EHS, the Environment, Health and Safety regulatory arm of Dubai World, today announced the expansion of the scope of its awards scheme by adding two more categories of activities for recognition.
"Ports and Maritime" and "Food and Hygiene" have been named as the new sectors that will join "Construction and Safety" and "Free Zone Operations", bringing the total number of the EHS Awards’ main categories to four.
Explaining the need to expand the scope of the awards, Ahmed Abdul Hussain, CEO of EHS, said:
"Our initial move to introduce the EHS Award received an enthusiastic response and resulted in calls for similar incentives from those engaged in other fields. The Award is aimed at encouraging all Dubai World establishments to upgrade their work standards consistently to provide world class services. It has been primarily instituted to implement the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to improve the environmental situation in Dubai."
With the inclusion of new categories, the total number of awards increases to 24. They are, category-wise:
"Construction and Safety": Best Contractor Award: Gold, Silver and Bronze; Best Sub-Contractor Award; Champion Award, and Best Labor Camp Award.
"FZ Operations": Best Trading Warehouses Companies: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Best Assembly/Manufacturing Companies: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
"Ports and Maritime": Best Shipping Repair Companies: golden, silver and bronze and Trading Warehouses Companies: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
"Food & Hygiene" Department: Best Food Service Caterers, Best Restaurants: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Best Food Manufacturers (large and small): Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Mr. Hussain said:
"With Dubai now emerging as a hub for global commerce, international companies are coming here in increasing numbers, bringing with them varying degrees of skill and a wide range of approaches to tackling environment, health and safety issues. This has prompted us to adopt prompt action to support, enhance and disseminate awareness on health, safety and environment. This Award will act as an incentive to foster a value-based working environment for all."
The newly-added "Ports and Maritime" award is given away to Dubai World companies, while under the "Food and Hygiene" category, establishments will be judged on the basis of their food handling processes and procedures, cleanliness, lighting, ventilation, facilities for customers and EHS compliance records.
The award scheme will be implemented in three phases: the first phase will include Dubai World companies only; the second phase will cover companies operating in the UAE region as a whole and the third phase will see the participation of international companies.
All nominations will be judged by a panel made up of EHS representatives whose basis of selection will be merit. Submissions for this year’s awards can be made until September 30, 2007.
The awards will be given away in a ceremony to be held on November 28, 2007 at the Emirates Tower Hotel.
