Abu Dhabi Department Of Energy Completes Safety In Heat Campaign To Protect Workers From Sun Exposure

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has wrapped up its Safety in Heat campaign. This initiative assessed how well companies adhered to the midday work ban during summer. The ban, effective from 15th June to 15th September 2024, prohibited outdoor work under direct sunlight between 12:30 and 15:00.

To ensure compliance, the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Department at DoE carried out numerous inspections at work sites in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. These visits aimed to educate workers, employers, and supervisors on the importance of following the summer work ban. The inspections also ensured that best practices were implemented to protect workers' safety.

During these inspections, companies were required to provide shaded areas for workers during restricted hours. Additionally, cooling tools like fans, ample water supplies, hydration salts, comfort measures, and first aid equipment were made available at work sites to protect employees from heat exposure.

Abdul Rahman Al Alawi, Director of the HSE Department at DoE, stressed the significance of these inspections. He highlighted their role in ensuring adherence to safety standards and raising awareness about measures needed to mitigate heat stress among workers.

The campaign included organising 2,139 internal workshops and conducting 5,056 awareness visits across sector companies. These efforts aimed to inform approximately 37,759 workers about the initiative's objectives. To further enhance safety awareness, 7,276 informational brochures were distributed at various locations.

Social media platforms played a crucial role in spreading awareness messages. Over 3,800 messages were shared through videos, text messages, and emails. As a result of these efforts, a total of 40,828 workers benefited from the awareness programme.

Inspection Visits and Compliance

A total of 3,943 inspection visits were conducted during the campaign period. These visits demonstrated compliance with safety standards and guidelines across various companies operating in the sector.

The success of this initiative is evident from the high level of participation and engagement it achieved among workers and companies alike. The comprehensive approach taken by DoE ensured that safety measures were effectively communicated and implemented throughout the summer months.

With inputs from WAM