Mega-projects in Saudi Arabia—such as NEOM, The Red Sea Project, Qiddiya, and major energy and infrastructure developments—are among the largest and most complex projects in the world. With thousands of workers, diverse contractors, advanced technologies, and high-risk activities, building a strong safety culture becomes essential to protect lives and ensure project success.
1. Why Safety Culture Matters in Mega-Projects
Mega-projects involve simultaneous high-risk operations, tight deadlines, and a multicultural workforce. Without a strong safety culture, risks multiply quickly. A positive safety culture reduces incidents, enhances productivity, and supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals for sustainable development.
2. Leadership Commitment & Visibility
Safety culture begins with leadership. When managers participate in walkthroughs, attend toolbox talks, enforce accountability, and communicate safety expectations clearly, workers understand that safety is a non-negotiable value, not just a policy.
3. Strong Training and Competency Systems
Mega-projects employ workforces from different countries and skill levels. To maintain safety: multilingual trainings, inductions, emergency drills, and competency-based programs are essential. Effective training ensures workers understand hazards and follow safe procedures.
4. Worker Engagement and Ownership
A strong safety culture empowers workers to report near misses, identify hazards, stop unsafe work, and participate in safety committees. When workers feel valued and involved, safety performance improves naturally.
5. Use of Technology to Enhance Safety
Mega-projects in KSA use modern tools such as drones, wearable sensors, geofencing, AI cameras, and digital permit-to-work systems. These technologies improve monitoring, reduce human error, and create a safer work environment for thousands of workers.
6. Managing Contractors and Subcontractors
Since mega-projects involve multiple contractors, consistent standards are necessary. Prequalification, joint inspections, unified procedures, and regular coordination meetings help ensure that every contractor follows the same safety expectations.
7. Continuous Improvement and Performance Monitoring
Safety culture grows through continuous improvement. Mega-projects conduct frequent audits, analyze incident trends, implement corrective actions, track KPIs, and conduct leadership walks to maintain high safety performance throughout the project life cycle.
Conclusion
Safety culture is the backbone of successful mega-projects in Saudi Arabia. From leadership commitment to worker engagement and technological innovation, building a strong safety culture ensures safer operations, higher productivity, and compliance with national standards. As the Kingdom continues to develop world-class mega-projects, a mature safety culture remains essential for long-term success.