The Prevention and Safety Authority (SPSA) is the occupational safety and health authority in the Emirate of Sharjah, responsible for enacting regulations and monitoring compliance with them. In its commitment to human safety and in alignment with international and local labour regulations and practices, the Prevention and Safety Authority has developed the Sharjah Occupational Safety and Health System (OSHJ). This system ensures safe practice of activities in the Emirate by providing essential information for risk monitoring, analysis, and the implementation of necessary preventive measures. The OSHJ system covers private establishments registered with the Sharjah Economic Development Department, the Sharjah International Airport Free Zone, the Hamriyah Free Zone, and all government entities. It also includes any establishment conducting activities in the Emirate of Sharjah, regardless of its licensing authority, whether within Sharjah or another emirate.

The system employs a registration mechanism that allows the SPSA to evaluate establishments based on their risk level. According to the evaluation results, the necessary requirements for safe and healthy practice are determined. The system mandates all establishments and entities to report workplace accidents to the SPSA within 24 hours for fatal incidents and within 72 hours for other incidents. Accident data is received for informational and analytical purposes to implement preventive measures that prevent recurrence. Failure to report accidents by employers exposes them to strict punitive actions. Additionally, periodic reports on occupational safety and health data in the workplace must be submitted. The system obligates every employer to implement necessary measures to ensure the safety of workers, visitors, contractors, and all those affected by their activities.

In line with the directives of His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Authority, intensive awareness programmes on OSHJ system requirements will be conducted, targeting all work sectors in the Emirate. This aims to facilitate registration procedures and compliance with system requirements in coordination with relevant government entities and leading entities in implementing occupational safety and health systems in the Emirate.

The system provides mandatory and advisory information and guides to enable employers to understand the best practices for conducting hazardous activities in the Emirate. The SPSA also implements a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with the system’s requirements by entities. Non-compliance observations are communicated to employers and followed up to ensure their removal, thereby ensuring a safe and healthy work environment in the Emirate.

All requirements of the Sharjah Occupational Safety and Health System comply with the legislation in force in the United Arab Emirates and are consistent with international occupational safety and health regulations. The system is distinguished by its inclusion of all work activities in the Emirate, regardless of their nature, whether private or governmental. This reflects the commitment of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Executive Council, to protect all workers in the Emirate of Sharjah, regardless of the nature of their work or their affiliations.

The Prevention and Safety Authority will implement a phased mechanism for applying the system in the Emirate by inviting all private establishments and government entities to register in the system. The registration process will provide data enabling the SPSA to assess the entity in terms of risk and complexity. A specific date will be set by which all entities must register in the system to avoid any punitive measures. After completing the registration process, entities will be notified of the evaluation results, and the necessary requirements to follow will be determined based on the evaluation results. All private establishments and government entities will be given a 12-month grace period to comply with all system requirements.

All operations of the Sharjah Occupational Safety and Health System are managed through an electronic program connected with local and federal entities to obtain connected data on the number of workers, work injuries, and accidents. The electronic program enables employers to register their establishments and know their evaluation results electronically. It also provides mechanisms for reporting accidents and sending periodic safety and health data reports to the SPSA. Additionally, the electronic program offers a mechanism for reporting unsafe conditions and monitoring non-compliance observations and their removal status, thus expediting procedures and digitizing them in line with the prevailing directives in the Emirate of Sharjah regarding facilitating employer procedures and creating an investment-friendly environment in the Emirate of Sharjah.