Campaign part of wider on site safety campaign

Doha, July 31, 2012

As part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard employee welfare, Msheireb Properties has launched a campaign to reduce construction-related hand injuries.

According to research by the Qatar National Health Strategy, hand and finger injuries account for more time lost in the construction industry than any other type of injury.In total, workplace injuries account for the third highest cause of fatal accidents in Qatar.

The new hand safety campaign is part of the'Safety First' awareness drive launched by Msheireb Properties  in 2011, which aim to promote a culture of safety among both contractors and employees  working at its signature  project, Msheireb Downtown Doha.

The initiative is  to reduce hand and fingers injuries by educating workers about the importance of wearing protective clothing and rigorously following best practices in construction. The safety-first message will be driven home with the help of special information packs and group workshops.

Eng. Mohammad Al Marri, Projects Director atMsheireb Properties: "MsheirebProperties strives daily to ensure the adherence to the highest standards of safety in the workplace. The hand and finger injury awareness campaign will further energise our ongoing safety efforts and reinforce our commitment to the Qatar National Health Strategy."

As part of the established Safety Program, the company ensures that all new hires go through an induction training prior to their involvement in the project. Procedures in place include daily toolbox talks by supervisors and weekly ones by the HSE staff; Risk Assessment done by every contractor; and daily inspection of the work area carried out by the HSE staff to identify any unsafe conditions or actions, if any. The External auditors conduct a Bi-Annual HSE audit, which is in addition to monthly HSE audit conducted by the internal HSE Officer.

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About Msheireb Properties
Msheireb Properties is a real estate company and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation. The company was established as a commercial venture to support the Foundation's aims, as well as the goals of Qatar's 2030 Vision.

Msheireb Properties' mission is to change the way people think about urban living and improve their overall quality of life, through innovations that encourage social interaction, respect for culture, and greater care for the environment.

Msheireb Properties spent three years researching Qatari architecture and numerous approaches to urban planning all over the world with the most respected experts in the industry - in order to realise an architectural language rooted in the best of the past that may be preserved for and by future generations.

The company's name, Msheireb, means 'a place to drink water' and is the historical name of the downtown area of Doha. The company's corporate identity depicts the mouth of a stone well, a feature of traditional Gulf societies, and its distinct ink effect evokes classical Arabic calligraphy.

Msheireb Properties recently achieved ISO certification from the British Standards Institution for quality (ISO 9001:2008), environmental performance (ISO 14001:2004), and occupational health and safety (BS OHSAS 18001:2007).

The company has also earned widespread industry recognition, including at the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in Cannes, France.

In May 2011 Msheireb Properties launched a dynamic research project with the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. This joint exercise will examine the potential for sustainable urban development in the Gulf and produce a shared intellectual resource, the Gulf Encyclopedia for Sustainable Urbanism, to encourage best practice.

© Press Release 2012