Nakheel, the UAE’s leading property developer, working with PCFC Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), has formed the Nakheel Occupational Health & Safety Department.
The new department will see the formation of a 25 strong team of Health and Safety professionals within Nakheel, with EHS continuing to act as the regulatory authority for all matters relating to environmental, health and safety compliance across the Nakheel portfolio. A phased programme of transition will see Nakheel Occupational Health and Safety responsible for monitoring health and safety performance of Nakheel appointed contractors, health and safety training for Nakheel staff, and both managing and developing Nakheel’s health and safety procedures and corporate strategy.
Under EHS management, 2006 has seen consistent improvements in on-site safety and compliance at Nakheel’s projects, and more than 250 EHS Health and Safety inspections a month. Following the successful regulation and management of Health and Safety on Nakheel projects, in addition to acting as the regulatory body for Nakheel’s developments, EHS will also act as the regulator for construction activities across all Dubai World companies and projects, including Dubai Maritime City, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Limitless, Jebel Ali Freezone and the Jebel Ali port expansion.
Chris O’Donnell, Nakheel Chief Executive Officer, said: “Nakheel has made excellent strides in developing its Health and Safety, working closely with EHS. The establishment of Nakheel Occupational Health and Safety Department is not simply about continuing to ensure the highest standards of on-site safety, but will further help develop a strong Health and Safety ethos, and practice, across the whole organisation. Nakheel now has more than 750 employees, and on-site we have more than 20 million man hours worked a month; this new department is the next step in ensuring Nakheel grows both as a world class developer and world class employer.”
Ahmed A Hussein, Chief Executive Officer, EHS said: “EHS has a first class record in ensuring the construction industry not only maintains high Health and Safety standards, but also continually seeking to raise them. EHS has built a dedicated team of professionals with expertise across a broad spectrum of areas; whether occupational health or food hygiene, environmental process or health and safety training. We are perfectly positioned to ensure that Dubai World projects are leaders in the region when it comes to Health and Safety performance and regulation, and the formation of Nakheel Occupational Health & Safety Department will continue the excellent progress that has already been made across Nakheel’s portfolio of projects.”
