Opaz enhances compliance with HSE standards in affiliated zones

Muscat: Striving to achieve the highest standards of compliance with HSE requirements in all its operations, the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz), represented by the Compliance and Environmental Affairs Department at the Compliance and Legislation Sector, organised several visits to the companies operating in the zones affiliated to Opaz.

Organising these regular field visits comes in line with Opaz's efforts to achieve environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality plans and their compliance with laws, policies and legal procedures. The visits are aimed to monitor the commitment of the companies operating in all zones to the environmental regulations, legislations and laws issued by Opaz. Further, it serves to follow up on the companies’ compliance with the requirements of commercial licenses and environmental permits used in environmental management systems.

In view of this, Opaz always works to ensure that companies adhere to occupational health and safety standards, risk management, investment environment provisions, security procedures, as well as measures taken by the zones to achieve sustainable development goals. This reflects the endeavours and plans of Opaz and its affiliated zones to protect its employees and ensure that all HSE standards are adhered to in all workplaces.

The recently conducted visits targeted Sohar Free Zone, Salalah Free Zone and Al Mazunah Free Zone to check on their risk management plans, emergency plans, risk registers, waste, hazardous and prohibited materials, and greenhouse gases, and assess the potential risks and their implications.

Therefore, the Compliance and Environmental Affairs Department at Opaz constantly keeps monitoring the commitment of companies operating in these zones to the provisions of the investment environment, commercial registration, commercial licenses, permits and guidelines and organising training programmes for the HSE employees.