The Public Works Authority's (Ashghal) Roads Projects Department has won two International Safety Awards with a Merit from the British Safety Council in recognition of its commitment to keeping its workers and workplaces healthy and safe during the 2019 calendar year.

Manager of Roads Projects Department Eng. Saoud Al Tamimi pointed out that the two awards reflect Ashghal's commitment to Health and Safety in its construction projects and the leading position that Ashghal plays in the Qatari construction industry in terms of spreading awareness and best H&S practices. He said: "This is of great importance to RPD especially that we rely on local contractors and thus cooperating with them to raise the H&S performance in our worksites means a better H&S performance elsewhere in Qatar."

Eng. Saoud also pointed out at the role played by the Projects Affairs and its core H&S team in managing and raising H&S performance for all delivery related departments. He added: "The International Safety Awards won by RPD are part of many awards won by Ashghal during the last few years and this is not a coincidence. It is a result of well-implemented strategies set by Ashghal's leadership and nurtured on the Affairs level."

Al Tamimi stated that the two projects that won the awards are the Roads and Infrastructure Project in Doha Industrial Area (Package 3) and the Roads and Infrastructure Project in West Muaither (Package 3).

For his part, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council Mike Robinson congratulated Ashghal on their success in winning two International Safety Awards with a Merit: "The British Safety Council commends Ashghal on their achievement. The award is in recognition of their commitment and efforts to keep their workforce free of injury and ill health.

The vision of the British Safety Council is that no one should be injured or made ill through work anywhere in the world. Realising it requires more than legislation; people and organisations committed to health and safety make it a reality and inspire others to create workplaces that are a key force for good."

The Roads and Infrastructure project in Doha Industrial Area (Package 3) commenced construction in December 2017 and achieved 5.4 million LTI free man-hours in 2019.

The project employs around 1500 workers hired by its main contractor, Qatar Building Company, and subcontractors. The project covers a network of urban roadways extending to 33 km. The main works include upgrading several arterial and collector roads, diversion and protection of existing electricity and water networks in addition to construction of a new combined storm water/groundwater drainage network and a foul sewerage network.

The works also include installation of street lighting, traffic signals and directional Signage.

The Roads and Infrastructure Project in West Muaither (Package 3) commenced in January 2019 and achieved 1.2 million LTI free man-hours in 2019, with 770 employed by the main contractor, Boom Construction.

The project aims at providing full infrastructure including roads, street lighting, landscaping and irrigation, surface water drainage, foul sewer, treated sewage effluent (TSE) system, and utilities including telecommunication networks, potable water and electricity networks.

Both the awarded projects implemented an effective H&S Management System in accordance with the requirements established by the department.

The core elements of this Management System included leadership commitment and demonstration, pro-active risk identification and management process, training and competency enhancement programme and consultation and participation of all levels of personnel in H&S matters, in addition to setting up H&S objectives and monitoring their achievement for ensuring continual improvement, sub-contractor appointment and control and regular management reviews.

It is noteworthy that RPD projects in 2019 conducted 1098 focused worker welfare inspections, obtained licenses from the Ministry of Public Health for 11 worker clinics and managed to get 90% of the workforce (around 21600 workers) hired by its contractors medically screened for chronic diseases.

This keen attention to health and safety led RPD an accident frequency rate of 0.08 for the 73.86 million-man hours worked in 2019. 43 million of those are LTI free man-hours.

This reflects both the magnitude of works handled by the department and its commitment to health and safety and workers' welfare in its project sites.

Source: QNA

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Sumaica Asad

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