DUBAI, 2 October 2021 – At Expo 2020 Dubai protecting the welfare of those working to build our site is our top priority. We have established world-class policies, standards and processes that protect and support the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone involved in Expo 2020 Dubai. We are committed to the high standards we have set for ourselves and our contractors and remain firmly focused on working together to continually improve.
We have now completed more than 247 million work hours since September 2015. Unfortunately, there have been three work-related fatalities, 72 serious injuries to date. A serious injury is classified as any injury that constitutes three days or more off work, which can range from a fractured wrist to treatment for heat stroke.
We are not complacent. Our Worker Welfare Assurance Standards, which are bound into every contract, set down both UAE law and requirements formulated from International best practice as required by Expo 2020. Our Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) is 0.03. For comparison, the UK HSE Accident Frequency Rate in the construction sector is 0.07.
All contractors and third parties we work with, must comply with our Assurance Standards, UAE law, and any other regulations, decrees, orders, guidelines, decisions, or directives issued by relevant authorities.
Our standards require contractors to develop and implement a Weather Working Plan detailing arrangement for working safely in the heat. All contractors are required to establish calibrated project weather stations which monitor the Thermal Work Limit (TWL), which takes into account wet bulb temperature, dry bulb temperature, globe temperature and wind speed. Contractor plans include specific action levels and arrangements to be undertaken at each level.
The specific standards around accommodation and sanitary facilities, working hours and rest time and protection from work-related accidents, hazards and illnesses are set down in detail in the Expo 2020 Assurance Standards.
