In recognition of its distinguished health and safety performance and wellness initiatives, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has been declared the overall winner of two International Safety Awards 2020 by the British Safety Council.
Ashghal, according to an official statement, won the awards for its commitment to keeping workers and workplaces healthy and safe during 2019. Ashghal is one of the very few organizations to be crowned the overall winner in the categories named ‘Wellbeing Initiative’ for protecting its employees from the risk of injury and ill health at work, and ‘Best Team of the Year’ for the Roads and Infrastructure project in West Muaither (Package 3) in recognition of its commitment to keeping its workers and workplaces healthy and safe in 2019.
Engineer Yousef al-Emadi, Projects Affairs director said that Ashghal is delighted to be recognized once again by the British Safety Council. “The double achievement is a testament to Ashghal’s commitment to Health and Safety and its leading position in the Qatari construction industry in terms of promoting awareness through targeted initiatives, and implementing best health and safety practices,” he said.
Al-Emadi pointed out that these International Safety Awards are part of numerous awards won by Ashghal during the last few years. “They are a result of well implemented strategies set by Ashghal’s leadership and nurtured at every level across the organization,” he said, noting that Ashghal’s ongoing wellness program for health screening of workers commenced in 2017.
In 2019, Ashghal held the health screening of 78,197 workers or 96.5% of the entire workforce. The aim was to identify the three leading causes of mortality and morbidity: diabetes (high blood sugar), hypertension (high blood pressure), and high cholesterol (dyslipidemia/high level of fats in blood).
Workers diagnosed with an abnormal result were referred to a hospital where they were retested and given an individualised treatment plan with medication if needed and regular follow up. It’s worth noting that this proactive health program is one of very few of its type worldwide that is implemented in an infrastructure program.
Engineer al-Emadi thanked the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and Hazm Mebaireek hospitals in addition to the contractors with their licensed medical teams at each work site for the co-operation. It’s worth noting that for the last 62 years, the International Safety Awards scheme has been recognizing and celebrating organizations from around the world, which have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the scheme’s independent judges their commitment to preventing workplace injuries and work-related ill health.
In 2020, 509 organizations won the International Safety Award. They span all sectors and are drawn from the UK, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. A total of 87 organizations were awarded a Distinction, 250 organizations were awarded a Merit and 172 organizations achieved a Pass. However, only a very select number are crowned overall special award winners.
Source : Gulf Times
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