Health and Safety career prospects for Dubai Expo 2020

Shortly before the country celebrated its 42nd founding anniversary last December 1-2, people all over UAE, most especially here Dubai were ecstatic when it was finally announced and confirmed that the World Expo 2020 will be hosted by the country. With so much preparation and awareness campaigns initiated by the Government, and Dubai being the financial and economic hub in this part of the world - there was no doubt that Dubai is a worthy host of one if not the biggest expo in the world that we can expect.

What is world expo?

It is actually like a trade exhibition that originated in France. However, the best known ‘first’ World Expo was held in London in 1851 and it was considered as the first international exhibition of manufactured products.
From then on, the host countries used the world exposition as a platform to improve their national image. It is also a fact that this will boost tourism as well as positive economic impact. There will product innovations and showcase of technological advancements. It also facilitates cultural exchange - and for the host city, region or country – it is used as a vehicle for ‘nation branding’.

Where does ‘Safety’ come in the picture?

Just like in the early 2000 and before the economic recession in 2008, it is expected that massive projects and economic activities are coming to UAE in general and Dubai in particular. In fact, as early as this year, the Ruler of Dubai has announced and approved a number of ‘multi-billion’ infrastructure projects to rise in Dubai. Projects like the Dubai Frame (see below), Dubai Eye, etc. are now on its early project implementation phase.

This also means that a lot of manpower resources will be needed during the construction and operation stage, and in parallel more ‘safety professionals’ are also needed. Why? Because hiring Safety Professionals in every construction projects or during it operation is a minimum requirement by the government.

The Next Big Question

If there’s a need for more Safety Professionals, where do you see yourself as far your safety profession and your career is concerned? Are you ready for such great opportunities? Are you prepared to compete with other nationalities? Or do you have the necessary qualifications and competence to be hired as a Safety Professional?

I would say it’s not yet too late – in fact, this is the right time for all those who are aspiring to become Safety Professionals to chart their career in Health and Safety by attending or getting additional qualifications (e.g. NEBOSH, OSHA, OHSAS Auditor, etc). Networking with similar professions is also ideal but most of all, you have to decide first and put your heart and mind to improve yourself and become a competent safety professional.

Remember, it’s not a one sided game – if you prepare or have started now, other nationalities are also there to compete with you and some even have prepared way ahead of you. In the end, just like in expo – you need to ‘brand yourself’ and be the best of what you can be.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter even when you’re not in the safety profession, or whether you are the architect, the engineer, or the skilled worker – what matters is, you will have a job that can sustain you and your family back home.

Be prepared, be ready – for the World Expo 2020.

Environment, Health and Safety Website of Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates

One of the most important things a Safety and Health Officer should know is his knowledge of the applicable local laws and regulations related to Environment, Health and Safety.

So if you're planning to apply for job here in United Arab Emirates (UAE) especially in Abu Dhabi, well here's the link of the Abu Dhabi Environmental, Health and Safety Management System.

You can click on the link below, read and download all the applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Abu Dhabi Environmental, Health and Safety Rules and Regulations

I only have one request, please share my blog link to your colleagues so they can read and download it also.

Please keep visiting and referring this site to your friends. Next posts will be for Dubai Municipality and Dubai Free zones.

They say "knowledge is power" - get that edge so that when your employer conducts the interview, you can share the knowledge you learn from here.

P.S. Answer the poll survey on the upper right side of this page.

Emphasizing Workplace Safety and Health

Why should we emphasize workplace safety and health?

Simple, it keeps people safe and healthful, and it decreases the long-term costs of doing business. But make sure your company is emphasizing accident prevention rather than loss control. Accident prevention is a proactive approach while loss control tends to be much more reactive.

In safety and health, you can pay now or pay later. It's smart to pay for safety and health before an accident occurs. For every proactive peso spent preventing workplace accidents, many more are saved in direct/indirect accident costs.

For every reactive peso spent on the direct costs of a worker's injury or illness, much more is spent to cover the indirect and unknown costs associated with the injury or illness. Read more on direct, indirect and unknown accident costs on my upcoming entries.

Lastly, tell your friends about this Cagayan de Oro Safety and Health network and you can also give your inputs and comments.

Cagayan de Oro City Safety & Health Network

Safety program impacts construction injuries
Phoenix Business Journal

A federal construction safety program introduced by the Clinton Administration in 1998 has had a dramatic effect on fatality and injury rates.

That’s the conclusion of a 10-year analysis conducted by the Associated General Contractors.

National construction fatality rates plummeted 47 percent and recordable safety incidents dropped 38 percent in the decade since the “collaborative safety approach” was initiated, according to an AGC news release distributed Tuesday.

“The collaborative safety approach represented a significant shift in federal safety oversight when it was first introduced by the Clinton Administration,” the release said.

“The approach creates incentives for companies to find and fix safety problems before incidents occur while maintaining strong penalties for companies that let safety problems lag until someone is hurt,” the release continued.

The analysis noted that fatalities and injuries dropped during a time frame when construction hit a fevered pit in Phoenix and around the nation.

The trend may continue, but most likely due to dramatic declines in construction employment, according to a different release from AGC economist Ken Simonson.

His latest report said construction employment fell again in July in 34 states and in the nation’s capital. Since July 2008, construction fell to some degree in every state except Louisiana, North Dakota and Mississippi.


Comment:

There is also an equivalent Safety, Health programs available not just in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao but in the Philippines as a whole. There is in fact a Government Agency in-charge for the Safety and Health of the workers. One of the relevant orders is the Department Order no. 13 which was approved in 1998. Department Order (or DO 13) is the GUIDELINES GOVERNING OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. So fellow Safety advocates, trainors or consultants here in Cagayan de Oro City or here in Mindanao, Philippines or to any person interested in Safety and Health - please feel free to visit this site and we will build a network of Safety and Health advocates and lets make a difference by spreading Safety and Health in Cagayan de Oro City, in Mindanao or the Philippine as a whole.