Bahrain is hosting a specialized workshop on Health, Safety and Environment in the Fertilizer Industry: The Time of Excellence.

The three-day event, which began on Tuesday was organized by the Arab Fertilizer Association (AFA) under the patronage of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA).

The workshop aims to strengthen a GPCA policy to enhance the culture and concept of sustainability in fertilizer factories and interacting with member companies to exchange experiences and holding workshops and specialized training programmes.

Since its inception in 1975, the AFA has maintained a strong focus on health, safety and environmental issues to contribute to global food security and the environment.

AFA also strives to improve the health, safety and environment levels of all its members and to spread its culture to protect the human element and contribute to sustainable development of the fertilizer sector.

The fertilizer industry also strives to maintain a safe, healthy and clean environment for all employees, visitors and the society through the application of health, safety and environment (HSE) standards, laws and regulations through the Department of Operational Safety.

The workshop aims to share best practices in the management of HSE, help build the commitment of the fertilizer industry towards excellence, and demonstrate to local communities and the public that the fertilizer industry has taken, and is taking, measures to continuously improve production safety.

About 50 participants from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Libya, the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands are taking part.

The workshop itinerary will include three main topics covering the issues of health, peace and environment by the NEBOSH Foundation, one of the most important international institutions working in the field. It will also discuss the safe operation of production units on an equal footing with the efficiency of operation and productivity, which will be presented by experts from Dutch company STAMICARBON, one of the world's leading in the fertilizer industry technology.

Case studies of Arab companies - members of the AFA – and those from the GPCA, which reflects the efforts and expertise and as well as attention to the aspects of health, peace and environment will also be discussed.