Safe by Design HSE Initiative for Water Infrastructure
The Safe by Design HSE initiative was implemented by Khatib & Alami (K&A) on the Riyadh Southern Ring Water Transmission System, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest water infrastructure projects. Valued at SAR 5.4 billion (USD 1.4 billion), the project is designed to transport 1.7 million m³ of desalinated water per day through nearly 300 km of transmission pipelines, supported by pumping stations, storage facilities, and advanced substations. By placing people and data at the center of project delivery, the initiative strengthened Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) performance through workforce engagement, digital governance, and proactive risk management.
Building a Safety-First and Data-Driven Culture
The Safe by Design HSE initiative promoted a shared safety culture across a workforce of more than 2,000 personnel engaged in high-risk activities, including deep excavation, heavy lifting, tank construction, hot work, and work at height.
A worker observation card system enabled frontline personnel to identify hazards, report concerns, and recommend corrective actions, strengthening communication and encouraging active participation in risk prevention.
K&A also implemented a comprehensive governance framework supported by digital HSE platforms and real-time dashboards that integrated inspections, incident reporting, environmental monitoring, and contractor performance into a centralized system.
This data-driven approach enabled rapid issue escalation, transparent performance tracking, and proactive identification of trends and risks, supporting continuous improvement across all project stakeholders.
Training, Welfare, and Community Engagement
The initiative included nearly 57,000 hours of HSE training, supported by tailored manuals, risk registers, and project-specific inspection procedures. Worker welfare, accommodation standards, medical care, and labor compliance were integrated into the HSE framework, while engagement with local communities and municipal authorities helped minimize disruption and maintain stakeholder confidence.
Safe by Design HSE Initiative Delivering Measurable Results
The Safe by Design HSE initiative achieved 5.6 million safe man-hours with zero Lost Time Injuries (LTI), a significant milestone given the project’s scale and complexity.
Beyond safety performance, the initiative strengthened workforce competency, enhanced operational efficiency, supported the timely delivery of critical infrastructure, and established a scalable construction safety management model aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.
This initiative demonstrates how integrated safety management can support the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects. By combining workforce engagement, digital innovation, and proactive risk management, K&A helped create a safer project environment while contributing to the delivery of critical water infrastructure that supports Saudi Arabia’s long-term development goals.