Hazardous Materials Incidents in the Sultanate of Oman: National Patterns and Emergency Healthcare System Implications (2019-2024).

OBJECTIVES

Hazardous materials (HazMat) incidents pose significant risks to public health, safety, and the environment. This study aimed to characterize the temporal trends, geographic distribution, operational settings, and incident types of HazMat events reported in Oman.

METHODS

This retrospective descriptive study analyzed data from the national HazMat incident records maintained by the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA). All reported chemical, biological, or radiological incidents between June 1, 2019, and November 30, 2024, were included.

RESULTS

A total of 55 HazMat incidents were recorded during the study period. Reported incidents increased over time, with the highest annual counts observed in 2023 (14 incidents) and 2024 (17 incidents). Muscat Governorate accounted for 39 incidents (71%). Residential neighborhoods were the most common operational setting (26/55, 47%), followed by other public areas (9/55, 16%), while airports, educational institutions, industrial areas, and transportation corridors each accounted for 5 incidents (9%). Gas leaks were the most frequently reported incident type, involved in 28 incidents (51%).

CONCLUSIONS

HazMat incidents in Oman increased over the study period and were concentrated in Muscat Governorate. Incidents occurred across diverse operational settings, particularly residential and public environments, while gas leaks represented the most frequently reported incident type.