Al Raha Beach reaches first safety milestone

ALDAR Properties, Abu Dhabi's leading, integrated developer, has announced that its Al Raha Beach development Joint Venture Company, ALDAR Laing O'Rourke, has established its first safety milestone at the enormous Al Raha Beach project in Abu Dhabi, with the first one million hours worked without any reportable accident whatsoever.

ALDAR's achievement endorses its premise that safety is paramount to its entire staff. The organisation adheres to Abu Dhabi Health & Safety regulations, which are now in line with those of the UK. However, it is the one million 'safe' worked man hours that stand as a general industry benchmark. Indeed, ALDAR has targeted one million man hours worked without a reportable accident and is evidently pleased to achieve this particular milestone.

"To hit the million hours mark is a major achievement and a credit to everybody concerned. The objective now is not to become complacent but to keep aspiring to the positive safety culture we all desire and to aim for two million hours without a reportable accident. This will be achieved with resolute and proactive health and safety management from everyone involved in the project," said Al Raha Beach Development Director, Michael Cox.

The achievement is all the more impressive considering that the hours worked on the project are contributed by everybody on the Al Raha Beach development and not just ALDAR Laing O'Rourke's own management, supervision and operatives. The hours include contractors, delivery personnel, suppliers, caterers and even visitors' time.

"We hold Health and Safety as a core business value and ALDAR Laing O'Rourke is committed to creating a future free of incidents and injuries. We have moved away from a "policing culture" to one that develops the experience and capability of individuals, managers and project teams to continually improve their own safety performance. The achievement of one million hours worked without an accident is evidence of our commitment to this strategy. It has been particularly rewarding to see the contribution and efforts made by our 1st tier contractors" added Christopher Wilkinson, Managing Director ALDAR Laing O'Rourke.