Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) announced on Sunday that no companies in the energy sector in Abu Dhabi violated the midday break rule, which prohibited laborers from working during afternoon hours at construction sites in the summer. The announcement was made as DoE finalized its Safety in Heat campaign, which aimed to measure compliance of all companies in the energy sector with the midday work ban.
The department conducted 3,493 inspection visits to ensure that firms adhered to safety standards. During these site visits, no violations were recorded among companies. The Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Department at DoE conducted several inspection visits to work sites of sector companies in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to ensure best practices were implemented to safeguard workers' safety, comply with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
The visits also ensured that companies provided shaded areas for workers during the ban period to protect them from the sun. Additionally, during the inspection visits, it was reported that appropriate cooling tools such as fans, sufficient water supplies, hydration materials like salts, and other comfort measures and first aid equipment were made available at work sites.
Engr Abdul Rahman Al Alawi, director of the HSE Department at the DoE, emphasized the importance of these inspections to ensure adherence to safety standards and to raise awareness about necessary measures to reduce heat stress and protect workers from heat. Engr Al Alawi also highlighted the importance of continued cooperation to ensure a safe work environment for everyone.
The Safety in Heat campaign included organizing 2,139 internal workshops and 5,056 awareness visits aimed at informing workers about the initiative, with approximately 37,759 workers attending. As part of enhancing safety awareness, 7,276 informational brochures were distributed to workers at various locations. Additionally, social media platforms, videos, text messages, and emails were used to send more than 3,800 awareness messages. The department recorded a total of 40,828 workers that benefited from the awareness program overall.
Mandated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre), the midday break prohibited work under direct sunlight in open areas between 12:30pm and 3pm and was in effect for three months, from June 15 until September 15, 2024.
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