For the third year in a row, the Public Works Authority 'Ashghal', represented by the Roads Projects Department (RPD), announces that it won 9 international safety awards from the British Safety Council (BSC) for the Local Areas Infrastructure Programme projects during 2021, including The Roads and Infrastructure Project in Umm Slal (Package 1), Roads and Infrastructure in South of Al Meshaf (Package 3), Roads and Infrastructure in Al Ebb and Leabaib (Package 2), Roads and Infrastructure in Umm Ebairiya Village, South Umm Al Amad, and North Bu Fesseela (Package 1), Roads and Infrastructure in North and East Al-Kheesa (Package 2), Roads and Infrastructure in Al Kharaitiyat and Izghawa (Package 3), and Roads and Infrastructure in Al Wajba East (Packages 1 & 3) in addition to the Roads and Infrastructure Project in South Al-Meshaf (Package 7) and Roads and Infrastructure Project in North of Ain Khaled received International Safety Award.
It is noteworthy that in 2021, RPD conducted 1440 focused worker welfare inspections, obtained licenses from the Ministry of Public Health for 14 worker clinics and managed to get around 26977 workers medically screened for chronic diseases.
This keen attention to implement top operational Health and Safety standards led RPD to achieve an Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) of 0.10 for the 88.7 million-man hours worked in 2021. This reflects both the magnitude of work handled by the department and its commitment to health and safety and workers' welfare on its project sites.
On this occasion, Eng. Saoud Al-Tamimi, RPD Manager, said: “Winning 9 international health and safety awards for the third year successively, after winning 4 awards in 2020, and 3 in 2019, which were presented to the new and existing subdivisions projects, reflects Ashghal's commitment to maintain health and safety in its construction projects, and the leading position which the Authority plays in the Qatari construction industry in terms of spreading awareness and best Health and Safety practices."
Eng. Al Tamimi also pointed out that “having Ashghal's projects continuously winning safety awards from international institutions is an acknowledgment of the high level of safety in the Public Works Authority's projects and a proof of its keenness to safeguard the workers' health and lives, as safety is an important pillar of Ashghal's project implementation strategy, and a culture that Ashghal strives to spread and uphold."
Now in their 64th year, the International Safety Awards recognize and celebrate organizations from around the world which have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the scheme's independent judges their commitment to preventing workplace injuries and work-related ill health during the previous calendar year. The awards also acknowledge organizations that have shown commitment to wellbeing and mental health at work.
Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, congratulated Ashghal on their success in winning nine International Safety Awards 2022: “The British Safety Council applauds all winning projects on their achievement. The award is in recognition of their commitment and hard work to keep their employees and workplaces free of injury and ill health.
“The vision of British Safety Council is that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work – anywhere in the world. Achieving this requires more than complying with legislation; it means people committed not only to health and safety but also more and more to workplace wellbeing and impelling others to follow suit.
Efficient Health & Safety Management System
As Health and Safety is one of the Public Works Authority's core values, all awarded projects implement an effective Health & Safety Management System in accordance with the RPD's standards and requirements. The core elements of this Management System include leadership's commitment to, and demonstration of, HEALTH AND SAFETY standards; pro-active risk identification and management process; conducting training and competency enhancement Programme to enable transfer of expertise; engaging all staff at all levels in Health and Safety matters; setting up HEALTH AND SAFETY objectives and monitoring their implementation to ensure continual improvement, and selecting and appointing sub-contractor whilst constantly monitoring their performance and conducting regular reviews by RPD.
Roads and Infrastructure in Umm Slal (Package 1)
The project started in December 2020, and achieved 1.57 million LTI free man-hours in 2021, with 795 workers employed by the main contractor, Hamad Bin Khalid Contracting Company, alongside their subcontractors. The scope of works involves constructing a road network (36 km approx.), surface water and groundwater drainage network (54 km), treated sewage effluent (TSE) system (15.8 km) to serve the future green spaces, and potable water network (10 km). In addition, new foul sewer pipelines will be laid and connected to the main foul sewerage network. The project also will provide street lighting, traffic signals, road and directional signs, and 4310 car parking slots.
Roads and Infrastructure in South of Al Meshaf (Package 3)
The project started in June 2019, and achieved 6.67 million LTI free man-hours in 2021, with 675 workers employed by the main contractor, Urbacon Company & Infraroad JV. The project will deliver 12 km of road network, and it aims to provide full infrastructure for the area, including 12 km of pedestrian footpaths and cycle paths, 1800 car parking slots, and street lighting. The scope of works also involve providing 6 km of foul sewer networks, 10.7 km of rainwater and groundwater drainage system, and 7.6 km of TSE system. In addition, the project will provide telecommunication networks, potable water network, and electricity networks.
Roads and Infrastructure in Al-Ebb and Leabaib (Package 2)
The project commenced in October 2020 and is being carried out by Qatar Building Company. It achieved 2.06 million LTI free man-hours, with 448 workers employed on site. The project will deliver 26.5 km of upgraded roads and 53.1 km of shared use paths for pedestrians. The scope of infrastructure works involves rainwater and groundwater drainage network (23.2 km), TSE network (15.5 km), and foul sewer network (22.4 km).
Roads and Infrastructure in Umm Ebairiya Village, South Umm Al Amad, and North Bu Fesseela (Package 1)
The project aims to develop the subject areas and is being carried out by Metito Company JV, with 495 workers employed on site. Since its start in May 2020, the project achieved 634,000 LTI free man-hours. It aims to provide full infrastructure in these areas, including roads and utility networks to develop infrastructure services in the area.
Roads and Infrastructure in Al-Kheesa North and East (Package 2)
China Railway Company started working on this project in August 2021. With 1105 workers on site, the project managed to achieve 1.17 million LTI free man-hours since construction started. It aims at constructing a local road network (53 km), whilst providing traffic safety elements and well-developed street lighting systems. The scope of works will also provide 106 km of shared use paths for pedestrians and cyclists and 7009 car parking slots. In addition, 89 km of foul sewer network, 48 km of surface water and groundwater drainage network, and 35.5 km of TSE network will be provided as part of the project.
Roads and Infrastructure in Al Kharaitiyat and Ezghawa (Package 3)
Construction works started for this project in January 2019 by Al-Ghanim Company and National Industrial Contracting Company JV, and it achieved 6.22 million LTI free man-hours, with 791 workers employed on site. The scope of works involves 63 km of road network, 58 km of foul sewer network, 32.46 km of rainwater and groundwater drainage network, and 18 km of TSE network. The project will also provide advanced lighting systems in the area.
Roads and Infrastructure in Al Wajba East (Packages 1 & 3)
Galfar Al Misnad Construction and Engineering Company is the main contractor executing both packages. The company started working on Package 1 in June 2020, whereas Package 3 started in February 2021, with 926 workers employed in both packages combined. Package 1 achieved 2.21 million LTI free man-hours, whereas Package 3 achieved 780,000 LTI free man-hours. Both packages will provide full road network, shared use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, car parking, and landscaping and beautification elements. In addition, foul sewer networks, surface water and groundwater drainage network, TSE network, and potable water pipelines will be provided.
Roads and Infrastructure in South Al-Meshaf (Package 7)
Launched in April 2020, the project achieved 3.76 million LTI free man-hours in 2021, with 891 workers employed by the main contractor, Petroserv and Roadbridge JV. The project will provide full road network (24.8 km), and pedestrians footpaths and cycle paths (41 km), whilst providing traffic safety elements like street lighting systems, road and directional signs, and 1690 car parking slots to enhance traffic flow. The scope also involves developing 20 km of foul sewer networks, 22.8 km of surface water, rainwater and groundwater drainage network, and 8.5 km of TSE network.
Roads and Infrastructure in North of Ain Khaled
The project started in January 2020, by Petroserv Company. With 235 workers employed on site, the project managed to achieve 1.29 million LTI free man-hours. It will provide a new road network (5.6 km), pedestrian footpaths (14.4 km), and 1150 car parking slots. In addition, 187 street lighting poles will be installed. Landscaping and beautification works will also be carried out as part of the project. Full infrastructure services will be provided, including foul sewer network (3.5 km), rainwater and surface water drainage system (4.16 km), groundwater drainage network (3.6 km), TSE network (1.4 km), potable water network, and telecommunications lines.