DUBAL reaffirms commitment to a zero-harm workplace with Safety Award

In keeping with its mission to Zero Harm to its people and a deep-seated dedication to provide every single individual with an accident-free workplace, Dubai Aluminium DUBAL the entirely state-owned enterprise whose Jebel Ali operation ranks among the world’s largest single-site primary aluminium smelters organized a gala dinner to celebrate the winners of its inaugural “DUBAL Safety Award”.

Attended by DUBAL employees and contractor representatives, the ceremony was graced with the presence of President and Chief Executive Officer Abdulla Jasim Kalban, Mohamed Nagib (Executive Vice President: Operations), Walid Al Attar (Executive Vice President: Marketing), Geraldo Aguiar (Executive Vice President & Group Chief Financial Officer) and Ahmed Al Mulla (Vice President: Information technology) who presented the winners with the trophies.

Over the years, DUBAL’s safety performance record has improved significantly in line with its steadfast commitment to creating a secure environment for its employees. The Lost Time Injury frequency rate and Total Recordable Injury frequency rate have dropped by 93% and 69% respectively since 2004-2006 to 2011.  DUBAL protects its employees not only at work but also off the work which is evident from the Non Industrial lost Time injury frequency rate which has reduced by 89% since 2004-2006 to 2011.

DUBAL’s evident success in continuously improving workplace safety conditions has been achieved through a number of initiatives, such as Behavioural-based Safety programs, Leadership training, Management walkabouts, Safety audits and analyses, which have become the leading pillars of the company’s record safety performance. This achievement would not have been possible without the participation and the hard efforts of its employees.

The DUBAL Safety Award comes to an end after a lengthy process initiated by the President and CEO Abdulla Kalban during April 2011. “It is necessary to celebrate what has been achieved to date and recognize and reward the achievers.  This motivates the employees to sustain the record performances and accomplish new targets and milestones,” Mr. Kalban explained.

The award process undertook nomination, followed by adjudication, for four types of prizes: most active employee award, DUBAL team safety award, DUBAL milestone award and long term safety achievement award. Apart from the operational areas and support services, contractors involved in different projects at DUBAL were also included in the categories.

Following a successful event this year, the DUBAL Safety Award is poised to continue for many years to come with the aim of driving constant improvement in safety performance and cultivating a behavioural-based safety culture in the company, a feature that is truly embedded within all aspects of the day-to-day operational activities at DUBAL. Furthermore, the award ceremony acts as a stepping stone to motivate employees and management to adopt new generation safety management tools such as Human Error Prevention Programs.