By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Hospitals across Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) have recorded zero workplace accidents among employees, a senior official in charge of occupational health and safety said yesterday.
The last incident related to work environment and chemicals recorded was minor and manageable, said Dr Huda Al Naemi, Executive Director, Occupational Health and Safety Department, HMC. More than 22,000 staff across HMC undergo a mandatory training on workplace environmental training, which includes contractors and housekeeping staff. “When you go to work, you have to make sure the place is healthy and safe. In hospitals and medical facilities we are using a lot of materials, like chemicals.
“Hundreds of chemicals are used in a hospital, in labs and theatres. We need to know how they can affect our health and how to protect ourselves,” said Dr Al Naemi. In the past three years, there has not been any accidents in HMC, nothing recorded. Zero incidents in (occupational) environmental and chemical-related accidents.
“The last incident was recorded three years ago and it was manageable,” she said on sidelines of the Occupational Environment and Human Health Conference organized by HMC’s Occupational Health and Safety. The two-day conference is organised to highlight the importance of ensuring safety at all times within and beyond a healthcare setting. Local and GCC experts addressed more than 150 participants from HMC hospitals and departments.
The event at Millennium Hotel aims to ensure participants gain a better understanding of occupational health and safety issues that impact their work environment and influence high quality patient care. All HMC staff members are encouraged to complete the mandatory annual training in fire and environmental safety through the e-Learning system.
Dr Al Naemi said e-Learning training will provide an opportunity for staff to acquire more knowledge and information about fire and environmental safety.
“Now with e-Learning, it will be easier for staff to take a course in fire and environmental safety because we realise that most employees do not have time to attend classes due to work.
“Safety is always a concern for HMC and that is why the Occupational Health and Safety Department is trying to cover a lot of related issues. As HMC is growing bigger every day, we need to channel effort towards ensuring safety at all hospitals,” she added.
The Peninsula
