ABU DHABI, 12th August, 2013 (WAM) -- There was no lifting device related incidents reported this year, thanks to the campaign of Environment, Health and Safety Division at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City.
A total of 13871 mechanical lifting devices & cranes at building and construction projects were subjected to technical inspection, since the initiative was launched in October 2011. This achievement is an outcome of the efforts of the Municipality in collaboration with its strategic partners to adopt a more rigid line on enforcing Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) standards with respect to the use of lifting equipment in order to ensure workers? safety and nurture a safe working environment. Engineer Salah Awad Al Sarraj, Acting Executive Director of Town Planning Sector, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, reminded the consultancy offices and contracting companies operating in the building & construction sector of the importance of conducting a periodic inspection on the mechanical lifting equipment and cranes at building and construction projects in order to raise the bar on the EHA procedures and stave off accidents & injuries undermining safety of both workers and facilities. He also highlighted the importance of dealing with the approved companies specialized in inspecting & endorsing mechanical lifting devices. Al Sarraj stated: "The Municipality has mapped out a plan to enforce the highest standards of security & safety at construction sites; and from this perspective, the Municipality calls upon all companies involved in building and construction activities to comply with all equipment safety procedures, which are crucial for the safety of construction sites and security of the personnel operating therein."Engineer Abdul Aziz Zurub, Director of Environment, Health and Safety, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City pointed out constructive cooperation with the Dubai Accreditation Centre (DAC) in Dubai Municipality together with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology. "Basing on this cooperation, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City has disqualified 6 technical inspection companies for noncompliance with the required standards & stipulations. 34 technical inspection companies have been registered by the EHS Division at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City. Since 2011, more than 3246 cranes have been rejected by the technical inspection centers in Musaffah (Abu Dhabi), Al Ain and the Western Region," he explained. "The Technical Inspection Centers in Musaffah issued more than 6309 equipment security & safety certificates, and 990 certificates were issued by Al Ain Technical Inspection Center, whereas the Technical Inspection Center in the Western Region issued as many as 3326 certificates," according to him.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.
