Strict safety measures key to minimizing fire and emergency situation damages

United Development Company (UDC) officials expressed satisfaction with the way company Health and Safety units in The Pearl-Qatar responded to a fire that broke out last week in the labor camp accommodations on a small island just off the Porto Arabia district of The Pearl-Qatar.

Within minutes, UDC Health and Safety personnel arrived at the scene of the fire, joining Qatar’s emergency services who were alerted to the fire by the Island’s Health and Safety team immediately after the fire broke out.

As a result of the sophisticated health and safety processes already in operation at The Pearl-Qatar and the cooperation with Civil Defense and other authorities, no injuries occurred, and the fire was brought under control by the Civil Defense within a few hours.

 “The UDC Health and Safety Unit is committed to the safety of all those living, visiting or working in The Pearl-Qatar,” Health and Safety GM Saeed Al-Sulaiti said. “An integral component of safety is assessing community risk whereby all construction sites on the Island are required to follow strict safety measures with the intention of preventing future fires or injuries.”

The Health and Safety team is well equipped with state-of-the-art gear and operates vehicles with wireless communication system, fire fighting and emergency kit.

A key component of health and safety measures in the Island is The Pearl-Qatar’s Official Emergency Guide. The guide details measures to be undertaken by first observers and respondents to an emergency.

A statement issued by the UDC Corporate Communications Department expressed gratitude to the Civil Defense for their assistance and prompt reaction. “The management at UDC demands regular reviews of the tough actions already in place at The Pearl-Qatar,” the statement said. “Our aim is to ensure that assessments are regularly made on all sites and that fire drills and training by Civil Defense personnel are set periodically to educate laborers and residents on how to deal with emergency situations.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the authorities.