of Health, Safety and Environmental regulation and guidance.

The structure of this document has been wildly revised and QCS2014 is now, despite its size, a clearer and more user friendly document. QCS is broken down in to 29 Sections. The 29 Sections are as follows: Section 1.

General

Section 2. Section 3. Section 4.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control Ground Investigation Foundations and Retaining Structures

Section 5.

Concrete

Section 6.

Roadworks

Section 7.

Green Construction

Section 8. Section 9. Section 10.

Drainage Works Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Instrumentation, Control and Automation

Section 11. Section 12. Section 13. Section 14. Section 15. Section 16. Section 17. Section 18. Section 19. Section 20. Section 21. Section 22. Section 23. Section 24. Section 25. Section 26. Section 27. Section 28.

Health and Safety Earthworks related to Buildings Masonry Roofing Thermal Insulation of Buildings Structural Steelworks Metalwork Carpentry, Joinery and Ironmongery Plumbing Work Drainage works for Buildings Electrical Works Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation Fire Fighting and Fire Fighting Systems Finishes to Buildings Glass and Glazing Painting and Decorating External Works Landscaping

Section 29.

Railways

The Regulations aim to provide and enforce high standards of Health, Safety and Welfare in construction workplaces or construction sites. The regulations provide for a comprehensive framework to promote, stimulate and encourage high standards of Health and Safety in the Qatar construction workplace and impose duties upon contractors and all persons on construction sites.

Enforcement The regulations in Section 11 Part 1 (Regulatory Document) are enforceable by inspectors approved by the Administrative Authority. Enforcing inspectors have the right to enter the workplace. The enforcement powers available to them include: • Provide advice and act as a source

of information on compliance in the case of minor breaches. • Issuing a Formal Letter which may

provide details of breaches and action needed to comply with the legislation. It may contain more detailed and formalised advice. Whilst visiting a site, a Workplace Inspector can prepare an ‘Instant Visit Report’ with a date agreed for work to be completed. • Issuing an Improvement Notice

where a breach is more serious, which will outline the work required and the date for completion. This will be at least 21 days from the date of receipt.

The most significant changes within the specification have occurred in the highlighted sections above.

• Issuing a Prohibition Notice to stop

The majority of the Regulatory requirements relating to Health and Safety are contained within Section 11. However, the requirement to prepare a Health and Safety Plan is contained in Section 1, Part 10.

that activity immediately (or after a specified time) where an activity involves, or is likely to involve, a serious risk of personal injury.

Section 1, Part 10 also clearly lays down the requirements and minimum qualifications for competent persons and requires that contractors appoint a Health and Safety Manager, a Deputy Health and Safety Manager and a Contractors Environmental Manager. A new addition to this section is the minimum formal qualifications and experience for Safety Officers.

• Prosecution in which the Inspector

may consider that it is also necessary to prosecute.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

35 safety

Structure of QCS 2014

It is the Contractors responsibility to implement an Occupational Health and Safety Management System meeting as a minimum the requirements of BS OHSAS 18001. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to conduct his operations in such a manner as to prevent injury to persons or damage to property. The Contractor shall take precautions for protection against risks and shall inspect Occupational Health and Safety conditions where the Works are being executed. The Contractor shall note that Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) shall be treated with high importance at all stages of the Contract. Contractor shall understand that the Contract Price includes the Execution Programme for provision and implementation of an Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Plan to ensure the highest standards are enforced throughout Construction, Precommissioning and Commissioning.

The Contractor shall submit an Occupational Health and Safety Organisation Plan for Engineer’s approval within Thirty (30) days of the start of the Contract.

Risk Assessments and Method Statements

The Regulations place a legal duty on employers to assess the risks to the Health and Safety of their employees as well as other people that arise out of work activities. The assessment must be suitable and sufficient for all work activities carried out. A Major update was made to subsection 1.1.7 Risk Assessment (RA) and Method Statements (MS) that requires all contractors (including any employer and self-employed) to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments of work activities that they undertake to ensure the Health and Safety of his employees and others who may be exposed. The Contractor shall not employ a young

person unless he has undertaken a Risk Assessment and further the Risk Assessments that they undertake must take into account language difficulties and language barriers & safety culture of employees. Part 2, SAMAS has been improved significantly in this version, through the provision of process maps, sample procedures and forms which includes guidance on compliance with the requirement in regards to RA & MS in section 2.4 (Risk Assessment and Method Statement) where some 74 Risk Assessment Guides can be found along with a template for preparing a Method Statement and a Site Safety Checklist. The Technical Committee responsible for this version focused on eliminating duplication, confusion and inconsistencies that were encountered in QCS 2010 and have clarified the Construction, Design, and Management (CDM) obligations on all stakeholders to commence with the design concept onwards. 

37 safety

Occupational Health And Safety

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

SAFETY is Not by ACCIDENT When a hazard cannot be removed from the workplace, or when engineering controls are insufficient to control the hazard, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be considered. PPE does not eliminate hazards from the workplace but places a barrier between the worker and the hazard. If the PPE fails or is not used properly, the worker will be exposed to undue risks. By Eldon Kohler

n order to ensure that workers are provided with correct PPE, and that the PPE is used properly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed standards for certain types of PPE.

38 safety

It is used by workers in various work settings. Gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, ear plugs, aprons, laboratory coats, safety shoes, and respirators are all examples of PPE. The employer must provide to employees certain PPE when a workplace hazard assessment reveals the need for its use. Standards have been developed for hard hats, work shoes, gloves, eyewear, and respirators.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

The employer is obligated to provide and to pay for personal protective equipment required by the company for the worker to do his or her job safely and in compliance with OSHA standards. Where equipment is very personal in nature, such as safety shoes, and is usable by workers off the job, the matter of payment may be left to labor-management negotiations. However, items such as safety shoes which are subject to contamination by carcinogens or other toxic or hazardous substances, and which cannot be safely worn off-site, must be paid for by the employer.

The the use of personal protective equipment by their employees to minimize accidents, injuries, and illnesses that may be the result of exposure to hazards in the workplace are very essential. • The Environmental Health and Safety Department - HSE will develop personal protective equipment guidelines based on hazard assessments for the University and will work with area supervisors to perform workplace assessments to determine the need for PPE. • Supervisors - Supervisors will alert HSE when new hazards are introduced into the workplace or if they feel that PPE may be useful. They will ensure that the workers under their supervision wear the appropriate protective equipment. • Workers - Workers must alert supervisors of hazards in the workplace and must wear the appropriate PPE to protect themselves from any hazards.

II. Hazards in the Workplace Each workplace and building presents unique situations and potential hazards to employees. Hazards may be present or develop while performing any of the following operations: medical or academic research, clinical work, building maintenance, housekeeping, building operations, building renovations, receiving, and shipping. Depending upon an employee’s or student’s responsibilities, he/she may be exposed to biological, chemical, or physical hazards. Whenever a new process or hazard is introduced, a hazard assessment should be performed by area supervisors.. Outside contractors must supply their employees with all necessary PPE and train them in its proper use.

III. Types of Personal Protection Equipment There is a large variety of PPE available. It can range from simple safety glasses to full body suits. The selection and proper use of PPE is vital to health and safety on the job. Eye Protection - Employees and students are required to wear safety glasses or chemical splash goggles at all times when they perform laboratory work involving hazardous materials. • If an employee is performing any operation such as sawing, grinding, welding, or spray painting, safety glasses\face shields specific to those tasks shall be worn. • Employees in the clinics must wear safety glasses or face shields whenever there is possible exposure to a potentially infectious material. • Specialized eyewear must be worn during work with lasers. • Wearing personal glasses (not safety approved), with plastic side shields is not an acceptable substitute for safety glasses. • Contact lenses should not be worn in laboratories or in any other work area where a chemical splash is possible. • Hand Protection - Appropriate gloves are required to be worn when hands are exposed to potential hazards. These hazards may arise from exposure to any item or substance which has the potential to damage the skin or pass through the skins protective barrier. Chemical hazards include acids, bases, flammables, and other toxic chemicals. Physical hazards include infectious agents, sharps, and temperature extremes. • Selection of gloves is based upon the performance characteristics of the glove relative to the employee’s work. HSE managers must make recommendations on the types of gloves required. • Whenever hazardous chemicals are handled, gloves must be either thoroughly washed with soap and water before removal, or disposed

of as hazardous materials in the appropriate receptacle.. • Laboratory employees working with infectious agents should discard their gloves in an autoclave bag. • Powder-free latex examining gloves be used to avoid allergic reactions to the powder. • Hearing Protection - Hearing protective devices may be recommended in certain areas that may experience elevated noise levels. Protecting oneself from unnecessary noise is always a prudent practice. Noise assessments are made by experts and recommendations for hearing protection may be made following these assessments. Elevated noise levels may be found in mechanical areas such as craft shops and duplicating. • Respiratory Protection - Employees involved with asbestos removal, chemical emergency response, facilities maintenance, plant operations, and infectious materials may require respirators • Foot Protection - It is a good work practice for employees who work in the maintenance shop, plant operations areas. Safety personnel may also be required to wear safety shoes. • Protective Clothing - All employees and students in research and academic laboratories should wear laboratory coats; laboratory workers may wear chemical resistant aprons/protective sleeves.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

39 safety

Responsibilities

• Employees in clinical settings are required to wear laboratory coats/ aprons whenever there is possible exposure to potentially infectious material, including human blood and related blood products. • Any employee who performs work involving the maintenance or removal of asbestos-containing material must wear a protective suit. • For cleanup of spills of hazardous materials, employees must wear either a laboratory coat, PPE suit, or other protective clothing depending on the degree of hazard during cleanup. • Engineering and housekeeping staff must wear the appropriate clothing (uniform or coveralls) to prevent contact with hazards or potentially hazardous chemicals such as oils, solvents and thermal exchange chemicals.

40 safety HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

• Head Protection - All employees and students entering or working in a construction site must wear a hard hat to protect the head from falling objects, bumps, and abrasions. • Torso Protection - Many hazards can threaten the torso such as heat, splashes from hot metal and liquids impacts, cuts, acids, and radiation. The employees or students who are involved in activities that may affect the torso must wear the appropriate protective PPE such as a vest, jacket, apron, coveralls, or full body suit. 

Tel: +974 4466 4850, Fax: +974 4465 9982 Email: info@tadmur-roofsandpools.com Web: www.tadmur-roofsandpools.com

FOCUS ON Co-operation Against CYBER THREATS Qatar has stepped up the efforts to meet challenges of cyber security with a national-level committee focused on fostering co-operation amongst both the public and private sectors. By Leon Fourie

he Minister of Information and Communication Technology HE Dr Hessa Sultan alJaber has called for greater co-operation between the public and private sectors to thwart cyber threats. She was speaking at the inaugural GCC Digital Security Forum that opened at St Regis Hotel recently. Held under the patronage of the minister and organised by MEEZA, more than 500 delegates representing governments and companies from 15 countries in the Gulf and beyond attended the two-day forum.

42 security

The forum aims to discuss key digital security issues of vital importance to governments and companies in Qatar and across the Gulf. Minister al-Jaber said: “The issue of digital security is a critical one not just for our region, but for the entire globe. We have all become increasingly reliant on ICT (information and communications technologies), both professionally and in our personal lives. It is so woven into the fabric of our lives that cyber security is about protecting what we are so dependent upon in the way we live.”  She highlighted that “Qatar under the leadership of HH (the Emir) Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has stepped up the efforts to meet challenges of cyber security with a

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

national-level committee focused on fostering co-operation amongst both the public and private sectors, co-ordinating a national-level cyber security strategy, developing national policies and regulations, and conducting information security assessments.”  The minister continued: “We will pursue cyber security policies that enhance our security, but we will preserve our citizens’ right to privacy. We should have a more sophisticated understanding of cyber threats and the damage they can cause. This would give us an improved awareness on the need for cyber security in all sectors.” Urging the need for collaboration to fight the issue of cyber security, Minister al-Jaber said: “The scale of challenges requires strong national leadership, but we know that the Internet is fundamentally multinational. Threats are cross-border. We will seek partnership with GCC and other countries that share our views.” MEEZA chairman Rashid al-Naimi said that the purpose of organising the forum was to make a modest contribution to the developmental ambitions and futuristic vision of the Emir. He further said that the GCC Digital Security Forum reflects the importance of digital security it’s impact is beginning to be felt in the

Al-Naimi said: “Digital security is not merely an issue of technical nature … it is rather the first line defence of the economy, society and national wealth against attempted incursio ns by criminal elements that will always, for various motives, try to disrupt and undermine the orderly functioning of organisations.”  “With the growing digital economy and innovation, our country has now on par with the best economies in the world in terms of usage of voice and data communication, smart devices, the Internet and in terms of the quality and capacity of our ICT infrastructure, systems and their wide ranging use by the government, corporations and individuals,” he added.  International Telecommunication Union (ITU) secretary-general Dr Hamadoun Toure said that bridging the “digital divide” has been the utmost concern in recent years. He said with almost two-thirds of the global population remains “offline” and a daunting gap of 60% in Internet penetration between Africa and Europe, there remains many challenges.  Toure said: “As our physical and cyber worlds overlap, there is an increased need to address the related challenges of ensuring, human rights,

the rule of law, good governance and socio-economic development.” He added that the recent high-profile revelations about surveillance activities, widely covered in the international media, have highlighted the lack of trust and the need for agreed norms and principles to rebuild confidence. The internet is everything you want, but also a lot of what you don’t. ictQATAR is committed to helping people in Qatar stay safe online, with a primary focus on children. Staying safe online requires the involvement of the entire community. ictQATAR is working directly with teachers and parents to educate them about keeping their children safe online, while being smart in their own practices. The Cyber Safety program worked closely with ictQATAR’s Q-CERT team to launch safespace.qa, a resource to help protect children online. This website provides educational games and tips, along with up-to-date information to help parents and teachers protect kids from cyber-bullying and other dangers. To further supplement these efforts, ictQATAR is creating a hotline for families and educators to report online threats and receive guidance on how to handle specific situations.

online world has the same risks as the real one. For a number of years now ictQATAR has been raising awareness among youth and parents in Qatar about online safety through a series of ad campaigns. Our current campaign spot aims at raising awareness of the problem of cyber bullying and encourages better communication between parents and teachers and children to combat cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is affecting our children’s lives at an age when they are particularly vulnerable to social pressures, yet a lot of parents and teachers are not aware that this is happening. Done through the Internet and wireless devices, cyber bullying takes many forms including the sending of inappropriate photographs, spreading rumors and gossip, or making anonymous threats. Even though the bullying happens in a digital form, the impact is often just as painful as physical bullying. This shares some basic ways cyber bullying can be addressed, whether children are harassed via mobile phones, online social networks, blogs or email. ictQATAR encourages youth to take advantage of everything available through the Internet - and to have fun - but to remember that they should treat their online communications responsibly. 

For youth, the internet offers an entertaining and informative escape. But too often they forget that the

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

43 security

operations of governments as well as private organisations and society at large.

PARKING LOTS to Come Under SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

Under the new law, it is mandatory for hotels, residential complexes, banks, sport clubs and shopping centres, hospitals, clinics, warehouses etc to fix CCTV cameras at their premises.

By Fadi Karam

44 security

he parking areas of many shopping centres are now being monitored by CCTV cameras with the law making it mandatory to set up surveillance cameras at their premises. Earlier shopping centres had installed surveillance cameras mostly within the buildings, but a new law requires CCTV cameras to be fixed even in the open parking areas and to set a control room. Installation of CCTV cameras is a compulsory requirement for the annual company registration renewal, according to operators of some leading shopping centres and other businesses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;CCTV cameras were installed soon after we received the notice. We were

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

one of the first shopping malls to fix the cameras with a well equipped control room,â&#x20AC;? said a senior official at the a well-known mall. The Lulu hypermarket on the D-Ring road are in the process of completing installation of surveillance cameras in its parking area. It is mandatory for hotels, residential complexes, banks, exchange houses, jewellery shops, sport clubs, cultural and shopping centres, entertainment places, hospitals, clinics, warehouses and stores to fix CCTV cameras at its premises. Under the that came into effect from May 1, 2013, it is mandatory for hotels, residential complexes, banks, exchange houses, jewellery shops,

Cars under survilence in a parking lot.

sport clubs, cultural and shopping centres, entertainment places, hospitals, clinics, warehouses and stores to fix CCTV cameras at their premises and is enforced by the MOI’s Security Systems Department (SSD).

CCTV cameras are installed. Also inspectors are supposed to come to our shops and inspect if the surveillance cameras are functioning properly,” said a jewellery shop owner in the gold souq.

Also the private entities are also supposed to buy the surveillance cameras only from authorised sellers.

“There are only very few places from which we should buy the CCTV cameras, they are very expensive and it cost me more than QR 60,000 to purchase and fix the surveillance system,” he added. 

“This year when I went for company registration renewal was asked of

Requirements for CCTV Surveillance • A law governing the use of CCTV surveillance was passed in 2011. According to the legislation: • Businesses must have a control room and operate surveillance 24/7; • Recordings must be kept for 120 days, and cannot be altered before being handed over to competent

government departments upon request; • Recording is prohibited in bedrooms, patient rooms, toilets and changing rooms for women; and • Those who violate the law could face up to three years in jail and fines of QR50,000, as well as the suspension

or cancellation of their business license. • Last year, the law was brought back into the spotlight when the Supreme Council of Health reminded healthcare

facilities to comply with the legislation and install cameras within three months, or face the loss of their business licenses.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

45 security

The owners of the entities are required to ensure that the cameras are working and regularly maintained. Any entity violating the law may lead to three years imprisonment and fine maximum of QR50,000 or one of them.

Can surveillance Cameras Help prevention of crime? By Derek Frazier

O 46

riginally surveillance cameras systems were installed to deter criminal activities but their use has now been extended to also include combating ‘anti social behaviour’ and billions of dollars are being spent world-wide on CCTV systems to combat or deter crime.

A surveillance camera can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year without a toilet break, smoke, or lunch. It does not need a holiday, maternity leave and rarely goes sick. But we are cautioned it doesn’t actually do anything. It is the operators that produce the results required.

security

A British Home Office promotional booklet on CCTV cameras actually states that the technology can be a solution to such problems as vandalism, drug use, drunkenness, racial harassment, sexual harassment, loitering and disorderly behaviour . Indeed, when a CCTV system is installed there seems to be an expectation from the public that all crime and anti-social behaviours in that place will be stopped dead in their tracks and if anything happens to us when out and about in public that event will be captured on camera and all this more cheaply than any other crime prevention strategies.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

However, it is unfortunate that though billions of dollars are being spent world-wide on CCTV systems, there is actually little evidence as yet of the success of CCTV to combat or deter crime or its cost effectiveness in doing so. This lack of evidence doesn’t mean that CCTV is not a success; it can be, but not necessarily in all situations. What it does mean is that most systems have not been properly evaluated and/or the reason or need for a particular CCTV system was not properly explored at the outset.

This paper will weigh up the pros and cons of surveillance camera systems, based primarily on published research and observations of CCTV installations in Great Britain and Australia, examining their role in crime prevention, and offer some guidance towards establishing a framework for a surveillance camera system that could be successful as one part of an overall crime prevention strategy.

However the trader had not reported it to either the police or to the Council. Obviously the cameras did not work to capture events on his roof … because the cameras were aimed at the street, as most people would expect them to be. After discussion with the shop owner it was determined that the offences he talked of only happened on Saturday nights. As there was a camera that could be operated to take in a view of the roof of his premises, and time was fairly specific, there was no problem giving a direction to the security guards in the monitoring room to move the camera view once or twice an hour on a Saturday evening, to check out the roof of the premises concerned. A much cheaper option than buying new

Next must be considered whether the cameras need to be monitored “live” or if they can be monitored after the fact. And what protocols are going to be put in place to monitor such things as the behaviour of the watchers - i.e., who will watch the watchers to ensure they behave in socially appropriate ways and do not misuse these crime prevention tools? As you can see, a number of things have to be taken into consideration before installing cameras, which increase the real costs significantly. Evidence suggests that the benefits of CCTV surveillance fade after a period of time, and that displacement may occur, or there may be a shift to different sorts of crime which are less susceptible to CCTV surveillance. For these reasons, CCTV on its own can do little to address long term crime prevention. The evidence that the benefits of CCTV will fade after a period of time are backed up by a number of studies. Innovative work creates uncertainty for a while for the offender, often fed by lashings of publicity that crime is going to be more difficult or risky for the offender. As uncertainty fades, new crime skills are developed and confidence that crimes can be committed successfully returns. A group of offenders in Europe were asked if they knew CCTV was present, would they have still committed the crime?

cameras. This example serves to highlight the fact that cameras are only as intelligent as those operating them or, to put it another way, the intelligence provided to them. Unless a comprehensive audit is undertaken of where crimes and vandalism are actually occurring in an area proposed to have surveillance cameras installed, it is difficult to pre-determine where the cameras should look and to evaluate their effectiveness.

16% had offended even though they knew CCTV was present. 53% said there was no CCTV where they offended. 31% did not know if CCTV was present or not and did not much care. This relatively high figure “suggests that for a good number of offenders CCTV does not figure highly in any risk assessment undertaken prior to commission of the offence”.

be prevented whereas others will still occur. Research undertaken in Bradford, UK, adds to the case. Figures released by the police for car crime in the city’s car parks show that the highest levels of car crime occur in those car parks covered by the council’s CCTV systems. There is a need to tailor other crime prevention measures to enhance the whole package - there isn’t much point watching a group of people drinking themselves to death every night, and offering violence and aggression to passersby, if there aren’t the services and programs provided to assist these people. People affected by alcohol or drugs will not be deterred from being in a camera monitored space. Even with CCTV, the public generally feel happier and safer if they have an authority figure, such as the police they can actually see on the beat and to whom they can talk with face to face when they need to. The cameras can (and have) been used to back up the police or security guards, who when approaching a “situation” can radio in to the communications room and ask the camera operator to train a particular camera onto the scene and record the occurrence. It may be that emergency telephones may prove more useful than CCTV in that a person under threat can quickly call for assistance from the police and know that it is coming rather than relying on a camera to be capturing the event on video and that a security guard will alert the police. 

When the offenders were asked if they would still have committed their offences if they knew the CCTV had been operational 48.2% said no, 27.7% did not know and 24.1% said they would still have offended (and this rises to 40% for juvenile offenders suggesting that some offences may

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

47 security

In a recent case study, a shop owner was upset that people were climbing onto the roof of his premises and vandalising it as well as committing anti-social offences. This had been happening over a period of two months.

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING Security Guards on BUSINESS premises All types of businesses have to deal with the reality that thefts and other crimes can occur on business premises. Some businesses, such as malls, banks and retail stores, may be more of a target for criminals and petty thieves than other types and therefore a wide variety of businesses choose to hire security guards.

By Kevin Critchell

security

uards can be used to prevent crime, maintain security, and assist customers and employees. Business owners should assess the benefits of hiring a security guard before making the decision to bring one on board Small businesses have to deal with the reality that thefts and other crimes can occur on business premises. Some businesses, such as convenience stores, banks and retail stores, may be more of a target for criminals and petty thieves than other types, but a wide variety of businesses choose to hire security guards.

Sense of Security The presence of a security guard at a business can provide peace of mind and a sense of security to the business owner, employees and customers. Employees that work in high-risk areas are more productive and easier to retain when they donthave to worry about personal safety. It also lets customers know that you are concerned about their safety and willing to take steps to insure it. This may be particularly important for businesses that deal

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

in very high-end merchandise or are located in high-crime areas.

Prevention Simply having a security guard present is a great deterrent to crime. Thieves will think twice about targeting a business that has uniformed protection. Professional guards are trained to look for suspicious activity on the spot. They can assess a situation and react to security breaches. A guard is a greater visual deterrent than just camera surveillance or a standard security system. It sends a message to potential criminals that you are serious about the security of your business.

Customer Service Security guards can also be customer service ambassadors. A guard may man a front desk or act as a sentry to control access to an area. This can mean that there is a substantial amount of interaction with customers and clients. Guards may be able to help direct people to find products and get to the right location in a business. Guard can also be available as

Handling Crime Security guards can receive varying levels of training when it comes to actively responding to a crime. Some may simply take down details and contact the police. Some may be able to detain suspects. It is up to the business to decide whether to have an armed or unarmed guard, and what procedures should be in place for handling a suspect should a crime occur. Hiring a trained and licensed guard from a reputable company can ensure that the guard behaves capably and sensibly when faced with criminal activity on business premises.

Monitoring Not all security guards spend all their time on active patrol of a business property. A security professional may be employed to monitor video surveillance, check credentials, check for contraband or restrict access to an area. A security guard may have specific goals, such as watching for shoplifters, keeping an eye on the grounds after hours, and opening or closing a business for the day. These

monitoring duties take a lot of security responsibility off the shoulders of the business owner and employees, and allows them to focus on their jobs.

Physical Security

Guarding against identity theft

Your physical location, business line and employee count can dictate the level of physical security needed. A security assessment that reviews entry points and security liabilities can offer a view on how much security is required. Physical security measures can include biometric or bar coded door locks, security personnel, alarm systems, video surveillance and restricted access areas. Security measures should include external threats, but also potential internal threats.

Identity theft in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business world is on the rise, a frightening result of the proliferation--and accessibility--of digital records that store personally identifiable information (PII). Businesses require to alert their customers when their private data has been compromised through loss or theft, small- and medium-size companies that lack the staff and resources to judiciously guard and monitor the security of their business.

Equipment Security

Step 1 Assess your risk for identity theft. Business identity theft involves a complex set of issues, including protecting your own intellectual property such as trademark and copyright protections, your financial information, and the personal and financial information of your customers. Understanding your vulnerabilities is the first step in developing a plan to keep your information, trade secrets and customer information secure. Step 2 Verify your vendor and supplier security protections. Consider how many times a day you are filling out purchase orders with your vendors, and how often your corporate credit card gets used for business related purchases. Step 3 Adopt and enforce strong security policies and procedures for your company. Review your policies and procedures for your information technology at the office. Provide your employees with clear guidelines on the appropriate uses of technology as well as how to conduct themselves at trade shows or other industry meetings to make certain your trade secrets are protected.

Physically securing equipment can help protect your company from theft and in some cases loss of proprietary knowledge. Physically securing valuable equipment can be accomplished through locks, cables and prudent equipment placement. Key locks may be required for some equipment, such as printers designated for financial check printing. ď Ž

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

49 security

escorts for customers and employees to get to their cars after dark. Hiring personable and capable guards lets you communicate that your business is secure and customer-oriented.

Collective Action against Cyber criminals Needed: Crime Congress Delegates

trengthening legal frameworks and launching targeted programmes to tackle crimes - from hacking and online identity theft to terrorist groups recruiting foreign fighters - were parts of the toolkit needed to build resilient societies, some ministers said as more than 50 speakers discussed their crime prevention and criminal justice efforts alongside proposals for solutions.

50 security

“Cybercrime deserves special attention,” Brazil’s representative said, pointing to his country’s balanced Internet regulations. As authorities from every country faced complex challenges in investigating and obtaining evidence in digital environments, a truly global legal framework that balanced repressive measures and respect for human rights, especially the right to privacy, was essential. Echoing that sentiment, South Africa’s Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development said the initiative to negotiate a United Nations Convention against Cybercrime should be supported and fast tracked. In an effort to make further inroads in rooting out and prosecuting cybercriminals, speakers described challenges, experiences and best practices. Lebanon’s Minister for Justice suggested that cybercrime required

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

As criminals became ever more sophisticated and brutal, swift and collective action was needed to stamp out new and emerging threats, delegates heard at the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in Doha recently. specific targeted programmes. For its part, his country had taken a number of forward steps, including amending its Penal Code to criminalize hacking. Taking a similar approach, Kuwait’s Minister for Justice and Minister for Awqaf and Islamic Affairs said his Government had adopted laws, including one specifically targeting online crimes, and had also signed regional agreements to combat the illegal use of technology and the Internet. Encapsulating the goals of some of those measures, the “Doha Declaration” adopted by acclamation at the opening meeting of the Congress weighed in on online criminality. Member States, by the Declaration, sought to ensure that the benefits of economic, social and technological advancements enhanced efforts in

preventing and countering new and emerging forms of crime. Addressing a range of related issues on Internet crime, among them identity theft, recruitment for the purpose of trafficking in persons and the online exploitation and abuse of children, Member States sought to explore ways to create a secure and resilient cyberspace environment, prevent and counter criminal activities over the Internet and provide long-term technical and capacity-building aid to strengthen national authorities’ ability to deal with cybercrime. Several common threads had emerged, including that no one country could combat crime alone and that international cooperation was needed to both overcome cross-border challenges and to share best practices to ramp up the fight against crime. What some of the delegates had to say:

JOHN JEFFERY, Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development of South Africa, associating himself with the African Group and the Group of 77 and China, said that Cybercrime remained a global threat, and the initiative to negotiate a United Nations convention against cybercrime should be supported and fast tracked.

51 security

SAMUEL SANTOS LÓPEZ, Minister for

Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, said new and emerging crimes were a concern, including cybercrime, environmental violations and the trafficking of cultural property.

BETO VASCONCELOS (Brazil) turning to the Internet said “cybercrime deserves special attention”. Authorities from every country faced complex challenges in investigating and obtaining evidence in digital environments where traditional international cooperation was often limited. As such, it was essential to develop a truly global legal framework focusing on tools for international cooperation, with adequate attention paid to the necessary balance between repressive measures and respect for human rights, especially the right to privacy. He said that balance had been ensured by Brazil’s domestic Internet regulations. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Karwa Goes Green Mowasalat is seeking to utilise Qatar’s abundant clean energy and is working to establish a base for the significant development of this project which will be put into practice shortly. In June Karwa received its first-ever car in Qatar to be run on compressed natural gas (CNG), manufactured by Volkswagen. The new vehicle is considered a major initiative on the party of Qatar to boost its ongoing campaigns highlighting eco-friendliness.

environment

n support of the ongoing countrywide green campaign and also to replace the traditional fuels that Mowasalat has made a shift towards the internationally acclaimed CNG-buses, according to company chairman and managing director Jassim Saif al-Sulaiti As part of its ambitious mission aimed at reducing carbon footprints in Qatar, Mowasalat will launch of 60 new buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG) to its growing fleet of vehicles. The buses will hit the roads soon. The CNG buses are costlier owing to the superior technologies in their operations and Mowasalat is working to reduce such costs to be on par with the levels similar to those of ordinary buses. The company’s commitment towards the community requires it to put into practice its effective environment friendly programmes, he added.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

The Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel is powered by a 1.4 litre TSI 110 kw (148 hp) engine running on either natural gas or gasoline, and is capable of covering 210km. “The vehicle is run on the first directinjection turbo engine and emits 23% less CO2 compared to similar petrol models. The car will refuel from a specialised CNG filling facility, reducing emissions by 39% over other comparable gasoline vehicles. The country’s first CNG Fuelling station has been opened in the small and medium industries area. “However, we are very careful in implementing some vital measures to convert vehicles to use CNG in a first-of-its kind initiative in Qatar. We, therefore, look forward to operating more and more CNG vehicles, making use of the gas industry in Qatar, which is one of the largest in the world,” said al-Sulaiti. 

International Day for celebrating freshwater resources

nternational World Water Day (22 March) was held in different parts of the world as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day in light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services and the tradition has continued ever since. Water and energy are closely interlinked and interdependent. Energy generation and transmission requires utilization of water resources, particularly for hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal energy sources.

Conversely, about 8% of the global energy generation is used for pumping, treating and transporting water to various consumers.

environment

Last year, the UN System – working closely with its Member States and other relevant stakeholders – collectively drew attention to the waterenergy nexus, particularly addressing inequities, especially for the ‘bottom billion’ who live in slums and impoverished rural areas and survive without access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, sufficient food and energy services. It also aims to facilitate the development of policies and crosscutting frameworks that bridge ministries and sectors, leading the way to energy security and sustainable water use in a green economy. In Qatar, several organizations came together to celebrate World Water Day including and sectors, leading the way to energy security and sustainable water use in a green economy. In Qatar, several organizations came together to celebrate World Water Day including 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Rayyan Mineral Water Co. (W.L.L) Tel. (H.O.): +974 4487 76621 Tel. Sales: +974 44436 9991 Fax: +974 4487 5577, PO Box: 7333 Doha, Qatar Email: info@rayyanwater.com www.rayyanwater.com

ISO 14001:

Maintaining Environmental Sanctity An overview into Environmental Management system and its role and responses.

ith the advent of the massive potential developments in the areas of products and services, it has been thought that the good practice to materialize those products and services successfully is indispensable.

56 environment

by Ahmad Aseer FIIRSM, RSP, LEED Green Associate Senior HSE Manager & Management Representative UrbaCon Trading & Contracting

As environment has been a crucial issue down the decades, industries specially have to make sure that the environment is safe and without risk. Therefore, there is a need for a universally accepted body to acknowledge the standards of an industry to fix a certain standard for maintaining environmental sanctity. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) was founded in 1947. ISO is the largest developer of international standards that is voluntary with state of the art specifications to organizations for products, services and good practice. Since its establishment, ISO has gone a long way providing undaunted standards for companies to go on smoothly. As far as ISO 14001 is concerned, its primary concern is global environmental management. ISO 14001 was

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

established through consensus and was initially published in 1996, and was further reviewed and released in 2004 as ISO 14001: 2004 version. It is an environmental management system (EMS) standard which is voluntarily accepted internationally. EMS not only proposes to generate continuous environmental performance improvement in a company but also pursues very importantly the financial benefits such as operational efficiency improvements (e.g. energy and water savings), reduction in environmental risks and liability expenses, protection of corporate asset value, and public image improvements. Furthermore, EMS covers a vast area of the overall management system. This includes organizational arrangement, planning, activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy. The method of standard is very much similar to that of ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), that is basically a PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) cycle, synonymous to Deming cycle.

consider certification to be a necessary requirements for an organization, as it can learn and can benefit from global management experience and good practice. However, a large number of organizations have preferred to be certified, because what they feel is that the compliance with the standards has been confirmed as being certified and so they will be given some sort of added value or some commercial advantage. In a survey conducted by ISO, it was found that by the end of December 2012, as many as 285 844 ISO 14001:2004 certificates were issued in 167 countries. It was a big leap as there was a 9 % increase in the number of certificates issued, compared to the previous year.

Another quality of EMS is that it has gone beyond narrow boundaries of homogeneous concept. It is the organization which is capable of being competitive, transcending limitations within. The ISO standard has put a great impact on companies. Following the system on their performance and better environmental management, companies can achieve more market values and they can be more cost effective. Obviously, companies having these advantages will have improved financial performances as well.

Organization perspective

Now, the question is whether it is mandatory for a company to be ISO 14001 certified. ISO does not

Generally, the economic development and subsequent performance of an organization is determined by

As environmental management system (EMS) embarks on constant continual improvement, it is often described as problem-identification and problemsolving tools. This emboldens organizations when they consider implementing latest and best techniques. EMS has succeeded by dint of its assurance and due to the commitment that it receives from all levels and functions of the organizations, especially from top management.

In the present world, the biggest problem is catastrophic environmental degradation. Global warming, water and air pollution, depletion of ozone layer, and acid rain have been subjects of debate. Thus, a global demand to satisfy environmental needs and adoption of an effective EMS are the need of the hour. Further, EMS can’t do anything alone until the companies aspire to cooperate and external factors form a bond. The factors that influence ISO 14001 are numerous, such as role of top management, perceived benefit, motivation, market orientation, resource availability, and regulatory and organizational culture. As far as driving forces are concerned, they are regulatory pressures, financial pressures, marketing benefits, shareholder expectations and investor requirements are all driving forces to organizations to effectively manage their environmental issues. Although ISO 14001 standard is designed for organizations of any size, but in reality big multinational companies and international organizations takes the most benefit of this certification. The main constraint for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is the direct cost associated with the certification and its EMS implementations.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

57 environment

The fact that EMS has various striking advantages cannot be ignored. One positive side of EMS is that when it is implemented, it can enhance greater sales to customers who are environmentally aware of the fact that the organization producing stuff is committed to environmental management. Not only this, the root level advantage will be that the reduction of the production costs that will be derived from environmental product and process pursued will lead to an unconstraint developing process. It has been found that the obtaining of ISO 14001 has resulted in the reduction of emissions, as experienced by 75 percent of the companies and 53 percent companies have already done it practically in just one year.

customers’ satisfaction. Economic boost up allures companies and they trudge on the short term profitability. So, what happens is that this emphasis on short term profitability creates a critical barrier to environmental management. In this process any environmental initiatives fail due to the lack of senior management commitment to the important sense of environmental management. As customer satisfaction directly determines an organization’s economic performance, companies are very sensitive to the way customers or markets perceive them. As a general rule, organizations consider expenditure on regulatory compliance as a ‘cost of doing businesses’. Because of this, lack of senior management commitment to environmental management is a common cause of failure of environmental initiatives.

Challenges - role of certification body:

58 environment

An independent certification body audits an organization’s management system to the requirements of ISO 14001 standard (currently ISO 14001: 2004 version) and if fulfills all the needed requirements, a certificate to the conformity to that standard is issued to the company. How accredited certification body decides certifications to a company is based on audit and checks. However, owing to a number of factors, such as quality of their auditors, internal flexible policy and the maintenance of business relations, the approaches differ from company to company, irrespective of their ISO 14001 certifications and regulatory compliance. On the other hand, very often complexity arises when the same certification body entertains an organization that intends for ISO 14001, in consultation with ISO 14001 implementation and gap analysis prior to certification process. As a result of this complex situation, a major variation is seen in the implementation of the management system. The negative effect of this is that honesty is not guaranteed and changes in practices after certification can be foggy. It is quite paradoxical that EMS neither defines specific environmental performance criteria nor does it ensure whether a certain organization achieves the much required optimal performance. Furthermore, EMS does not include a full regulatory audit, and it can well be criticized for not ensuring that violation to legal requirements will not occur as stated in a communiqué issued by ISO and International Accreditation Forum in 2009. Experts have criticized ISO 14001 on both its content and process. There is a fear among environmentalists who sway on the fact that these

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

standards go on extremes: either they do too little or they do too much, as free market activists feel. Others view ISO EMS standards as substandard or inferior to standards that are contextual to a nation or a region. These types of propitious standards are well developed by the European Union as EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) which has dominated over EMS for two reasons: firstly EMAS is more challenging and stringent. Secondly it is more transparent and accountable to stakeholders.

Does ISO 14001 need a revision? Going through the aforesaid criticisms and feeling for a more authentic ISO 14001 standard, revision is seriously needed so that it could be made more acceptable, internationally. If revised and if certain amendments done, ISO 14001 is expected to demonstrate leadership working in compliance with legal requirements. A revision is being done with the aim to enforce two very important actions, as the report of Susan L.K. Briggs said in 2012. The first action, according to the revision will be to introduce the integration of multiple Management System Standards (MSS) into amanagement system of an organization. The second will be the final report of the ISO/TC 207 SC1 that will be elaborating the EMS and future challenges. The EMS Study Group’s evaluation about the evolution of stakeholder and its expectations, and new developments ince 1996 will throw a new light on EMS’s overall exposure. The analysis of the study group that worked to find out hurdles and opportunities to enhance the ISO 14001 uptake in small organizations has been a great turning point. If these obstacles and opportunities are properly recognized and if the uptake of ISO 14001 is increased in small orga-

nizations, the environmental impact will be controlled to a larger extent. To engage stakeholders and communicate externally will also be a great turning point. Finally it can summed up that in spite of some ambiguities connected with the function of ISO 14001, the fact remains that ISO 14001 is a much needed standard worldwide. This EMS has become an important administrative tool which firms wish to have for their sustainable development; the firms wish to go for EMS standard, so that they can be confirmed that they are concerned with the environmental degradation, and could make sure that they work with compliance and considering for a healthier environment. However it is equally true that ISO 14001 EMS functions on the surface only. ISO might work to offer standard to a company but it actually failed to say about a company’s actual environmental performance. On the other hand, the most negative side is that an organization, sometimes feel that it does not need compliance with national or state regulation. This is a big danger, as a complete faith on a company can be futile. Despite the lack of comprehension and consistency among companies in implementation of real EMS, there is a clear consensus among environmentalist that acceptance of ISO 14001 and EMS implementation is influenced by organizational drive involvement of senior management, business demand and organizational values. Now, global demand is to incorporate social and sustainability issues in ISO 14001 standards with greater involvement of stakeholders. 

Working Towards A Brighter, Greener Future

The Airlines has partnered with Qatar Petroleum, Shell, Airbus, RollsRoyce, Qatar Science & Technology Park, and Woqod to advance the use of alternative fuels on commercial flights. Together, the partners are striving to make a cleaner-burning jet fuel with a Gas to Liquids (GTL) kerosene blend that would replace standard fuels across the industry. GTL jet fuel is a semi-synthetic, 50-50 blend of GTL and conventional jet fuel and can be used without any modifications to existing aircraft and engines. The fuel is virtually free of sulphur and aromatics. As a result, the aircraft engine will emit less sulphur oxide and other pollutants. The environmental benefits of this are likely to

include improved air quality around airports. GTL jet fuel has a higher concentration of energy and weighs less than conventional jet fuel. It also offers improved thermal stability, so engines can run at hotter temperatures. This could potentially lead to better fuel economy, decreased aircraft weight, improved range performance, and decreased carbon dioxide emissions for specific aircraft/route combinations. Cleaner-burning fuels could become a major factor in future air quality improvement initiatives for the entire airline industry. With this in mind, construction of the world’s largest GTL production plant is currently underway in Qatar. But Qatar Airways are not stopping there-they are also researching the use of biofuels. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

environment

atar Airways is leading the way in the development of cleanerburning alternative fuels that reduce aviation’s impact on air quality.

Jotun GreenStep

For a more colourful world, we all need to be a little greener Jotunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest contribution to the environment and society is their premium coatings systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protecting property against decay and corrosion.

environment

otun has contributed to the environment for decades by offering high-quality products and solutions. We also use a lot of resources in developing product ranges for our customers, that exceed the legal requirements. We know that our customers like to contribute to the environment, and therefore we are able to offer products and solutions that really make a difference. At the same time, we never make compromises on high quality and durability. As an industry leader in the region, we are making a commitment to the environment by enforcing manufacturing procedures that focus on solid waste and energy reduction, recycling and the implementation of the ISO 14001 and OHSAS certification in our factories globally.

Our global R&D team is constantly developing and innovating advanced coatings to help reduce harmful emissions. We are developing coatings that have lower VOCs and require fewer coats and repaints.

At Jotun we constantly innovate protection As we take continuous steps to better protect your property, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also taking even greater steps to better protect our environment. We call it Jotun GreenSteps - steps that make a significant difference to the world we all share. Steps like waste and hazardous material reduction, product innovations that reduce energy usage, new processes that lower our carbon footprint and creating more products with lower volatile organic compound emissions.

Reduction of solvents/ VOC emissions At Jotun, we are committed to offering our customers greener products that at the same time maintain high product quality and reliability standards. That includes making a large part of our products VOC-free VOCs (volatile organic substances) are traditionally used as solvents in paint products. These substances can give chronic health effects and contribute to high levels of ozone and smog at ground level, and they are therefore regulated in many countries. Over recent decades, Jotun has put much effort into developing products that reduce the VOC content of our products, so that today we can offer products with low VOC content in all product categories.

Advertorial

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Jotun is actively working internally and with industry peers and raw material suppliers to reduce the concentration and quantity of hazardous substances in our products The key objective is that: Hazardous raw materials are to be replaced by less hazardous alternatives. New raw materials must not reduce products’ overall safety, health and environmental properties. While working to reduce and replace the number and quantity of hazardous substances, Jotun shall ensure that high product quality and reliability standards continue to be met. REACH is the new chemical regulation in the EU and EEA, shifting responsibility for risk assessment and registration of chemicals to industry, and is to be completed by 2018.

Reduction of energy consumption Jotun continuously takes steps to save energy for a more colourful world First and foremost, Jotun’s consumption of energy is linked to our facilities, including production and warehouse. When building new premises, or maintaining or extending existing ones, energy consumption is a main focus area. In addition we choose raw materials and develop products that can save energy for our customers and end users.

Reducing waste We dispose of chemical waste responsibly, so that we can all enjoy a more colourful world. Our key objectives are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, to be applied in all our operations, including waste from offices as well as production waste. Reducing and disposing of chemical waste is a major focus area. Obsolete goods are a major contributor to chemical waste at Jotun. We therefore continuously work on how to rework and dispose in a more environmentally-friendly way than just scrapping them.

Jotun recognises sustainability as a long-term competitive advantage.

Reducing carbon footprint

Jotun has carried out a research project together with suppliers, customers, universities and research institutes, financed by the Research Council of Norway, and taken an active part in the regulatory process in the EU.

Jotun has a special commitment to reducing the carbon footprint throughout the whole value chain

Jotun is working actively to contribute to good REACH solutions and easyto-use customer information that will enhance safe use.

The carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change.

Products, so that today we can offer products with low VOC content in all product categories.

It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.

What is the carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tons (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Less waste • Reducing and disposing of

chemical waste is a major focus area. • Objective: Reduce amount of waste

from 2.5 to 2.3% of the production volume in 2011-2013

Supplier contracts and audits • Harmonisation of contracts for

GreenSteps wording • Inclusion of GreenSteps in the

supplier audit schematics • Introduction of a “Rapid plant

assessment” where GreenSteps focus areas are introduced Jotun recognises sustainability as a long-term competitive advantage. 

Advertorial

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

environment

Reduction of hazardous materials

Letting the sun

Work for Qatar Solar energy is a valuable renewable resource in Qatar, and it may become a major resource for meeting the country’s long-term energy needs while also helping to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. By George Julius Williams There is an understandable sense of urgency about Qatar’s response to both global and local environmental issues. The country has a desert climate and an expanding economy so it faces pressing questions related to food and water supply on top of the challenge of developing a sustainable future. At present almost every item on the nation’s dinner plate has to be imported.

62 environment

In its ambitious plans, set out in the National Vision 2030, the country has made careful environmental development one of its four priority objectives. Qatar has joined other environmental friendly nations in pioneering a new economic model, known as ‘green growth’, that simultaneously targets key aspects of economic performance, such as poverty reduction, job creation and social inclusion, in conjunction with environmental sustainability, such as mitigation of climate change, biodiversity loss and security of access to clean energy and water.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Through its research institutions, such as the Qatar National Research Fund, the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), Qatar is finding solutions for the problems that threaten the health of our environment. The country has launched a number of domestic projects that seek to harness the power of sunlight. Among them, the 35,000-squatre metre Solar Test Facility is a world-class project between Qatar Science and Technology Park, GreenGulf, and Chevron to test new and emerging solar technologies from around the world. Solar energy is a valuable renewable resource in Qatar and it may become a major source for meeting the country’s long-term energy needs while also helping to reduce the green-house gas emissions.

Solar panels in a desert.

Qatar has unveiled a first-of-its-kind solar-panel factory, saying it was now the largest solar-power producer in the region with the ability to generate 300mw of energy a year. The Qatar Solar Energy company also announced a three-phase plan to eventually produce 2.5gw of solar energy annually, though QSE board member Reyad Fezzani would not specify a timeframe. “It’s an exciting future for solar energy and we haven’t even scratched the surface and the time had come to focus on renewable energy,” Fezzani said. “Hydrocarbons are going to be with us for many years, but we need to move towards environmentally friendly energy sources,” he added.

The development of solar power has taken off in recent years around the world, but particularly in the Middle East, where a day rarely goes by without long periods of the sun beating down on the desert sands. Over the past decade, investment in solar energy has soared, with $5bn spent in 2003 leaping to $93bn today, according to the Solar GCC Alliance. Rajendra Pachauri, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, visited the solar panel factory for the inauguration. What impresses me is that it’s driven by a visionary view of what we should be doing for the future,” Pachauri said adding the facility was “beyond state-of-the-art”. Fezzani would not provide his company’s production estimates or costs, amd would not name potential investors, saying success “depends on the market”. 

“When the demand is there, we’ll be ready. There is nobody else producing 300mw in the region,” he said. Qatar Solar Energy board member Kamal Ounadjela said 300mw would provide enough energy for 100,000 homes each year in high energyconsuming countries such as Qatar or the US. While the solar industry continues to show promise, issues such as how to store the energy captured from the sun remain an obstacle. “Storage is really a powerful tool for the future of solar power,” Fezzani said. “The technology is there, the issue is the cost.” “I think the government of Qatar is taking a longer view. There’s a finite energy supply here, which is natural gas, but at some point that’s going to run out and you still have the sunlight - that’s free energy. I think it’s great that they’re choosing this niche product, which is the highest quality solar panels that give the biggest return on energy,” he added.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

63 environment

The development of solar power has taken off in recent years around the world, especially in the Gulf. The Qatar Solar Energy company has announced a three-phase plan to eventually produce 2.5gw of solar energy annually.

Meanwhile, Qatar Solar Energy (QSE) has signed a landmark agreement with Kazakh energy company Kazatomprom allowing it to secure solar grade silicon at “an extremely competitive fixed cost” for the next ten years.

environment

QSE says the agreement puts Qatar in “a leadership position in the market given that demand for raw polysilicon will continue to grow as the global need for solar energy increases exponentially in the near future.” The deal, signed by QSE CEO Salim Abbassi and Azat Betekbaev, chairman of Kazatomprom’s solar division, will also contribute to accelerating QSE’s solar power purchase agreements in Kazakhstan, the company added. Kazatomprom, ranked as the world’s largest producer of uranium, has been active in renewable energy since 2009. The company is active in the sustainable energy sector, including photovoltaic module production through its Astana Solar unit and ingot, wafer and cell production through its Kazakhstan Solar Silicon division as well as solar grade silicon production (Kaz Silicon).

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

“This partnership allows QSE to secure the entire value chain from raw material to smart-grid development and provides a powerful foundation from which QSE will further expand its production capacity to 2.5 GW,” Abbassi said, speaking at a recent press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan. “The steady supply of quality raw material is crucial to Qatar Solar Energy’s mission to deliver on the promise of low cost and affordable renewable energy for populations across the world,” Abbassi added. Abbassi said QSE the largest solar technology development and manufacturing facility in the MENA region was seeking to lower costs and increase efficiency of its products by combining research, development and manufacturing under one roof in an effort to form a fully integrated value chain. “QSE, when it reaches capacity of 2.5 GW, will make Qatar one of the largest producers of solar power in the world, contrasted with the total combined capacity of production in Europe and the U.S. which currently stands at 3.4 GW.”

“QSE is quickly putting Qatar in a leadership position for both exporting innovative solar renewable energy technology products and knowledge transfer on high performance cells, modules, and smart-grid development,” the company said. QSE and Kazatomprom also plan to increase cooperation on knowledgesharing and training. In September, the first delegation of Kazatomprom engineers will travel to QSE headquarters in Qatar in the first step towards the company’s knowledge-sharing engagement. 

EARTH DAY 2015 2015 - Earth Day’s 45th anniversary - celebrated on 22nd April was the most exciting year in environmental history. The year in which economic growth and sustainability join hands. The year in which world leaders finally pass a binding climate change treaty.

On Earth Day we need you to take a stand so that together, we can show the world a new direction. It’s our turn to lead. So our world leaders can follow by example. 

In 2015, let’s redefine what progress looks like. It’s Our Turn to Lead.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

65 environment

The year in which citizens and organizations divest from fossil fuels and put their money into renewable energy solutions. These are tough issues but we know what’s at stake is the future of our planet and the survival of life on earth.

Exploring Key Dynamics of Building Smart Cities With its vision for 2030, Qatar is poised to be one of the key Gulf players in the global move towards smart cities and Doha with its newfound eminence as a major city based on its position in the global energy market has led to a boom in its expansion plans and its attendant resource requirements.

smart city, by its very definition, conjures up visions of developed urban spaces created with for the purpose of providing a high quality of life for its citizens. To achieve this end, the city focuses on excellence in key areas such as mobility, environment, infrastructure and systems.

66 environment

The drivers for these would be human capital, social capital and ICT. And ultimately, this movement has to be viewed against the overarching theme of sustainable economic development. Qatar, with its vision for 2030, is poised to be one of the key Gulf players in this global move towards smart cities. A complete understanding of such key elements of smart city management can only be achieved when they are viewed against the context of an actual modern city. With knowledge becoming the new buzzword in a postoil scenario, Doha’s new urbanism becomes all the more relevant for Qatar and its 2030 vision. Backed by political commitment and with financial resources at its command, Qatar is constructing a new urban development brand.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

This creation of ‘Dohaization’ is a carefully crafted one. Understanding the dynamics of constructing such a brand can offer keen insights into the well-planned process for building Qatar’s new identity. Coming down to brass tacks, any push for smart city development needs to include citizen participation and empowerment. With open innovation and ecosystems in the cities increasingly coming to the forefront, strategies must be developed with an eye on understanding newer and newer concepts of innovation and collaboration, global innovation chains, transformative and reactive governance models, and the crucial role of the citizen in shaping the direction of participatory urban development. But such strategies will be deemed incomplete unless ground-level realities are considered. Take parking, for instance. With modern cities acutely aware of the potential pitfalls of an improperly planned parking management system, they usually have a tailored policy in place, to deal with it. However, all plans can go awry unless this policy is integrated with the full scheme of the city transportation

A Smart City image.

The recently concluded Arab Future Cities Summit in Qatar witnessed smart property developer Alfardan Properties showcasing smart living solutions at the exhibition. Smart cities of the future are not dependent on systems alone. Infrastructure and smart building solutions are also critically important elements of any plans for smart city development, as both residential and commercial properties must be developed in a sustainable, energyefficient, durable manner. The challenge is to arrive at the optimum mix of combining traditional construction with the latest in advanced technology, creating the most complete citizen experience. Alfardan Properties, with its commit-

ment to be Qatar’s premier provider of the best living and community solutions finds an ideal partner in the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar, which seeks to discuss the best in smart city solutions from across the world. Mohamed Sleiman, General Manager, Alfardan Properties will be speaking at the summit on ‘Smart Living Solutions.’ Sustainable development is on the rise in Qatar, with its National Vision 2030 that aims to transform Qatar in the near future. In such a scenario, the latest advanced technology has to be used to enhance the living experience for citizens in any smart city such as Doha. Alfardan Properties, with its reputation as one of Qatar’s leading real estate developers, delivers comprehensive, client specific solutions, ranging from design and development to leasing and professional management services, and incorporates the latest in cutting-edge technology in doing so. The value inherent in an association between Alfardan Properties and the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar is emphasized by Mohamed Sleiman, General Manager, Alfardan Properties said, “Alfardan Properties shares Arab Future Cities Summit’s vision of harnessing technology for tomorrow’s urban environments. We believe

that the adoption of Smart Living Solutions is vital to ensuring safer, sustainable and more efficient living and working experiences. Alfardan Properties is investing heavily in terms of resources, expertise and partnerships to help develop nextgeneration ‘Smart Living Homes’. We foresee ‘Smart Living’ as the future in upcoming property developments in Qatar and across the region, which is why we aim to leverage the Summit’s role as a premier platform for discussing the future of smart cities.” Brad Hariharan, Regional Director, Expotrade Middle East, organizers of the conference, welcomed the partnership, saying, “We are delighted to have Alfardan Properties as the Smart Property Developer of the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar this year. Alfardan Properties and the Arab Future Cities Summit are both committed to showcasing the latest technology in smart city development, and it is a logical partnership. The Arab Future Cities Summit is the ideal platform for Alfardan Properties to present their Smart Living Solutions to the audience. We look forward to our association with them.” 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

67 environment

plan. With many cities in the Arab world instituting plans to improve public transport and sustainable modes of transportation, the challenge can often be to understand the subtle difference between adequate, inadequate and extra parking areas usually meant for private passenger vehicles.

Proper Waste Treatment and Disposal Methods

68 environment

ormally, waste treatment and disposal methods are selected and used based on form, composition and quantity of waste materials. This is an important consideration in an integrated solid waste management (ISWM) approach. Waste treatment can also rightfully be regarded as a preceding phase of waste disposal as waste treatment techniques, reducing the volume and toxicity, seeks to transform all sorts of waste into more convenient form for disposal. There are several different approaches to waste treatment.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Thermal Treatment Thermal waste treatment refers to the processes that use heat to treat waste materials. Following are some of the most commonly used thermal waste treatment techniques:

Incineration is one of the most common waste treatments. This involves combustion of waste material in the presence of oxygen. The incineration process converts wastes into ash, flue, gas, water vapor and carbon dioxide. This thermal treatment method is commonly used as a means of recovering energy to be used in the supply of electricity or heating. This method has a number of advantages such as it quickly reduces waste volume, lessens transportation costs and decreases harmful greenhouse gas emission.

When most people think about solid waste management, the final resting place, typically the landfill, comes to mind. The very important and final phase of waste management is systematic treatment and disposal.

Gasification and Pyrolysis are two similar methods both of which decompose organic waste materials by exposing wastes to low amounts of oxygen and very high temperatures. Pyrolysis uses absolutely no oxygen while gasification allows very low amount of oxygen in the process. Gasification is particularly more advantageous as it allows the burning process recover energy without causing air pollution.

Open Burning

is another common thermal waste treatment which involves burning waste materials in a way that causes smoke to be released into the open air directly without passing through a stack or chimney. This particular method is regarded very harmful, environmentally, as the incinerators used in such process have no pollution control devices. The harmful gas released by this method of waste treatment include hexachlorobenzene , dioxins, carbon monoxide, articulate matter, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic compounds, and ash. Still this method is practiced by many local authorities to reduce volume of wastes very quickly, without spending much collection and transportation costs.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

environment

Home Automation Living in the Future

70 environment

By Juliet Messaros

A smart home, or smart house, is a home that incorporates advanced automation systems to provide the inhabitants with sophisticated monitoring and control over the building’s functions.

simple definition would bea dwelling incorporating a communications network that connects the key electrical appliances and services, and allows them to be remotely controlled, monitored or accessed.

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

Smart homes use ‘home automation’ technologies to provide home owners with ‘intelligent’ feedback and information by monitoring many aspects of a home. For example, a smart home’s refrigerator may be able to catalogue its contents, suggest menus, recommend healthy alternatives, and order replacements as food is used up. A smart home might even take care of feeding the cat and watering the plants.

Home automation provides you an integrated control on your electrical devices, so that you can freely control with any smart phones or tablets, both in-home and out-of home. You can also change the ambience with your preset scenes to suit different occasions, everything in just one touch!

The range of different smart home technologies available is expanding rapidly along with developments in computer controls and sensors. This has inevitably led to compatibility issues and there is therefore a drive to standardise home automation technologies and protocols.. Regardless of the technology, smart homes present some very exciting opportunities to change the way we live and work, and to reduce energy consumption at the same time. Imagine being able to check messages, open windows, operate lights and curtains and monitor how much money your house has made you from your renewable energy system, through your smart phone, from anywhere in the world! Home automation technology has developed so far that the only limit is your imagination.

The field of home automation is expanding rapidly as electronic technologies converge. The home network encompasses communications, entertainment, security, convenience, and information systems. One simple interface for total home control.

Lighting Manage the lighting of your living room, dining room and bed rooms from your fingertips. Different lighting effects can be adjusted for different situations.

Curtains Open and close your curtains and shutters anywhere in your home.

Home theater and entertainment With just one touch, all AV equipment can be activated and coordinated, achieving a great home theatre experience has never been easier.

Temperature control With just one push of a button on your Smartphone, you can preset your air-con before arriving home.

Home monitoring Remotely monitor and control your home in anywhere anytime. ď Ž

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

71 environment

Imagine how wonderful it could be - prior to your arrival at home on a scorching sunny day, that your air-con is turned on and already cooled your house? How about after a long dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work, your home is set with a relaxing ambient in just one touch, with your curtains, lighting and some light music to sooth?

Many new homes are being built with the additional wiring and controls which are required to run advanced home automation systems. Retrofitting (adding smart home technologies to an existing property) a house to make it a smart home is obviously significantly more costly than adding the required technologies to a new home due to the complications of routing wires and placing sensors in appropriate places.

SEOUL Succeeds in WWF’s EARTH HOUR City Challenge 2015

72 environment

A view of Seoul city.

WF is the parent organisation of Earth Hour and started Earth Hour with teams and partners in Sydney, Australia back in 2007. Earth Hour™ Global is a registered Charity under the Charities Act in Singapore and company limited by guarantee. Even though this is an open source campaign, the Earth Hour brand is legally trademarked worldwide and licensed for use by WWF delivering the Earth Hour movement. Several organizations in Doha switched off their lights in support of Earth Hour on 28th March between 8.30 – 9.30pm. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

The Eiffel Tower before and after the Earth Hour.

Tarsheed campaign saves QR 600mn for Kahramaa

This was announced by the Minister for Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada at a meeting held to commemorate the third anniversary celebrations of the Tarsheed campaign. The campaign is held under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, under the slogan “Tarsheed: Time is now”. “Since the campaign began on April 22, 2012, there has been an identical overall reduction of 11% in the total consumption of water and electricity in the country,” the minister said. The campaign has also helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1.8mn tonnes, and gas waste by 43,000mn cubic ft, until the end of December last year. The target set by Kahramaa is to make a gross reduction of 35% in the consumption of water and 20% in electricity until 2017.

The per capita consumption of water and electricity in Qatar is generally considered to be one of the highest in the world, according to figures released in recent years by Kahramaa. At the meeting, Kahramaa president Issa bin Bilal al-Kuwari complimented the efforts being made by the residents, institutions and establishments in helping to reduce the consumption of electricity and water in the last three years. He also called upon the people to continue avoiding wastage of power and water. Later, the minister gave away various awards to the winners of the competitions held in recent weeks to coincide with Tarsheed. Mementos were given to government and private institutions, which promoted the campaign to reduce power and water consumption in recent years. The celebrations are supported and guided by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. The organisers also honoured various representatives for their support to the Tarsheed campaign through signing of memorandums of understanding, social support, scientific and research participation. 

HSSEREVIEW April-June 2015

73 environment

heTarsheed campaing has made an effective saving of about QR600mn since the launch by Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) to reduce consumption of electricity and water.

The Edge Picture Company Opens Doha Office having such a key member of the British film-making family base itself here is further testament that the business and investment ties between our two countries isn’t confined to select areas of cooperation but is much broader and includes the imaginative and creative skills of the arts” said Nicholas Hopton, British Ambassador to Qatar.

74 WHAT’S NEW

he Staff of The Edge Picture Company, producers of some of the world’s most creative and memorable films for business and government, including several award winning safety films, were joined at their offices last month by His Excellency Mr Nicholas Hopton, British Ambassador to the State of Qatar. The Edge has launched a dedicated production office in the Gate Mall, West Bay to support the film-making needs of their clients in Qatar and the wider GCC region. The Edge Qatar is headed up by Jamie Riordan as Head of Production. “It is very exciting to welcome The Edge Picture Company to Qatar and to have a leading British film maker join the business community in Doha. British television and film production expertise is world renowned and

“We are honoured to have His Excellency Nicholas Hopton with us today as we establish a new hub for The Edge in Doha, said Phil Blundell, Executive Director of The Edge Picture Company. “This is a very exciting time to start expanding our business in Qatar in light of the economic growth which the country is witnessing, and due to the powerful role that film promises to play in helping Qatar achieve the goals set out in the National Vision 2030”. Since 2005, The Edge has undertaken major filming projects in Qatar, including 2011’s inauguration of Pearl GTL for Qatar Shell, and all of the films for the inauguration of the Qatar Science and Technology Park. The Edge has been recognised by The New York Festivals’ as the World’s No.1 Corporate Film Production Company for the last 8 years. They have a multi-skilled creative team of more than 75 people with extensive experience of high-quality film production in Qatar, the Middle East, and across the globe. Working with such clients has resulted in an unrivalled understanding of local cultures and traditions, as well as invaluable experience of filming in the region, with many films produced in both Arabic and English. 

New service offered for ‘Safest Cars in the World’

It is also a new level of servicing in terms of service to the customer, since Volvo Service 2.0 includes more than what one would usually expect from a workshop, the statement added.

In Qatar, DOMASCO has recently announced that it has launched Volvo Service 2.0 with free software updates. With Volvo Service 2.0, both the car and the customer are taken care of in new ways and the concept of car servicing is “taken to a new level,” the company said in a statement.

The customer will be offered alternative transport, a complimentary car wash and a personal service contact. The car will also get a special health check and a free breakdown help called Volvo Assistance will be extended for a year at no extra charge.

The name Volvo Service 2.0 alludes to the fact that Volvo now offers free updates to the latest version of the car’s software while servicing at Domasco Volvo service centre on Street 10, gate 3, in the Industrial Area. This is crucial for customers as there are many computers in today’s cars that control various systems, and just like with other computers, their software should be updated from time to time.

This is in addition to the usual benefits of servicing at Domasco’s main Volvo service centre, such as expertly trained technicians using the manufacturer’s methods and genuine parts. Examples of functions or systems that can be optimised with a software update are air-conditioning, engine, passive safety and driver information. 

75 what’s new

olvo Cars, acknowledged as the “Safest Cars in the World” have pioneered numerous safety features which have become the standard for modern auto design.

Petrotec IS Committed to Safety

etrotec is a multi-disciplined, professionally managed company with highly qualified and motivated staff in the field of Oil & Gas industrial supplies and services. The management is very committed to HSE principles and observes Zero ToleranceTowards Safety Violations inall operations and activities. Safety is a line responsibility and workers are provided a safe environment to work in. Keeping this corporate consciousness in mind they provide quality certified products from various recognised manufactures around the world and manufacture an absorbent product that is used in the manufacture of oil and chemical spill kits. In Safety, Petrotec represents products from several manufacturers, including:

Roots Belgium - well kown for a complete Fire Retardant range of coveralls that can vastly reduce the risk to burns.

MSA Safety – well established and with some of the best certifications for personal safety products like, SCBA, Head Protection, Eye Protection, Hearing protection, Fall arrestors, single and multiple gas detectors to name a few among many of their product lines.. Bauer Breathing Air Compressors – one of the best recognised names in the Breathing Air Compressors, Industrial Compressors and Cascade systems in the industry based out of the UK MEDC UK - a company recognised as one of the best manufacturers in fire fighting sounders and beacons and signalling products approved for use under ATEX approval for suitability of location and UL/FM that refers to suitability for application. Knowsley UK - one of the best known manufacturers of fire fighting productslike foam delivery cannons, deluge skids, deluge cannons etc. They are already approved by QDC and QP, Ras Gas, Qatar Gas, Dolphin Energy among many of their key customers. Creation Overseas - a manufacturer of working gloves of economical range and many applications Firedex NFPA - certified Turn out gear for fire fighters,for maximum protection and comfort in the most testing ambient conditions Groves USA - for storage solutions for Firemans turnout gear Krusman - Emergency showers and Eye Wash to address worksite emergencies to world standards 

WHAT’S NEW