The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ and Qatari Diar - Saudi Bin Laden Group (QD-SBG) – Construction Contractor -working on Dukhan Highway East project, achieved a new accomplishment in the field of safety in the workplace through reaching more than 10 million man-hours without loss time injury (LTI).

This significant achievement comes as a result of Ashghal’s commitment to achieve its clear objectives and plans to maintain workers’ safety, which include the adoption of strict safety standards procedures and systems at the workplace. 

Ashghal has held an awarding ceremony at its headquarters to mark this achievement.

Representatives from Ashghal’s Expressway Programme, construction contractor QD-SBG, and the project supervision consultant Parsons International, attended the ceremony during which Eng. Nasser Ghaith Al Kuwari, Manager of Ashghal’s Expressway Department, awarded the certificate of appreciation to Mr Bassam Kataw Project Director of QD-SBG, for achieving 10 Million Man-Hours without Loss Time Injury, and for the company's commitment to ensuring that the required safety standards and measures are implemented.

This achievement demonstrates Ashghal's commitment to the highest safety standards in the workplace by imposing a number of safety measures on all the contractors implementing Ashghal’s projects. Ashghal aims to protect workers against workplace and commuter hazards throughout the project period.

To comply with Ashghal’s health and safety requirements, the contractor implemented a comprehensive programme to enhance safety procedures at work zones. The programme included an intensive safety training accredited to the UK and European standards, in addition to intensive health and safety discussions and awareness sessions, weekly management inspections, access control for project team and sub-contractors, emergency support vehicles, site notice boards and other related procedures.

Furthermore, Ashghal contributes to achieving workers’ safety by following a set of requirements to choose contractors, and which require the contractors to submit a clear and comprehensive plan on providing a secure working environment for workers. Ashghal’s Expressway Programme also implements a set of safety procedures and policies across all projects to ensure commitment and compliance from all contractors to achieve zero incidents: work accidents and injuries, environmental harm, and security and safety breaches.

The Dukhan Highway East project runs from the Al-Wajbah Palace Interchange (west) to the Tilted Interchange (east) and along Al-Gharrafa Road from Al-Rayyan Street (south) to Thani bin Jassim Street (north). The project works include the construction of approximately 7.5 km of dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction as the mainline of Dukhan Road East, and 4.5 km at Al-Gharrafa Road. Works also include the construction of seven major interchanges, service roads, and auxiliary lanes along sections of the road.

The project is part of a pedestrian friendly Avenue starting from Al Wajbah Palace to Tilted Interchange, which will connect with future projects extending to The Corniche Infrastructure works included in the project consist of the construction of a 10 km, 2,400 mm diameter micro-tunnel for storm water, 1400mm diameter water pipe lines, high voltage cables, an Automated People Mover (APM) tunnel at Qatar Academy Interchange, 3 pedestrian/vehicular tunnels crossing the avenue, one long vehicular tunnel which will enhance Qatar Academy interchange, along with the complete set of utilities for the surrounding neighbourhood.

Dukhan Highway East is one of the key projects implemented under Ashghal’s Expressway Programme, it is the first pedestrian friendly linear infrastructure to be implemented inside the city of Doha. The rest of the Expressway Programme comprises over 50 highways and main roads projects that will be implemented and delivered within the next 5 to 7 years. This programme aims at providing an advanced road network for over 1,000 km in order to meet Qatar’s development and future needs.

It should be noted that several companies are involved in the delivery of these projects, like the “Qatari Diar Saudi Bin Laden Group” company. Ashghal supports and encourages the development of the construction market in Qatar through long term relationships with these companies.