The Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) has become the first in the region to be awarded the integrated management system of PAS 99, it was revealed.

The publicly available specification (PAS) is a set of common requirements for management systems that can be used as a framework for an integrated management system.

It is intended to encourage organisations with more than one management system to achieve a single holistic management system to enable them to more effectively run their operations.

The announcement was made by company general manager Abdul Rahman Jawahery at the conclusion of the GPIC's safety week celebrations, held at its complex in Sitra.

"We are now one of the first five companies world-wide to attain this certification," Jawahery said. "This is a significant achievement for Bahrain's petrochemical industry."

During the celebrations several chief executives from Bahrain's large industrial companies, officials of the GPIC and others attended.

"This year, we have won the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents chemical sector award for the fifth time," he said.

The celebrations were held under the patronage of adviser to the Prime Minister for Industrial and Oil Affairs and company chairman Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa.

Jawahery said the events in the global financial markets had given them the strength to perform even better as far as productivity is concerned.

"The 'free fall' of prices of all our products is not only creating a sense of lack of security but has also ensured that the outlook for next year is not encouraging."

He said they have to try harder to ensure that they are more efficient, productive and firm in their stand in terms of safety, health and environmental commitments.

Officials from the Interior Ministry, other government departments as well as several company employees were honoured for their participation in the week-long events.

The event included a raffle draw designed to enhance the employees' safety awareness and to encourage them to maintain safety at the workplace and in their homes.-TradeArabia News Service