In a resolute move to bolster environmental and health benchmarks while safeguarding against fire hazards, the Gas Safety Committee, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), has issued stringent directives governing the secure usage of gas cylinders at construction sites.
Born out of an initiative by the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi (DoE) to scrutinize the safety of liquefied petroleum gas systems within the emirate’s structures, the Gas Safety Committee stands steadfast in its pursuit to ensure the secure supply and utilization of gas through coordinated efforts, procedural reviews, and the establishment of steadfast standards for gas supply and installation. The committee fervently calls upon all contractors and suppliers to wholeheartedly embrace and implement the issued circular, adopting all recommended safety protocols and requisite precautions. Stringent oversight by the committee aims to enforce compliance with safety standards, thereby fostering a secure working environment at construction sites and mitigating the risk of fire incidents.
Mandatory compliance with the safety stipulations outlined in the circulars is incumbent upon all contractors and suppliers, with consultants entrusted to monitor and ensure strict adherence to these requirements.
Eng. Khalid Nasser Al Menhali, Executive Director of the City Planning Sector, underscores the pivotal role of contracting firms, consultants, and developers in upholding environmental, health, and safety standards at construction sites. Stressing the mandatory nature of adhering to authorities’ circulars, he emphasizes the positive outcomes for the emirate, companies, and workers in the building and construction sector when such rigorous standards are observed.
The municipality, in tandem with the Gas Safety Committee, calls upon consultants and developers to actively supervise contractors’ adherence to issued circulars and impart crucial knowledge about environmental, health, and safety risks to workers through awareness workshops aimed at reducing fire accidents.
Proactive inspection campaigns conducted by the DMT and its strategic partners aim to ensure unwavering compliance by contractors, consultants, and developers with circulars and specific laws.
Under the aegis of the DoE, the committee, comprised of twelve entities in the emirate, shoulders the responsibility of reviewing and proposing gas-related requirements, fortifying security and safety measures, and upholding technical standards. Furthermore, it recommends violations, fines, and penalties for transgressors, ensuring that establishments and individuals adhere to licenses, permits, requirements, and standards for gas activities.
In an outreach initiative, the committee encourages the public to promptly report any anomalies detected at construction sites by reaching out through the toll-free Abu Dhabi Government number, 800555.
