DOHA: For the fifth consecutive year, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’, represented by the Roads Projects Department, has announced that it has won ten international safety and security awards from the British Safety Council for a number of projects in the Infrastructure Development Program for the Regions during the year 2024.
The winning projects include the Roads and Infrastructure Project in Umm Salal Ali and Umm Al Abriyya Village, South Umm Al Amad and North Bu Fasila (Package 1), East Al Wajba Project (Package 3), North and East Al Kheesa Project (Package 2), Umm Salal Mohammed Project (Package 1), Road Leveling Works Project in West Umm Salal Mohammed (Package 1), Abu Samra Border Post Development Project, Remaining Works of Doha Industrial Area Project, and Western Areas Road Improvement Works Project. The efforts of the Health, Safety and Workers’ Welfare Team in the Roads Projects Department were also crowned with a well-deserved win at the International Safety Award.
On this occasion, Eng Saud Al Tamimi, Director of Roads Projects Department at Ashghal, said: "The Department’s projects winning ten international health and safety awards for the fifth consecutive year, after winning eight awards in 2023, nine awards in 2022, four awards in 2021 and three in 2020, is the best evidence of the Authority’s commitment to continuous progress and its keenness to maintain the health and lives of workers as a priority, as safety is a fundamental pillar of the project implementation strategy and a culture that the Authority works to spread and adhere to.”
The International Safety Awards, now in their 66th year, honour organisations around the world that have successfully prevented work-related injuries and illnesses, as well as those committed to wellbeing and mental health in the workplace. The awards were presented at a ceremony held in London last June, attended by a distinguished group of organisations and participants from around the world.
The ceremony was attended by Eng Abdul Aziz Al Muhannadi, Project Engineer in the Roads Projects Department, representing Ashghal, who said: "During 2023, the number of workers in the various projects of the Roads Projects Department reached approximately 32,000 workers, and the department achieved a work site injury and accident rate of 0.07 during 95 million working hours. These numbers reflect the extent of the effort exerted by the department and its commitment to providing the highest standards of health, safety and social care for workers at work sites.”
The Health, Safety and Workers’ Welfare team deservedly won the International Safety Award for their tireless work and commitment to implementing an effective occupational health and safety management system.
It includes key elements such as the commitment of all Authority officials to health and safety standards and their application, developing an effective approach to identifying and managing risks before they occur, organizing a training program to enhance competencies and transfer expertise, and involving all employees at all levels in everything related to occupational health and safety, in addition to setting health and safety goals and monitoring achievements in this regard with the aim of continuous improvement, in addition to appointing subcontractors with periodic monitoring of their performance by management.
Umm Salal Mohammed Roads and Infrastructure Project (Package 1) - International Safety Award with Distinction and Best Project Award at the State Level
The project has achieved 7.5 million man-hours without injuries or accidents since its start in December 2020. The project employs approximately 1,114 workers affiliated with the main contractor, Hamad Bin Khaled Contracting Company, in addition to its subcontractors.
The project includes a 36km road network, and the main works include the construction of a 54 km surface and groundwater drainage network and a 15.8km treated water network to serve future green areas, in addition to the construction of a 10km potable water network. The works also include providing the roads with lighting, traffic signals and signboards, and providing 4,310 parking spaces.
Umm Salal Ali Project and Umm Al Abriyya Village, South Umm Al Amad and North Bu Fasila (Package 1) - International Safety Award with Distinction
The project works started in May 2021 by Metito Company, and employs 303 workers, and has achieved about 3.5 million working hours without accidents since the start of implementation. The project will provide integrated road networks and infrastructure for the region.
Abu Samra Border Port Development Project - International Safety Award with Distinction
Tadmur Contracting Company started implementing the project in August 2021, employing 478 workers, and achieving 8 million working hours without accidents. The project includes developing and doubling the capacity of passport buildings to serve arrivals and departures, as the capacity for each was increased from 9 vehicles to 24 vehicles. 48 tourist lanes were also provided with a capacity to serve 12,000 cars entering the State of Qatar and 12,000 cars exiting the State of Qatar, in addition to developing the crossing’s roads with a length of 4.5 km, and developing the infrastructure in the area.
Doha Industrial Area Remaining Works Project - International Safety Award with Distinction
The project was started by GAC Contracting, Services and Trading Company in June 2023 and has achieved 578,480 man-hours without accidents to date, employing 218 workers. The project will enhance vital infrastructure services in the region.
Western Regions Road Improvement Works Project - International Safety Award with Distinction
The project was started by Atikat in December 2022 and has so far achieved 801,060 accident-free man-hours, employing 314 workers. The project includes the construction of temporary roads, protection of existing facilities, provision of future service channels, street lighting and traffic signals.
North and East Al Khaisa Roads and Infrastructure Development Project (Package 2) - International Safety Award with Distinction
China Railway started the project in August 2021, which has 1,581 workers and has achieved 1.6 million man-hours without lost time accidents since its inception. The project aims to provide an internal road network in the area with a length of about 53km, provide traffic safety elements and advanced street lighting systems. It will also provide 106km of pedestrian and bicycle paths and provide more than 7,000 parking spaces. It also includes the development of infrastructure services in the area.
East Al Wajba Roads and Infrastructure Development Project (Package 3) - International Safety Award with Merit
The project was launched in February 2021 by Galfar Al Misnad Engineering & Contracting Company and employs 341 workers. The project achieved a record of 3,863,646 million hours without accidents. The project provides an integrated network of roads, along with shared paths for pedestrians and bicycles, dedicated parking spaces, and landscaping. It will also provide networks for sewage, surface and groundwater, and treated water, in addition to potable water lines.
Road Levelling Works Project in West Umm Salal Mohammed (Package 1) - International Safety Award with Merit
The project was started by Marbo Contracting Company in February 2023, and has so far achieved 928,707 accident-free working hours and employs 422 workers.