The Industrial Development Office of the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi announced the approval of 9 new high-risk industrial facilities that adhere to occupational safety and health standards during the first quarter of 2020, bringing the total of approved high-risk establishments to 467 industrial establishments at the level of Abu Dhabi.
The Industrial Development Office of the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi announced the approval of 9 new high-risk industrial facilities that adhere to occupational safety and health standards during the first quarter of 2020, bringing the total of approved high-risk establishments to 467 industrial establishments at the level of Abu Dhabi.
This came in the report of the Environment, Health and Safety Department of the Industrial Development Bureau for the first quarter of 2020, which monitors the application of the requirements of the general framework of the Abu Dhabi System for Occupational Safety and Health and the nomination of industrial establishments with the aim of developing an occupational safety and health management system within the industrial sector in the emirate. And the completion of technical reviews of their occupational safety and health system and issuance of certificates in this regard.
The report revealed that during the first quarter, 61 reports of serious occupational accidents within the industrial sector were received by the Environment, Health and Safety Department, and the Industrial Development Office carried out 205 field visits to assess the performance of the industrial sector, within the framework of the office’s role in industrial control during which the conditions of industrial facilities were improved in line with Licensing requirements and occupational safety and health standards.
The report mentioned that 127 technical documents were reviewed to obtain environmental permits to support new investors, which is one of the main requirements for obtaining an industrial license. Auditing Muhammad Munif Al-Mansouri, Executive Director of the Industrial Development Bureau, said that in the context of practicing the role of industrial control in the industrial sector and following up on establishments that have approved systems for occupational safety and health, the Environmental Health and Safety Department in the office conducts audits of establishments that have approved systems, and also control visits Whether it is periodic or related to the movement of the license, in addition to receiving and reviewing external audit reports from the establishments. He added that the administration recently issued a report in this regard indicating that during the first quarter it received and reviewed 47 annual external audit reports from the relevant industrial establishments, to ensure that these reports are subject to the high technical standards required to ensure the implementation of the occupational safety and health system and work on continuous development and improvement.
He explained that in order to enhance awareness of the environment, health and safety in the industrial sector, meetings were organized with representatives of the establishments to clarify the requirements of the occupational safety and health management system, which were defined by the EHS Department of the Industrial Development Office. In this regard, the report monitored 137 services for providing technical advice related to industrial licensing requirements, occupational safety and health, in addition to evaluating 204 reports in response to emergency situations to be reviewed by the office and assessing their compatibility with standards. The office also held a series of awareness seminars, including a symposium on preparedness to face Emergency cases and preventive measures to avoid dangerous accidents resulting from the use of lifting equipment, in the presence of more than 105 people. Initiatives The report dealt with a number of initiatives implemented by the Environment, Health and Safety Department in the office, the most important of which is the launch of a guideline for a business continuity plan targeting industrial facilities within the framework of the relentless efforts undertaken by various government agencies to address the spread of the Corona virus, as this guide contributes to directing industrial facilities to Developing and implementing business continuity plans in order to minimize disruption to the flow of operations and to ensure that business is executed and practiced in light of the spread of this virus. Munif Al-Mansouri stated that the business continuity guideline shows industrial establishments how to take the necessary practical steps and ensure appropriate preparation for the continuation of activities, which includes human resources management, operations, and job functions as well as supply chain procedures, customer service, internal and external communication processes, and helps reduce health risks.
The employees and workers in industrial facilities, thus reducing the risk of transmitting and spreading the virus within the workplace. The report reviewed a number of projects that the Environment, Health and Safety Department at the Industrial Development Office are working to accomplish, such as a project to improve the performance levels of the industrial sector in the field of occupational safety and health, which aims to enhance the efficiency of human cadres in the industrial sector in the context of environment, health and safety and raise awareness in the industrial sector.