Environmental Vision
It is the vision to create, and maintain, a Sohar Industrial Port Complex that is healthy, safe, secure and environmentally friendly for the industries, its employees, visitors and the surrounding population and nature. The hazards that will possibly occur will be identified. The impacts of its activities on the health, safety and the social and natural environment will be minimalized according to the Oman law or good international practice. Good operational practices of the activities within the SIP-Area will ensure the protection of human life and health, the natural environment and the property in and around the SIP-area.
Safety is the condition of being protected against failure, damage, error, accidents, or harm. Protection involves here both causing and exposure.
The principle standards for regulation of safety in the SIP-Area are:
Royal Oman Policy Directive of Civil Defence rules and regulations
Principles of Seveso II and UK COMAH, describing procedure for Quantitative Risk Assessment and design of a Contingency Plan
Road Safety
SIP road safety standard is that all drivers, vehicles and equipment shall comply with the road traffic laws of Oman and ROP traffic rules and regulations. For the Common Areas, and the roads therein, traffic rules is in force to ensure safe traffic and Trespassers will have to be prosecuted. Royal Oman Police started patrolling in SIP-Area from 2009.
Labor Camps
Policy is that as from first January 2007 when industrial operational activities in the SIP-Area are well underway no labor camps for construction activities are permitted in SIP-Area.
Dangerous Goods
Dangerous goods are substances which pose risk to health, safety, property or the environment during operation and/or transportation. All of these substances are divided in classes in accordance to the specific chemical characteristics resulting in a degree of danger.
Related law and rules which are regulating the use and handle dangerous goods in the SIP-Area are:
IMO- IMDG-Code Royal Decree nr 46/1995, Handling and use of chemicals
Ministerial Decision 248/97, Registration of Hazardous Chemical Substances and the relevant permits
Ministerial Decisions 249/97, Control and management of Radioactive Materials
Ministerial Decision 317/2001, Packing and labeling of hazardous chemicals
All Vessels have the obligation to report Dangerous Goods to Harbour Master Office SIPC by Vessel Notification System. In the Contingency Plans of the tenants are listed the dangerous installations/substances.
Radioactive activity
Standard for use of radio-active materials in the SIP-Area is identical with the standard in Oman. Controls for protecting persons against exposure to ionizing radiation shall be aimed at minimizing the time of exposure, maximizing the distance from the radiation source and ensuring maximum shielding. Legal requirements for the import, transport, storage or use of radioactive materials in the Sultanate of Oman are established by:
Ministerial Decision 249/97 "Regulations for the Control and Management of Radioactive Materials".
In the SIP-Area import of scrap can be hazardous as to possible presence of radio-active materials. For the importing and handling of scrap is valid:
Procedure Scrap and Radio-activity MRMEWR 1-1-2005
Above this procedure SIPC requires from the scrap importing party a Contingency Plan, as well as a guarantee sum, for the solving of problems should they occur.
Construction Activities
Constructions in the SIP-Area should adhere to the applicable Oman laws and regulations. For the construction activities on a Plot in the framework of a Work Permit a HSE-Plan should be handed over to SIPC. SIPC expects these HSE-Plans for Constructions to implement good international practices as to identification of hazards, containment measures and monitoring systems. Occupational Health and Safety as per Oman law should be adhered too. Adequate measures as to working hours, de-hydratation and other health related issues should be in place, as well as sufficient and adequate personal protection equipments for employees exposed to hazards involved with the Work. All construction activities should be executed only after a SIPC permit has been issued for the construction activity. This permit system is part of SIP R&R Industrial Area..
SIPC and Health
According to the Concession Agreement, SIPC evaluated the usefulness of Common Facilities as a Health Center and a Hospital. This is done in co-operation with the tenants and the Ministries of Health and Manpower in the Task Force Health. In co-operation between tenants and the Ministry of Health a request for proposal has been given to three pre-selected companies on May 31, 2006 and based the taskforce evaluation Badr Al-Samaa was selected to be the provider of a health services clinic in the SIP Area. The polyclinic started operation on 11th June 2008; it is located in plot 33. The polyclinic has a pharmacy and there is always a doctor and two nurses present at clinic. The clinic will be open for 24 hours every day of the week with ambulances.
For all enquiries to Sohar Environmental Unit, please email HSSEnquiries@portofsohar.com