EAD organizes four-day workshop on Risk Assessment and Management

The workshop aims to enhance the understanding of environmental experts and relevant stakeholders from the private and public sector of Abu Dhabi in their approach towards potential hazards on health and environment.

The workshop is being attended by around 30 participants from EAD, Ministry of Environment and Water, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones, Health Authority - Abu Dhabi, Civil Defense, Customs Department, Department of Transport, UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Supreme Council for Petroleum and RTI International.

Dr. Jaber Al Jaberi, Director of Environmental Policies Sector, speaking at opening of the workshop, said:

"Through this workshop, we aim to give our partners an overview about the main procedures and methodologies that need to be applied to conduct a risk assessment of major accidents and process risk analysis."

He added, "During this workshop, participants will learn about the experience of Switzerland, the European Union and the USA. They will also learn about the benefits or proper risk assessment and management and where they should be able to estimate the necessary investment for such risk assessment and its potential application in Abu Dhabi."

The workshop will be led by Dr. Pablo Lerena, Expert in Risk Analysis, and the Risk Assessment Team from the Jordanian Royal Scientific Society. Dr. Lerena has developed several safety case studies related to the risk assessment of major accidents in Switzerland, Spain and France.

Dr. Jaber said that Federal Law No. 24, 1999 for the Protection and the Development of the Environment and its executive by-laws clearly directs the control and monitoring of hazardous materials by the concerned authorities and EAD, being the competent environmental authority for Abu Dhabi emirate, implements and applies this law to all hazardous material handler and their facilities and that in coordination with other relevant authorities.

In 2008, the Higher Permanent Committee for Hazardous Materials Management in Abu Dhabi Emirate was established by a decision from the Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive and consists of members from all the concerned authorities in the Emirate.