ADM Discusses With Partners Reducing Concrete Spill-off on Roads Nearby Construction Sites

The Abu Dhabi City Municipality has held an awareness workshop on occupational safety and health in construction sector, featuring the participation of contractors, consultancy offices operating in the sector and ready-mix concrete companies. The workshop aimed to discuss the procedures required to reduce concrete spillage onto public roads & construction sites, review the best practices in this regard and enhance safety and health requirements at workplaces.

The workshop reflects the Municipality’s keenness to enhance cooperative relations with strategic partners, and take the necessary measures & procedures to provide the best services to the community. The workshop also aimed to preserve the environment, protect public health & safety, and maintain the civilized appearance of the capital and suburbs.

The workshop discussed several issues, including the risks of heat stress, its adverse impacts on the workers, symptoms, treatment and prevention methods. The Abu Dhabi Police Emergency and Public Safety Directorate - Community Ambulance reviewed the first aid for sunstroke.

During the awareness workshop, the Municipality stressed to contractors and consultants working at construction sector the need to clean the asphalt and sidewalks adjacent to the worksites, build paved entrances, prevent concrete from falling onto roads, and secure the movement of machinery at the construction sites.

The Municipality also called for providing vehicle & machinery washing stations at worksites and in particular cleaning vehicle tires before leaving sites, taking into account the required HSE standards.

The Municipality also highlighted the need to provide the necessary equipment and means to remove concrete sediment and other waste using environmentally-friendly methods, besides drafting a comprehensive emergency plan for the main roads and subsidiary roads & to prevent the spillage of materials or potential pollution, and protect public property. The workshop also reviewed the best practices to prevent spill of ready-mix concrete on public roads and areas surrounding construction sites, besides taking the health and environmental precautions to prevent the spread of cement dust, or release of polluting gases. The workshop also called for regulating traffic inside and outside construction sites, and never exceeding trucks’ allowable loading limits to ensure public safety.

The Municipality stressed the importance of the participation of those engaged in building & construction sector in boosting the Municipality’s efforts to ensure safety for all, and provide the highest standards of safety and security at all worksites. This stems from the Municipality’s constant endeavor to showcase the civilized, aesthetic appearance of Abu Dhabi city and its environs.

The Municipality reiterated its keenness to continue its inspection campaigns on various building & construction sites and slap violations against companies violating the construction laws & regulations applicable in Abu Dhabi City. Violators may incur a fine of AED 100,000 for damaging public assets and infrastructure, and AED 10,000 for failing to take the safety & security precautions that ensure the safety of pedestrian and neighbouring buildings during building and demolition works. These measures are taken pursuant to the Law No. 16/2009 The aim is to provide the highest standards of safety and public health in the city.

The participants in the workshop, including contractors, consultants and representatives of companies and factories of ready-mix concrete, hailed the great efforts put by Abu Dhabi City Municipality to achieve the highest standards of health and safety in the community. They also lauded the Municipality’s valued cooperation to facilitate procedures, and its continuous efforts to spread awareness and knowledge about health, safety & environment among workers at building and construction sector in order to bring happiness and ensure a safe working environment for all.