Occupational safety and health statistics in the Kingdom witnessed a significant decrease in the rate of injuries at work from 7277 injuries in the first quarter of the year 2022 AD to 6675 injuries in the same period of the year 2023 AD, which is equivalent to a decrease of 8.2%, as a result of the efforts made and the commitment of establishments to apply safety standards and occupational health of workers.
This came in the awareness bulletin of occupational safety and health and its statistics for the first quarter of the year 2023 AD, issued by the General Organization for Social Insurance, entitled “Your safety is a requirement in the work environment.”
The bulletin revealed an increase in the number of subscribers by 11%, and an increase in the number of active registered establishments by 34%, in addition to awareness efforts during the first quarter of 2023 AD, which included more than 1,600 educational visits in the field of occupational safety and health, and 35 interactive meetings in the field of occupational safety and health. 3,000 subscribers benefited from it, and more than 7,000 establishments provided support to improve safety levels in the work environment.
Social insurance efforts are based on protecting the individual and society and providing insurance protection for workers through the application of the Occupational Hazards Branch System, which comes as a result of any cause that may lead to damage to people and property in the work environment that may result in injuries that lead to death, disability or occupational diseases. The Occupational Hazards Branch provides medical care and monetary compensation.
Occupational risks insurance is compulsorily applied to all contributors subject to the social insurance system, regardless of gender, nationality or age, as a result of injuries that may occur to the contributor during or because of work or when moving with the intention of performing a task assigned to him by the employer, or injury to any of the diseases that prove to be As a result of work, or when moving from his home to his place of work and vice versa, or during his way from his place of work to the place where he takes his food, or to the mosque or vice versa, and the employer must pay the contribution rate of 2% of the wage subject to the contribution in full.
Occupational hazards vary according to the bulletin, including (chemical hazards such as gas fumes), (biological hazards such as viruses), (physical hazards such as noise), (mechanical hazards such as cutting and crushing), and (electrical hazards such as contact with electrical connections). And (fire risks such as a fire resulting from improper storage of flammable materials), in addition to the mechanism for evaluating occupational risks and the sequence of methods for controlling occupational hazards through “the removal that takes place by the method of removing the hazard, whether it is a practical or prepared material, and it is considered one of the best methods for controlling risks And “Engineering control by creating ventilation systems to protect workers – in some cases and carrying out adequate maintenance of equipment.” Reduction that comes through reducing exposure times (Duration) or reducing the number of exposure times (Frequency) or replacing one material with another, and “Administrative control Through changing the way of work, rotating jobs, cleaning and arranging work sites, activating the system of work permits and training,” and “isolation through the work of workers in a safe place away from danger,” and “personal protective tools that are the last line of defense to protect workers in the facility.”
For a safer profession, the bulletin emphasized the need to take care of personal protective equipment, including wearing a head helmet in construction sites, construction sites, factories operating places, and places where there are works that may lead to falling or flying materials, and when carrying out work that may expose workers to electric shock, and wear face and eye protection. The choice of face and eye protection should be based on the expected danger, and the need to wear protective glasses for the eyes is mandatory in the event of exposure to flying particles, dust, chemicals or harmful rays, and to wear shoes with a hard toe to protect the feet from the dangers of falling heavy stones. Use of hearing protectors when working in areas where noise is high (90 decibels and above), as well as using body protectors when dealing with radiation or chemicals or for heat protection, and using a safety belt when working in high places, such as in construction work and pipe maintenance. And the belt must comply with the specifications in terms of design, and the use of respiratory protection in areas where there are likely to be obstacles harmful to health, such as dust, smoke, chemical and petroleum sprays, and vapors of harmful substances.
