DEWA opens internal Health & Safety Week

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), opened Health and Safety Week, which is internally organised by DEWA, and is being held across all DEWA branches from 12-15 December 2016. Health and Safety Week is organised to discuss best practices in quality, health safety and environment at work, supporting DEWA’s Integrated Management System (IMS) policy, and its commitment to providing a healthy and safe work environment. The opening was attended by DEWA’s Executive and Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, DEWA’s directors and managers, and group of DEWA’s employees, partners, contractors, customers and stakeholders.

This year’s Health & Safety Week includes a wide range of activities and programmes that appeal to both children and adults. The internal event featured lectures in Arabic, English, Indian, and Urdu for employees and stakeholders regarding health and safety, competitions for contractors on identifying risks, and photography and fitness competitions. During the opening held at DEWA’s main office, Al Tayer noted that DEWA organises Health and Safety Week every year to review DEWA’s accomplishments and to learn and discuss the latest developments in this important area: “We implement cutting-edge methods that meet the highest criteria and best global practices. This annual event also helps to promote DEWA’s IMS policy, which supports health, safety and sustainability. At DEWA, we remain fully committed to providing an inspiring environment that guarantees the health and safety of our employees, partners, developers, customers and stakeholders.”

“Our efforts have resulted in us being recognised regionally and globally for health and safety. In fact, we recently won the Sword of Honour for the 9^th time in a row and the Globe of Honour, for the 5th time in a row, from the British Safety Council. DEWA was one of just seven organisations worldwide to receive the Globe of Honour and one of just 60 organisations worldwide to receive the Sword of Honour. Taking both awards together, we were one of only seven organisations worldwide to be awarded both the Sword of Honour and the Globe of Honour. In addition, we also received the Five Star Environmental Audit from the British Safety Council, for five years consecutively from 2011 to 2016, making DEWA the first organisation in the Middle East and North Africa to receive this distinguished international accolade in environment. These awards validate our efficiency and the success of our IMS policy, which has been adopted to enhance and spread a culture that focuses on health, safety and environment in all of DEWA and its operations. This is why I greatly appreciate your efforts and loyalty. Without you, such pioneering achievements would not have been possible,” said Al Tayer.

“Recently we got another notable award. We obtained the British Certificate in Safety from the British Safety Council, becoming the first public utility to receive this certificate. From now on, DEWA employees and its strategic partners will be trained by our internal training team and will receive a certificate in occupational health and safety from the British Safety Council. Now, our organisation is considerably experienced, and is backed by qualified trained employees to meet its commitments and apply all the international standards in safety, health and environment. The first stage of the programme will include the first and second levels of employee training. This will enhance the health and safety criteria in DEWA as part of its continuous improvement and development, and enhance employee capabilities, potential, and performance, while also raising employee satisfaction. The training courses and certificates will focus on DEWA’s quality, occupational health and safety systems. These courses will also help us to improve our systems, and the further development of standards and guidelines to improve efficiency and operations within a safe and healthy working environment,” added Al Tayer.

“Applying these health and safety standards is not restricted to our employees, but they spread out to the community. Our Health and Safety department organises activities and events for its employees, contractors, clients, and stakeholders to improve their work, and raise community awareness of health and safety standards to become a positive practice for all,” continued Al Tayer.

“In adherence with the smart and innovative drive of DEWA to build a sustainable future, today I am pleased to announce the launch of the first Health, Safety and Environment application by any utility or government body in the UAE. This is service to our employees where they would have HSE on the go. The app will help employees to HSE professionals at DEWA more accessible, such as the HSE department, First Aiders, Fire Wardens and HSE Coordinators, and provide useful information on the go for training, awareness and videos. I congratulate all DEWA employees for this addition to the DEWA office app. In conclusion, I encourage all of you to intensify your efforts to maintain our achievements and enhance our pioneering position, which has always been a source of pride for all of us,” concluded Al Tayer.