The Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON) organized workshops for factories in Dammam 1st. and 2nd. and Riyadh 1st and 2nd industrial cities, as part of an awareness campaign to preserve the environment. Soon a third workshop will be organized in Jeddah. During the coming five years, the number of industrial cities were expected to reach 40 industrial cities with developed industrial lands of not less than 160 million square meters. With this campaign, MODON aims to raise awareness to the factories of the importance to comply with regulations and requirements of the environment so as to maintain the integrity of the environment and safety of workers operating in the factories and in general, the safety of the community. Occupational health and safety means more than just posting a few safety signs. It means having visual management solutions in place that prevent injury or accident through education and awareness. Regular safety audits, safety training and documentation are key building blocks that should be in place. Ways to improve the status of the factories in terms of preserving the environment were also discussed. MODON provided a presentation about the importance of the environment and long-term sustainable development, and the interest gained by the factories. Eng. Muwaffaq Al-Rasheed of the Environmental Consulting Office provided the appropriate solutions and consultations in the seminar titled title of the seminar "Industrial Environment Challenges and Possible Solutions" and raised awareness to participants of the necessary environmental aspects. A total number of 120 factory managers and environment and safety specialists from 61 factories participated in the seminar. Both seminars witnessed interaction amongst attendees during the seminar. Many questions related to environment were put up. Leaflets and publications relevant to awareness campaign were also distributed. At the end of the seminar, the attendees appreciated the efforts exerted to raise awareness over the past years and the solutions to the causes of pollution and reduction of such pollution resulting from such efforts. The existing industrial cities accommodate more than 3,000 factories with investments exceeding SR250 billion and employing more than 300,000 workers. MODON is also responsible for creating ideal environment for developing and upgrading technology zones in Saudi Arabia, and is currently overseeing two technology zones and six private industrial cities. MODON currently oversees 28 existing or under development cities which include Riyadh (1st, 2nd & 3rd), Jeddah (1st, 2nd & 3rd), Dammam (1st, 2nd & 3rd), Makkah, Qassim 1st, Al-Ahsa, Al-Madina, Al-Kharj, Sudair, Ha'il, Tabuk, Ar'ar, Al-Jouf, Assir, Jazan, Najran, Al-Baha, Qassim 2nd.,Taif, Al-Zulfi, Shaqraa, Hafr Al-Batin. There are cities under planning and designing stages as well, which include Salwa, Dhuba, Al-Baha 2nd., Military industries and Jeddah 4th.
