As Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue to expand their industrial and economic infrastructure, ensuring worker protection has become increasingly critical. Heat stress is one of the leading causes of injuries, especially in labor-intensive sectors like construction and oil and gas (OSHA, 2024), and GCC is a region known for extreme temperatures, particularly in the summer months. Data and analytics have emerged as essential tools for helping organizations predict hazards and implement preventive measures. This paper explores how data-driven approaches can enhance worker safety across the GCC, focusing on climate-related risks such as heat stress, using Kuwait as a case study.

Key Drivers of Safety in the GCC

The safety landscape in the GCC is shaped by several factors, including rapid industrialization, a large migrant workforce, and the region’s extreme climate. The construction, oil, and gas industries dominate the economies of countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait. However, these sectors also present significant challenges due to hazardous work environments and harsh weather conditions, especially during the summer.

Heat stress is a key driver of injuries across the GCC. According to available data, the risk of heatinduced injuries and health risk rises significantly when temperatures exceed 40°C (Columbia, 2022), a frequent occurrence during the summer. Although comprehensive incident reporting is lacking in many GCC countries, government-imposed bans on outdoor work during peak hours highlight the severity of the issue. For instance, Kuwait enforces a ban on outdoor work from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between June and August to protect workers from extreme heat.

Heat Stress and the Impact of Climate Change

The unpredictability introduced by climate change has significantly affected worker protection. GCC countries are experiencing more erratic weather patterns, with extreme heat occurring outside the traditional summer months. In Kuwait, for example, government-imposed bans cover June to August, yet recent weather data highlights that temperatures above 40°C are being recorded well beyond this period.

Using historical weather data, it was observed that in addition to the three months of government bans, 20 days in May, 15 days in September, and even 5 days in April recorded temperatures exceeding 40°C (Meteostat, 2024). This variability emphasizes the need for companies to move beyond preset schedules for work bans and adopt data-driven approaches that dynamically adjust to real-time weather conditions.

The chart below shows the temperature trends in Kuwait over the past year, highlighting how temperatures exceeding 40°C were recorded outside of the summer months. The yellow and red areas represent days with temperatures between 35°C-40°C and above 40°C, respectively.

High temperatures in Kuwait from January 2023 – September 2024

Source : Meteostat

Chart created by author using Tableau.

Data and Analytics: A Tool for Protecting Workers

Given the region’s high temperatures and growing unpredictability, data and analytics have become crucial for protecting employees. Predictive models can help companies anticipate highrisk periods by analyzing weather patterns and historical injury data. For example, leveraging realtime weather data provides early warnings about dangerous heat levels, allowing companies to adjust work schedules, rotate workers, and implement preventive measures like hydration stations and shaded rest areas. This dynamic approach ensures that workers are protected, even during unexpected heatwaves outside government-mandated summer work bans.

Data from Kuwait illustrates how predictive models can enhance employee safety. By analyzing the effects of the country’s outdoor work ban, companies can identify effective strategies to protect workers and implement additional preventive measures during periods of extreme heat. However, relying solely on government bans leaves workers vulnerable during unexpected temperature spikes. Using weather data, businesses can mitigate heat risks throughout the year, regardless of government-imposed restrictions.

Addressing the Lack of Incident Reporting

One of the key challenges in the GCC is the lack of comprehensive data on heat related incidents. This gap makes it difficult to fully understand the scope of injuries related to heat stress and other climate-related hazards. Companies should emphasize the use of environmental data, such as weather forecasts and heat index reports, to predict and mitigate risks proactively.

Although incidents may go unreported, climate and weather data provide a valuable resource for anticipating risks. Integrating this data into safety protocols allows businesses to take precautionary steps before problems arise. Additionally, promoting transparency in injury reporting will help refine safety protocols and improve future predictions.

Conclusion

The GCC faces unique challenges due to its extreme climate, with heat stress being one of the most significant drivers of injuries. Data and analytics offer powerful tools for managing these risks, allowing companies to anticipate hazardous conditions and implement preventive measures. While government bans on outdoor work provide essential protection during the summer, real-time weather data ensures that workers are safeguarded year-round, as extreme heat conditions become less predictable due to climate change. As GCC industries continue to grow, data-driven safety protocols will be essential for creating safer and more resilient work environments.

References Meteostat. (2024). Kuwait weather data [Data]. Meteostat. Retrieved from https://meteostat.net/en/station/40582?t=2023-01-01/2024-09-07

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Heat exposure. U.S. Department of Labor.

Retrieved September 8, 2024, from https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure

Xiang, J., Bi, P., Pisaniello, D., & Hansen, A. (2023). Ambient temperature and workplace injuries: A systematic review of the epidemiological evidence. BMJ Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 80(6), 347-353. https://oem.bmj.com/content/80/6/347#ref-16

Columbia (2022) Extreme Heat is Bad for Your Health . From Columbia https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/extreme-heat-bad-yourhealth#:~:text=Heat%20exhaustion%20versus%20heat%20stroke,or%20happen%20on%20its%2 0own.