du achieves safety and environmental milestones with international certification
Provision of Corporate Services department attains internationally-recognised OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certificates;
full corporate certification now being pursued
du has demonstrated its dedication to occupational health and safety as well as environmentally-conscious corporate practices by qualifying for two prestigious international certificates of achievement from UK-based Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance. The OHSAS 18001 certificate is the world’s foremost assessment specification for occupational health and safety management systems, while the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) 14001 certificate acknowledges a rigorous corporate commitment to environmental management. Both certificates apply to du’s Provision of Corporate Services department, and efforts are currently underway to obtain accreditation for the entire company.
An integral part of du CEO Osman Sultan’s corporate vision, du achieved the high standards required for both the OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 credentials in just six months. Every six months, the auditors will conduct a review to reaffirm du’s compliance with both OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001. du has now set its sights on obtaining pan-enterprise certification in the next two years.
“Attaining these internationally-recognised standards in occupational safety and environmental responsibility is a proud achievement for our Provision of Corporate Services department,” said Rashid El-Sheikh, EVP Corporate Services, du. “A healthier and safer work environment empowers du employees, helping them be productive and achieve our exceptional standards of customer service. And pursuing scrupulous environmental stewardship is a vital component of our responsibility to the larger community we serve. We are now focusing our efforts to achieve company-wide OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certification in the next two years.”
Commenting on du’s recent certification, Basem Obaid of Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance said, “du is demonstrating corporate leadership in its pursuit of rigorous standards for environmental management and occupational health and safety. We are delighted to partner with du in its efforts to elevate and continually improve its performance in these critical areas.”
A company that attains ISO 14001 certification provides assurance to its employees, customers and corporate partners, as well as to the general public and regulatory agencies, that it pursues a systematic approach to environmental responsibility. The ISO 14001 program enables organizations to measure the environmental impact of their activities, to set environmental objectives, and to implement assessment and reporting processes to ensure environmental performance is continually improved.
OHSAS 18001 certification demonstrates a company’s commitment to the highest standards of occupational health and safety through formal application of risk management, operational controls, emergency preparedness and response, legislative compliance and training/awareness programs. OHSAS 18001 puts a considerable emphasis on overall health and thus complements ISO 14001 through recognition that a gentle impact on the environment is closely linked with a healthy work atmosphere
