Abu Dhabi, Mar 21st, 2013 (WAM)--The Environment, Health and Safety Division, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, has stressed the importance of observing environmental, health and safety standards at all building and construction sites in order to minimise the risks of accidents resulting from errors and misuses of designing and erecting scaffolds at construction sites, and nurture a safe working environment for all workers involved in these works.

In a workshop entitled "Prevention of Scaffold Risks and how to prevent them at Construction Sites," organised by the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, and attended by more than 600 representatives of contracting firms, consultancy offices and companies specialized in environmental, health and safety, the Municipality called for bolstering partnership relations with construction companies and consultants in applying the highest standards of security, safety and environment in a way that achieves the Municipality?s objectives aimed at ensuring a safe working environment compatible with the local and global standards in force.

Engineer Salah Awad Al Sarraj, Acting Executive Director of Town Planning Sector, at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, said, "Drafting rules, regulations and programs aimed to ensure the highest levels of safety and security while performing construction activities, echoes the Municipality?s strategy, mission and objectives of nurturing a safe & healthy working environment and protecting lives & properties in accordance with the highest international standards. It also comes in line with the Municipality?s vision to ensure superior quality of life and sustainable environment for the residents of Abu Dhabi city.

"The educational programs conducted by the Environment, Health and Safety Division, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, reach out to our strategic partners, developers, contracting companies, consultancy offices and workers at construction sites," continued Al Sarraj.

"This workshop," he added, "replicates the municipal policy in continuing the educational and awareness program aimed at ensuring the highest health and safety standards at all construction sites." He lauded construction companies and consultancy offices for their cooperation and concerted efforts in supporting such vital activity, applying awareness and educational programs and observing the technical specifications that safeguard workers? lives and contribute to creating a work environment compliant with the proper and secure standards." Engineer Abdul Aziz Zu'rub, Director of Environment, Health and Safety, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, said that the workshop came in accordance with an integrated program and a coherent system designed to raise the awareness of workers at building and construction sites. He also stressed to the construction companies & consultants the importance of full compliance with all workers? security & safety standards besides, fostering a secure, healthy & safe working environment, free from all risks undermining their safety.

"The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City is keen to furnish contractors and consultants with all safety and security requirements as regards the designing, erecting and using of scaffolds at construction sites, and distributing educative printed materials to sensitise the concerned parties to the different risks in general and the risks related to using scaffolds in particular," he further added.

Zu'rub called on all workers engaged in such activities to shoulder their legal responsibilities, adhere to the law governing these procedures and show absolute commitment to all safety standards as a team, under the overall objective of ensuring workers? safety and eliminate all forms of threat that could be detrimental to them as a result of scaffold misuse.

"The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City is determined to follow up all building and construction sites by launching constant inspection and auditing campaigns to determine whether the concerned companies apply environmental, health and safety standards, where scaffold accidents are considered amongst the key sources of risks engulfing workers. From this standpoint, The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City calls upon all workers in the building and construction sector not to show any lenience, exercise utmost care & caution and comply with all safety standards when it comes to erecting and using scaffolds," continued Zu'rub.

The workshop reviewed several issues including awareness and guidance activities where the Health, Safety & Environment Engineer Loay Mahmoud delivered a lecture about the hazards and methods of preventing scaffolding accidents. He highlighted the types of scaffolds and dangers of misusing them, such as scaffold collapse, workers/materials fall, short circuit or touching overhead electric cables, and weather elements & their impact in raising the possibility of risks, besides reviewing the key protection measures from scaffold risks.

Engineer Loay underlined the importance of securing the highest degree of safety and security standards when using scaffolds of all types, and the need to use high-quality & safe scaffolds. "Work platforms must have wooden guardrails secured to all frames and load must be checked, besides installing protection barriers, material falling prevention barriers, and wirework at all scaffolds. The lecture also focused on proper erection, support and rigidity of scaffolds and that the ground surface must fit well with the use of scaffold foundation pillars. The lecture also called for establishing appropriate entry and exit means, using safety belt & fixing it to an independent point and inspecting scaffolds periodically.

The lecturer also pointed to the need for re-inspecting built scaffolds during bad weather conditions or if the scaffold sustained a crash or changes, besides focusing on the use of scaffold directional signs & appropriate personal protective equipment.

Engineer Steve Kostun of Harsco Corporation for Constructions presented a working paper on the safety means in scaffolds erected at construction sites and the importance of ensuring a risk-free working environment.

He underscored the importance of dealing strictly and seriously with the risks arising from the relaxed attitude towards enforcing the health, safety and environmental standards, especially when it comes to working in such hazardous environments. He wished safety for all and stressed the importance of fostering a work environment that ensures workers safety and safeguards their lives. He also highlighted the need for concerted efforts to achieve the desired levels of health, safety and environment for all.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.