Images535File.pdf

7/27/2019 Images535File.pdf

1/4

BCEHS AlAin

BCEHS AlAin

BCEHS AlAin

Building and Construction Sector, Environment, Health and Safety Inspectorate Section of Al Ain City Municipality

The Inspectorate Section was established to monitor entities in the Building & Construction Sector in the City of Al Ain forcompliance with the requirements of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS). TheSection main functions include: inspections of construction sites, auditing of entities EHS management systems and accidentinvestigation.

In early 2011, the section started the first phase of the Inspection program which focused initially on the main construction projectsin Al Ain City. Currently, the scope of the inspection program covers all types of projects from infrastructure works to residentialvillas.

The Inspectorate TeamThe Inspectorate Team consists of 21 experienced EHS inspectors

and is led by the Inspectorate Manager Mr. Hashem Al Baloushi.

All inspection sta are educated to degree level, and some hold the

professional qualifications of the International General Certificate

of National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health

UK (NEBOSH IGC).

All inspectors are required to undergo an extensive trainingprogram on construction EHS activities and also on the

requirements of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Environment, Health and

Safety Management System (ADEHSMS) which will enable them to

guide the entities and assist them in establishing their EHS

management system and help them to comply with the Building

and Construction Sector regulations.

Bulletin | December 2011Issue 2

Bulletin Contents

Building and Construction Sector, Environment,

Health and Safety Inspectorate Section

The Inspectorate Team

Interviews with Representatives from Building and

Construction Sector Entities

Inspection Program

Heat Stress Campaign

Scaffolding Safety

Ask Us

New inspectors joined the Team in August


2/4

Tel +971 3 712 7970 | Email [email protected] | www.ehs.dma.abudhabi.ae

Over 4500 construction workers attended

Heat Stress Sessions

In coordination with the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi, Ministry ofLabor and the EHS Center, Al Ain City Municipality Building andConstruction Sector EHS Department has successfullycompleted the Heat Stress Prevention Campaign.

The objective of the campaign was to increase the awareness

level of heat stress related illness among the workers in theconstruction sector. The campaign started in June 2011 and wascontinued for 3 months. It included site visits to constructionprojects and labor camps in the city of Al Ain where heat stresstraining sessions were delivered by representatives from theInspectorate Section in dierent languages; including Arabic,English, Hindi and Urdu.Most of the main construction contractors in Al Ain city haveparticipated in this campaign and over 4500 constructionworkers were trained on how to identify the symptoms and toprevent heat stress related illnesses during the campaignsessions.The Inspectorate Section prepared and distributed posters, flyers,booklets and also provided food packs and gifts to the workers.

The Inspectorate Section plans to launch additional campaigns inthe future covering other EHS issues.

For any suggestions regarding our campaign, please contact uson [email protected]

Over 700 site inspections carried out in 2011

Al Ain City Municipality Building & Construction Sector EHSDepartment inspectors have conducted over 700 siteinspections in 2011; the inspections covered dierent typesof projects including government buildings, commercialbuildings, public schools, hotels, resorts, roads, bridges andalso residential villas.

During these inspections, the inspectorate team has advisedthe site contractors and consultants about the environment,health and safety issues and prepared inspection reportsdetailing all EHS deviations and unsafe practices observed attheir sites during the inspection.

The Inspectorate Team has not issued a single fine or penaltyduring these inspection as the projects contractors wereinformed that at this stage the aim of the inspection isfocusing on education and assistance to the entities toensure that they are aware of the ADEHSMS requirementsand understand what will be expected from them once theregulations come into eect.

However, in many cases, inspectors have stopped unsafeactivities that could lead to accident with serious injury toworkers and have also requested for immediate corrective

actions to be undertaken by the contractors to avoid anysafety incidents.

Although the Department enforcement program ofADEHSMS requirements have not started yet, the inspectorsdo have a moral obligation to ensure that the health andsafety of workers and the environment are protected andwhere necessary, actions will be taken against violators.

Currently, the inspectorate team inspects construction sitesof entities that have been nominated by the Department ofMunicipal Aairs (DMA). Nominated entities includedevelopers, consultants and contractors. The number ofnominated entities is increasing regularly with additional 25entities added this month.

The Inspectorate Team also conducts surveys and issuesstatistic reports on the findings from the inspections. The lastsurvey indicated that most of the significant findings duringinspections were related to working at height andscaolding.



3/4


Safety at Construction Sites - Scaffolding

Falling from height is the main cause of fatalities in the construction industry. With theinformation drive from the inspectorate Section on scaolding safety standardstogether with the contractors implementation and compliance with the upcomingregulations for safe erection and usage of scaolding; it will definitely contributetowards reducing the number of potential fall from height incidents.

A scaold or other suitable means must be provided for all work which cannot be safelydone from the ground, or from a part of a building or other permanent structure.

Although scaolding is widely used in the construction industry, most builders are notaware of the safety standards that need to be followed. A review of the findings ofconstruction site inspections revealed that more eorts should be made by contractorsto improve their scaolding.

Scaold work has evolved rapidly from wooden materials to steel framed systemscaold. The widely used systems now are the cuplock scaold and also tube andfitting component scaolding.In Al Ain city, most of the contractors still use the steel framed systems, but in manycases these are being misused or are damaged beyond serviceable repair.

Basic requirementsfor Scaffolding Safety

Scaffolding must only be erected,

altered and dismantled under thesupervision of a competent person; Scaffolding must be constructed of

sound, strong material; Tubes should not be split, cracked,

rusty, bent or distorted, and the timberused for boarding must be of the righttype; A scaffold must be properly marinated

and inspected frequently; and No scaffold shall be partly erected or

dismantled unless adequate notices aredisplayed and access blocked.

In a previous interview by the national newspaper, Mr. Chimanlal Gangaramani - vicechairman of Faraa Integrated Construction Group, which employs 18,000 workers in the UAE - saidthat health, safety and environment policies are always the first priority on the agenda." He alsoadded "Safety begins with everyone, its not one persons responsibility. Everyone on the job site hasto be thinking about safety all the time.

Mr. Shadi al Sady - the health and safety manager at Nael and Bin Harmal Hydroexport - has alsomentioned during an interview that his company had introduced a simple, step-by-step trainingprocedure to help protect its 11,000-strong workforce, in compliance with EHSMS guidelines.Weve developed a system that we think is unique to our company, because we make theeducation very simple for the labourers in workshops and training, and very sophisticated on theadministration level, Mr al Sady said. He also added that his company even provided the workers

with illustrated safety handouts. Everyone works well with paperwork, but it doesnt always make itdown the ladder to the worker, Mr al Sady concluded.

Companies have begun oering training, workshops and induction programmes in dierent languages,with labourers receiving updates on safety procedures.

In an interview with Mr. Mohammed Hassan - EHS Manager of Al Fara'a General Contracting Company he mentioned that health, safety and environment policies are one of their first priorities.

ADEHSMS requirements are taking hold among main construction companies in the city of Al Ain



4/4


Inspectorate Section offering assistance and advice to Al Ain City Contractors

It is our aim to ensure any assistance we can give is oered. We will be running series of EHS workshops, one-to-one sessionson Construction Safety and the ADEHSMS requirements.

Also, we will visit any entity on request to assist them in development of their EHSMS and help them in any site related EHSissues.

Please visit our website (www.ehs.dma.abudhabi.ae) for any information about our EHSMS workshops or contact us on onethe following channels:

E-mail: [email protected]: 03-712 7970

Ask us

Send us your questions to [email protected] or visit our social sites and post your questions. Our resident experts will

answer these for you.

Working at height

We believe that prevention of accidents is certainly better than managing them. Consider removing the hazard

in the first place. For example, close in the open edges with secure railing.


Images535File.pdf

Documents

Transcript of Images535File.pdf