Source: www.rta.ae
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the 7th Cycle of its Safety Awards 2015 that mainly focuses on inspiring RTA’s Stakeholders to play proactive and constructive roles to enhance ‘Safety’ all over RTA’s operations.
Nasser Bu Shehab, Acting CEO of RTA’s Strategy and Corporate Governance said: “the goal of RTA’s Safety Awards is to promote best safety practices in all phases of RTA and to increase the ownership and accountability of Safety responsibilities at all levels. These awards aim to raise safety awareness for stakeholders, and would encourage them to adopt the best health, safety and environment practices and ensure compliance with the applicable legal requirements.” “We introduced in the Safety Award of its 7th Cycle a new category called the “Safety Leader,” which is designated for RTA’s Directors and CEOs to decorate their accomplishments in safety all over RTA.”
“Ensuring compliance to safety standards and requirements of RTA Safety and Environmental Management System while executing projects is one of RTA’s key objectives to promote safety. All projects undertaken by RTA Agencies and sectors are designed and implemented at the highest safety standards, and are subject to thorough assessments in all stages to ensure alignment to all requirements related to project safety,” added Bu Shehab.
The 2015 Award Categories of the 6th Cycle are designed to promote and recognize good practices in Safety at all levels of operations across RTA. There are eight main categories defined for the 7th Cycle of RTA Safety Awards in 2015. These categories include the Best Safety Consultant, the Best Safety Contractor, the Best Employee Labourer of a Contractor, the Best Valued Partners of RTA and the Best RTA Health, Safety and Environment Team for their performance in alignment to the RTA Strategic Goal No. 5, ‘Safety and Environmental Sustainability.’
For his part, Amair Saleem, Director, Safety Regulation & Risk Planning explained that RTA has adopted the modern risk management approach, which is focused on prediction and prevention, i.e. to systematically assess and identify the risks during design, throughout the various project phases in order to eliminate or control during all phases of activities, rather than being reactive. To complement this approach RTA has introduced an Enterprise Risk Management System Framework that is applied across all functions and projects in RTA.
As part of its strategy and commitment to Safety, RTA has established evaluation process and criteria for organizations to participate in 7th Cycle of Safety Awards, in 2015. The criteria will examine the Health, Safety and Environment systems of those entities participating in Safety Awards to ensure ‘Safety’ is considered as a key element in their operations. Where monitoring and measuring mechanisms shall also be an integrated approach of safety in consultation with workplace parties.
Results of the 7th Cycle Safety Awards evaluation will be revealed during the RTA Safety Award event, where Winners will be recognized and rewarded by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors.
As directed by the Director General and Chairman of the Board & Executive Directors of RTA, H. E Matter Al Tayer, RTA is committed to the policy of “No Compromise to Safety.” The Director General said that ‘the Safety Awards would aim at reinforcing the leading role of RTA in fostering the safety performance and teamwork across the Organization.”
It is worth mentioning that Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) launched the first Safety Awards Cycle in 2009 recognising the safe performance of its Road Contractors and Consultants. The Award cycles continued on an annual basis to cover all RTA’s Stakeholders including Contractors and Consultants who adopt the best safety practices and support RTA to meet its Safety related Strategic Goals and exceed the expectations of RTA’s Vision to provide “Safe and Smooth Transport for All.”
