Kuwait Times

Published Date: September 18, 2008
By Ben Garcia, Staff writer

KUWAIT: The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE-Kuwait) held a seminar on Tuesday evening to celebrate, along with the world, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The seminar, held at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Salwa, was attended by its members and various invited guests. The group discussed this year's event's theme, 'International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: Montreal Protocol-Global Partnership for Global Benefits'.

The event marked the seventh consecutive year on which Ozone day has been celebrated in Kuwait, since its inception in 1999. ASSE Kuwait's mission is to provide professional development opportunities for members and other professionals and a platform for those who contribute to the wellbeing of their employees and the public to propagate their knowledge and ideas.

'Ozone Day and its Significance' was presented by V. Ashok Kumar, ASSE-Kuwait's President and current environment and health committee chairman. He also touched on some of Ozone's historical backgrounds and how the world came to adopt the '1987 Montreal Protocol' which he said has helped in a number of ways in protecting the ozone layer from degradation/depletion.

He said that a series of meetings, gathering facts, as well as building cooperation and an exchange of information and research, were conducted before the adoption of the Montreal protocol. "Ozone in the higher level [of the atmosphere] is good, but when it comes down to the lower level of the atmosphere, its harmful to humans, animals and the environment," he stressed.

Kumar added that many scientist predict that ozone depletion might reach its worst levels in the next few years but then gradually reverse, until the ozone layer returns to normal in 2050.

Another speaker, KOC team leader Dhari Al-Garabally, the holder of a double degree in Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences, gave a speech on 'Tracking the progress of Ozone Layer Recovery.' In his address, he discussed the history of ozone and the ozone layer's importance to the environment, animals and humans.
Ozone is the earth's natural sunscreen,", said Al-Garabally, "If it continues to be degraded, it could cause lots of trouble to humans especially in terms of health, including asthma, skin cancer, eye damage and environmental destruction.

The ASSE Kuwait chapter also organizes technical meetings on various subjects related to Health, Safety and the Environment (HSE).