Sohar Aluminium (SA) was recently recognized for its innovative annual Heat Stress Management Campaign by the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC), the Aluminium Industry’s coordinating body and leading professional organization. The award was received on behalf of Sohar Aluminium by Engineer Said Mohamed Al Masoudi, SA’s Chief Executive Officer, at a ceremony held during the Arabal Aluminium (ARABAL) Conference and Exhibition, the premium trade event for the Middle East's Aluminium Industry. Arabal, which was held in Dubai, UAE, this year, has been set to be take place in Oman in 2017.
Commenting on this accolade, Mr. Al Masoudi said: “we are honoured to receive one of the Aluminium industry most prestigious awards. It is indeed a privilege to receive this acknowledgement for Sohar Aluminium’s efforts in Heat Stress Management and awareness. The campaign is part of the company’s continuous efforts to build a culture of high safety standards among its employees and contractors while sharing its values and initiatives with the community.”
He added: “I would like to thank all employees of Sohar Aluminium who enthusiastically unroll the Campaign every year keeping our colleagues and friends and neighbors in the community safe from heat and its hazards.”
The Sohar Aluminium Heat Stress Management Campaign operates from May to September every year, and since 2014 the company has not recorded any instances of serious heat-related illnesses or conditions. The Campaign is carried out across all Sohar Aluminium operations and throughout the Sohar region. It vigorously raises awareness about heat stress and heat illness and educates and informs on combatting the challenges of the summer months and mitigating their effects. This year, in addition to the Campaign’s extensive programme of activities such as environmental monitoring, physiological checks, and the distribution of nutritious snacks and hydration fluids, SA conducted daily radio broadcasts in Arabic and English reaching out to more than 1 Million listeners across Oman and also held awareness sessions at local schools.
Arabal events are attended by the primary aluminium producers in the region every year. Ever since it was first held in 1983, this annual event had helped position the regional aluminium manufacturers in the global map of the industry. It has also attained growing interest of aluminium experts from different parts of the world. During the course of the event, several topics related to the industry are discussed such as productions, aluminium prices, supply and demand as well as advancements in aluminium production technologies.
Sohar Aluminium’s CEO, Said Al Masoudi, took part in the “Industry Keynote Panel” along with the other participating CEOs. Also, Chris Murray, Sohar Aluminium’s Chief Operating Officer, gave a presentation and participated in panel discussions which focused on the intersection between operations and technology.
Sohar Aluminium was formed in September 2004 to undertake a landmark Greenfield aluminium smelter project in the Sultanate of Oman. It is jointly owned by Oman Oil Company, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC - TAQA and Rio Tinto.