Qatari expert highlights HSE as core value for energy sector

Saad Al Kubaisi, Corporate HSE Manager at Qatar Petroleum delivered the keynote address on the opening day of the 8th Annual HSE Forum in Energy, which concludes today at the Doha Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Kubaisi said that HSE is a key business imperative and a core value for all those working in the energy sector, while adding that having Doha host the Gulf's foremost HSE event in the energy sector provided a huge opportunity for the industry to sustain continued HSE excellence.

"Hosting the 8th Annual HSE Forum in Energy in Doha is a particular privilege for us," said Al Kubaisi, who was speaking on behalf of the forum's patron, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry and Chairman of Qatar Petroleum. "I see items on the agenda ranging from occupational health and safety, to process safety, environmental management, neuro-safety, and contractor safety management. Indispensable to all these areas, are the concepts of change in culture, be it work, organisational, or societal, and the application of a risk-based approach."

Al Kubaisi reminded the 350 delegates of the tragic fire at the Doha Villagio Mall in May 2012 asserting that the forum's theme underscores the determination of Qatar's leadership to visualise a brighter future.

He added: "The Villagio fire incident is a wake-up call, not just to us in Qatar. The tragic event is an alert to people everywhere that whatever our efforts to safeguard the health and safety of our people and to protect the environment, we need to do more. We have responded to this call. We have been taking, and will continue to take steps to ensure such incidents never again happen on our shores."

"When I was asked to address this inaugural event on behalf of His Excellency, I could not help thinking how fitting the topic is. Vision is about setting your sights on an ideal and doing whatever is necessary to realise it. Future generations will judge us on how well we turned our dreams into reality. Our resolve and commitment to HSE protection has been strengthened and redoubled by the challenges we have faced," he concluded.

The 8th Annual HSE Forum in Energy successfully hosted more than 45 regional and international HSE experts discussing HSE best practice and operational excellence.

The two-day conference featured 30 presentations, two panel discussions and five hours of networking sessions, before culminating today with four half-day post conference workshops, while the exhibition shined a spotlight on the latest developments and technological solutions essential to ensuring the effective health and safety management and sustainable environmental practices in the energy sector.

The 8th Annual HSE Forum in Energy is supported by Qatar Petroleum, and organised by Fleming Gulf. Gold Sponsors include ChemSafe, Dolphin Energy and Industrial Scientific, while Petrotechnics, Ras Laffan Industrial City are on board as Silver Sponsors.