TDIC partners with Health Authority Abu Dhabi for 'Safety in the Heat' campaign

Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, partnered with Health Authority Abu Dhabi for a ‘Safety in the Heat’ workshop, which was held for contractors on Saadiyat island. The educational workshop was led by Darren Joubert, Senior Officer – Occupational & Environmental Heath, and was designed to raise awareness on the various heat-related illnesses that are expected during the summer months, and how these can be prevented. A total of 78 individuals, which consisted of safety professionals and construction managers from 22 contractors working on the island, were in attendance.

Heat stress can occur when individuals are exposed to extremely hot temperatures for prolonged periods of time; it results in conditions such as heat stroke, exhaustion, and cramps or rashes, which in turn can lead to occupational injuries. The Health Authority Abu Dhabi aims to reduce and prevent cases of these types of ailments in the workplace with its annual awareness programme, which consists of educational workshops that are held across the emirate. These are designed to ensure managers and supervisors of workers exposed to hot temperatures are aware of the dangers of heat stress, and have a robust programme in place to both prevent and treat the condition.

Following the workshop, the representatives from the Health Authority Abu Dhabi were led on a tour of the Saadiyat Construction Village, where they had the opportunity to explore its facilities. The construction village was built to house workers employed by contractors on Saadiyat, and features include shops, an internet café, recreational park, and multipurpose sports courts.