title: Occupational health in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rapidly industrializing, and the economy is now less dependent on oil. The future of industrial growth is very bright. Two industrial complexes (at the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea coasts) of eight provide the basis for the Kingdom s programs to develop hydrocarbon-based and energy-intensive industries. Expatriates form the driving workforce in industry. Today, more Saudis are being recruited and trained to man the factories. Occupation-related disorders in industry vary from minor irritations to injuries and cancers. However, the risk of massive releases of toxic chemicals is not great. The national Occupational Health Service directorate is based at the Ministry of Health. Together with the Ministry of Labor, it assumes the overall supervision of industrial health and safety. However, there are constraints the most important of which is the lack of enough qualified Saudis in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, PO Box 2114, Dammam 31451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Seifeddin G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ballal
authors.forename: Hafiz O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Abdulaziz M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sebiany
mesh_terms: D002617:Chemical Industry; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000193:education; D010578:Petroleum; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012943:Social Security
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum