Insight from Qatar

Summarise your professional background.

I have 32 years of experience in quality and other management systems in the construction industry. I have proven experience of implementating ISO 9001:2015 ‘Quality Management system’, ISO 14001:2015 ‘Environmental Management’ and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 ‘Health and Safety’ from building the system to certification. I also have experience in implementing and auditing against ISO 27001:2013 ‘Information Security Management System’ and ISO 22000:2005 ‘Food Safety Management System’.

What are the biggest issues facing quality professionals in Qatar?

Quality is one of the most in-demand disciplines in Qatar. The only issue is that most of the work in the country is very fast-paced due to preparations for FIFA 2022. So quality professionals are feeling stressed in their efforts to meet the schedule and to deliver a high level of quality.

What impact do you believe ISO 45001:2018 will have in improving occupational health and safety in the country?

At present, all organisations have on their own health and safety programme in Qatar. ISO 45001:2018 is compatible with other management standards and accepted worldwide, so it will give organisations a strong foundation, in comparsion to BS OHSAS 18001, when it comes to establishing the management system, implementation and improvement of health and safety at work. 

How do IRCA auditors help build a culture of workplace safety in the Middle East?

IRCA registrations have been given value in Middle East. Most companies have auditors who are IRCA certified. They help build a culture of workplace safety because they identify strengths and weaknesses in the system and recommend improvements; assess whether adequate resources are available and managed effecitvely; and measure compliance against legal requirements at the workplace.

What are the biggest opportunities for quality professionals in Qatar?

A lot of work is going on for FIFA 2022 and all the clients and consultants want leadership that is committed to quality and safety in the workplace. Quality professionals are in high demand in Qatar.

What value do you see in being an IRCA member?

I am proud to be a member of IRCA and I have encouraged several quality professionals to become a member of IRCA. IRCA is an icon that means you are committed to management system certifications. 

Arvind Sharma, IRCA Lead Auditor, is Quality Assurance and Quality Control Manager at Gulf Contracting Co.