Nakheel's safety measures bring time rewards

Palm Jumeirah managing director Johann Schumacher with members of the Marina Residences team.

Dubai-based master developer Nakheel announced it has completed 12 million man hours worked without any time lost due to injury at its Marina Residences site.

The news yesterday comes hot on the heels of Alor’s announcement that 10 million man hours were worked without a lost time injury across its Al Raha Beach, Mussafah Workforce Community and Motor World projects.

According to Nakheel, its achievement is the result of a number of measures introduced across the development on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, including a “project-specific safety plan” produced in collaboration with contractors.

The master developer has also hosted weekly safety meetings for more than 30 months complemented by additional meetings to raise and resolve specific workplace safety and protection issues.

“The measures ensured that the health and safety culture was widespread and at the forefront of everyone’s mind,” said Palm Jumeirah managing director Johann Schumacher.

“The results of this focus, enthusiasm and teamwork are highlighted today.”

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In January 2009, Nakheel became the first developer in the region to formally endorse the Build Safe UAE programme, the industry’s own health and safety initiative.

One of the stated aims of Build Safe UAE is to encourage the sharing of construction site accident information across the industry as a means of limiting the likelihood of similar accidents being repeated.

“We are very proud to have achieved such a benchmark in health and safety at our Marina Residences development,” Schumacher added.

“It is our goal for the entire sector to embrace best practices in health and safety on our projects and to improve all workers’ skills to ensure the highest safety standards.”

There were calls during a discussion led by Build Safe UAE chairman Grahame McCaig at last week’s Construction Week GCC Leadership Summit for the industry to be more active in celebrating its health and safety achievements to raise awareness regarding best practice across the sector.

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