Mike Medina
RHS Officer (Risk, Health & Safety)
Balancing compliance and reality: challenges in developing a safety culture at University of Technology and Applied Science (UTAS), Muscat, Oman.
Implementing a health and safety program in the academe often involves balancing compliance requirements, cultural dynamics, and resource limitations. This presentation explores the Risk, Health and Safety (RHS) committee’s firsthand experiences at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Muscat, Oman, where safety initiatives are largely driven by the need to meet quality assurance strategic plan, yet actual progress is constrained by limited financial and management support.Operating within a multicultural and resource-constrained environment, UTAS-Muscat faces unique challenges in fostering a robust safety culture.
Cultural attitudes, such as laidback work habits and resistance to change, significantly influence the effectiveness of safety practices and engagement. Despite these constraints, the committee has initiated strategies to sustain compliance-focused programs, promote safety awareness, and build employee accountability of health and safety responsibilities.
Key approaches include leveraging informal networks, creative problem-solving, and integrating safety practices into everyday operations without incurring significant costs. Practical efforts, such as peer-led initiatives and culturally sensitive interventions, have been critical in meeting the diverse needs of staff and students.
Rather than presenting formal research, this talk provides a candid narrative of adaptability and resilience, offering actionable lessons for safety practitioners facing similar challenges in resource-limited academic settings.
I currently serve as the Risk, Health, and Safety (RHS) Officer at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS-Muscat) in Muscat, Oman, where our (RHS) committee have been leading campus-wide initiatives to embed safety and health practices into daily academic life. Our focus next academic year is to implement a wellbeing program in collaboration with the Human Resources and Counselling and Guidance Departments respectively.
With a background in biology, environmental sciences, and urban planning, I approach safety not just as a technical function but as a shared responsibility rooted in context and culture. I’m especially drawn to low-cost, real-world solutions that make sense for resource-limited campus environments. Outside of work, I’m an eco-advocate focusing on climate change (both as a Climate Reality mentor and leader) and an avid amateur photographer. These interests keep me grounded and continually inspire me to link health, safety, and sustainability in meaningful, people-centered ways.