DEWA certified by British Safety Council as occupational health and safety training centre

Dubai, UAE, 10 January 2016: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has been certified by the British Safety Council as an occupational health and safety training centre. DEWA is the first government department to be registered with the Council. DEWA employees and strategic partners who undergo the training will be awarded with credit certificates in occupational health and safety from the British Safety Council.

This move supports DEWA's intensive efforts to apply comprehensive and integrated systems to manage occupational health and safety. It also supports international partnerships to improve occupational health and safety standards at DEWA.

“This certification reflects DEWA's global position as a pioneering international utility that provides an ideal working environment. This helps us to achieve our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility that operates to the highest international standards of occupational health and safety, within the strategy of DEWA's integrated management system to deliver electricity and water services as efficiently, reliably and readily-available as possible. This will encourage a culture of occupational health and safety and environmental sustainability, to achieve the happiness of our clients, partners and employees, and to protect our environment and natural resources,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“DEWA has many skilled and qualified staff, to meet its commitments to guarantee the best international standards in occupational health and safety. During the first stage of the programme, DEWA will offer the first and second levels of training to its employees. The certification enhances standards of health and safety at DEWA, as part of our continuous improvement process. In addition to enhancing the potential and abilities of employees and improving their performance, this training will also increase their satisfaction,” he added.

The training courses will focus on health and safety, quality and environment systems in DEWA. They will incorporate workshops and lectures that shed light on the health and safety of DEWA staff and how to improve these systems and mechanisms of improving production and operational efficiency through a healthy and safe work environment. 

“DEWA gives priority to occupational health and safety. It also sets international standards to manage changes around the world. DEWA's attainment of this international certification is a result of DEWA's continuous efforts in occupational health and safety. This is best shown by DEWA's awards and certifications, such as the 5-Star Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety from the British Safety Council, the Sword of Honour and Globe of Honour from the British Safety Council for excellence in health, safety, and environment, the RTA Safety Award (best strategic partner of RTA in Safety in 2014), and the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001 Certification),” said Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources.

The British Safety Council was established in 1957 as an international institution for occupational health and safety. It has a worldwide membership of around 7,000 organisations.