Alba records zero heat-related illnesses for 2023; their heat stress management pays off

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s largest and smartest smelters, has recorded zero heat-related illnesses and injuries across its operations for the seventh consecutive year in 2023. This is regarded as a remarkable achievement in the aluminium industry.

Alba took various means to keep its employees and contractors safe during the challenging summer. They introduced hydration surveys, conducted heat awareness sessions and workshops, distributed cooling cloths to personnel to keep their body temperature cool in hot environments, and administered plant-wide summer safety campaigns and mini-safety campaigns throughout the year.

In addition, Alba kept sharing Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index management and communication four times a day during the hot summer months to all work areas via different channels such as e-mails, display screens, and WhatsApp.

Heat-related illness is a common health hazard in aluminium smelter pot rooms. Heat stroke and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction are some of the life-threatening illnesses that occur to the aluminium smelters’ employees due to their proximity to pots. However, this crisis can be handled by adhering to heat stress management programmes like Alba has successfully done.

Commenting on the occasion, Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali, said: “Ensuring the Safety of our employees and contractors is not a one-time effort but an ongoing journey. By fostering a culture where Safety is everyone’s responsibility, we can create a workplace where accidents are prevented. Achieving zero-heat related illnesses and injuries for seven-year in a row, especially in the tough 2023 summer, underlines our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our workforce.”