Abu Dhabi City Municipality has affirmed the mandatory requirement for entities operating in the construction sector to provide all occupational health and safety requirements at work sites. This commitment ensures the creation of an ideal work environment that protects the health and safety of workers and the surrounding community near construction sites.
This was during the virtual awareness workshop organized by the Environment, Health, and Safety Management Department through Microsoft Teams, targeted explicitly at English-speaking consultants and high-risk classification contracting companies. The workshop aimed to enhance their awareness and general culture regarding implementing laws related to preventive measures at construction sites and to promote adherence to international best practices for preserving the health and safety of workers in these sites.
The workshop explained the Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Health and Safety System's requirements and the mechanism for monitoring compliance, such as submitting regular reports, activity reports, audits, and other related procedures.
The Environment, Health, and Safety Management Department ensured to invite recently accredited entities in the construction sector, whose health and safety management systems were newly approved, to attend the workshop and benefit from its educational outcomes. The workshop covered several topics related to the Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Health and Safety System, including:
1- The general framework of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Health and Safety System and its organizational structure.
2- Entities' roles and responsibilities in implementing the Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Health and Safety System are based on risk classification.
3- Introduction to the electronic performance system of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Health and Safety System, including reporting accidents and uploading mandatory forms in the electronic program per the occupational health and safety requirements in the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
After presenting the key elements of the general framework of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Health and Safety System during the workshop, the Environment, Health, and Safety Management Department opened the floor for discussion on the optimal implementation of these requirements to safeguard lives and property. The workshop also addressed participants' inquiries and tackled challenges they may encounter during the implementation process, including issues related to completing compliance monitoring.
It is noteworthy that Abu Dhabi City Municipality organizes various educational workshops throughout the year regarding the requirements of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Occupational Health and Safety System. As the sponsoring, organizing, and overseeing authority for the construction sector, the municipality aims through these educational workshops to ensure the safety and health of workers in construction. This sector is recognized for its high activity levels, which necessitate stringent measures and substantial adherence to safety requirements compared to other sectors and industries.