Conference to herald launch of health and safety drive in the Middle East

The UK’s leading accident prevention charity will officially launch international health and safety training operations at a renowned Middle Eastern trade fair.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has joined forces with health, safety and environmental training provider Astutis to provide state-of-the-art occupational and road safety education for businesses and government departments in the Arabian Gulf region.

They will promote new courses being run in the Middle East at Intersec 2013 in Dubai – the international conference and trade show for the security and safety industry – from January 15 to 17.

RoSPA is leading the initiative and using its 95 years of experience to offer specialist workplace and home safety training, including road safety for driver and fleet services. It will also highlight the sought-after RoSPA Occupational Health Awards, membership, and audit and consultancy solutions.

Meanwhile, Astutis is launching classroom-based courses in Dubai and Qatar together with its highly acclaimed e-learning solutions, enabling organisations and individuals to gain qualifications such as the NEBOSH International General Certificate, NEBOSH Diploma and IOSH Managing Safely in Aviation along with many others.

Martin Eagleton, RoSPA’s head of international operations, said: “RoSPA and Astutis are excited at the prospect of giving organisations in the Middle East the opportunity to gain more training and awareness in this important area of health and safety.

“Last year’s Intersec trade fair attracted over 19,500 visitors from 106 countries to learn more about improving safety and security problems in the Middle East, so it will be the ideal place to launch this new initiative in health and safety.

“Creating and offering a full range of health and safety awareness, consultancy, auditing and training will not only benefit companies and governmental divisions in the region, but also everyday people as this kind of education ultimately saves lives.”

RoSPA appointed Mr Eagleton as head of international operations this year with the aim of reducing unnecessary deaths and accidents across the world, starting with the Middle East. He has many years of experience in the area.

Mr Eagleton will be supported on Stand 6-228F in Hall 6 at the trade fair by Adam Cooper of Astutis, who has extensive experience in successfully managing the delivery of health, safety and environmental training and consultancy to businesses in the Middle East. Melissa Lovell, health and safety consultant for RoSPA, will also be available for advice and information.

Road accident figures show the annual estimated death rate for the United Arab Emirates was 37.1 per 100,000 people, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar at 29 and 23.7 respectively, compared to 5.4 in the UK. This was according to the most recent figures from the World Health Organisation. The majority of road accidents are work-related and preventable.

Other health and safety issues looming for the region surround the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and a surge in tourism at the celebrity hotspot of Dubai.

For more information on RoSPA’s international operations, contact Martin Eagleton on tel: UAE +971 (0) 5634 91446 (UK +44 (0) 7880 195 531), or email: meagleton@rospa.com
Adam Cooper is on tel: +44 (0) 7971 405059 or email: adam.cooper@astutis.com or visit: www.rospa.com/global/enquiries/