Status of implementation of safety, quality and environmental management systems in Saudi Arabian industries

ISO achieved global acceptance through continued experiential outcomes in support of its benefits. The ISO standard focuses on quality and the stance of the ISO was that occupational safety, health and hygienic well-being are derived benefits of quality standards implementation. Nevertheless, incidents like the Columbia Shuttle accident and the nuclear disasters in Three Mile Island and Chernobyl prompted experts to think otherwise. Increasing occurrences of occupational hazards in petrochemical, manufacturing, chemical and nuclear plants compelled the ‘quality gurus’ to seek more explicit standards to handle them. Consequently, safety and environmental standards were developed. Soon the need to integrate these standards arose due to the complexity of maintaining such systems separately. Though integrated management systems have not been as popular as individual systems, industries are keen to know more about them. In this context, the authors studied and analysed the status of management systems in Saudi Arabian industries. A nationwide survey covering 314 companies in five industrial regions was conducted. Results revealed that though individual systems are plentiful, their implementation is generally unproductive and the concept of integration has not gained much acceptance. The authors suggest state-driven awareness campaigns organised on a massive scale to popularise the concept of management systems and their integration.