Reckless drivers are posing a threat to the region's oil industry, an expert told a major conference in Manama.

There are also fears of serious accidents in Sakhir, where several oil facilities and pipelines are at risk from carefree motorists, according to Occidental Oman health, safety and environment vice-president Sadiq Al Lawati.

'We are extremely concerned that there are several instances of oil industry vehicles and installations in the region being affected by this reckless behaviour, endangering their own and others' lives,' he told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) on the sidelines of the Middle East Health, Safety, Security and Environment Conference, which opened at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday.

Safety

'Though we have no clear figures, international estimates are that while the industry in this part of the world follows the highest safety standards, it is at the mercy of others' recklessness.

'In Bahrain, the Bahrain Field is literally at the mercy of such offenders.

'Steps are now being taken in Bahrain and elsewhere on setting up mechanisms to curb these incidents, so that oil installations and vehicles are not damaged.'

The conference has been organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) under the patronage of Oil and Gas Affairs Minister and National Oil and Gas Authority chairman Dr Abdulhussein Mirza.

During his opening speech, the minister said a workshop on land transportation safety was of particular interest considering that road transport accidents in the Middle East were higher than anywhere else in the world.

'This is a major concern for the international energy business and statistics have shown 27 per cent of the fatal accidents, which affected our industry worldwide over the five-year period ending 2008, were the direct result of vehicle accidents,' he said.

Dr Mirza described land transportation accidents as avoidable - usually by very simple and cost effective measures.

'In fact, most measures cost nothing other than a change in attitude,' he said.

Up to 95 per cent of all land transportation accidents are caused by human error or inappropriate behaviour by drivers, passengers and pedestrians, added the minister.

Topics covered during the workshop include management systems and monitoring (hardware and software); driver assessments; training and competency; hazardous materials; road maintenance, design and its role in road safety; and off-road training and driving.

Meanwhile, he also stressed the importance of protecting the environment from oil-related accidents -highlighting the devastation caused by a massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.

'Protection of environment has always been a major focus of Bapco and its policy integrates the functions of occupational health, industrial safety and environment,' added Dr Mirza.

The event will also tackle the criteria for maintaining an effective health, safety and environment programme with international experts addressing a range of related topics.

Organisations are also showcasing the latest technologies, products and services at an accompanying exhibition.

The three-day conference also includes networking sessions and a workshop on land transportation safety.-TradeArabia News Service