Administrative Resolution
No. (1) of 2024
Approving the Manual on Occupational Health and
Safety, and the
Environment, in the Government of Dubai[1]
ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
The Director General of
the Dubai Government Human Resources Department,
After perusal of:
Law No. (21) of 2008 Concerning Pensions and Social Insurance of Local Paramilitary Personnel of the Government of Dubai and its amendments;
Law No. (31) of 2009 Establishing the Dubai Government Human Resources Department and its amendments;
Law No. (6) of 2012 Concerning Management of the Human Resources of Local Paramilitary Personnel in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments;
Law No. (8) of 2018 Concerning Management of the Government of Dubai Human Resources; and
Executive Council Resolution No. (62) of 2016 Concerning the Provision of Care Related to Occupational Injuries and Occupational Diseases to the Government of Dubai Employees,
Does hereby issue this Resolution.
Pursuant to this Resolution, the attached Manual on Occupational Health and Safety, and the Environment, in the Government of Dubai (the "Manual"), inclusive of the rules, procedures, and forms set forth therein, is approved.
The attached Manual applies to all Government entities which are subject to the above-mentioned Law No. (6) of 2012 or Law No. (8) of 2018. These entities must take the necessary action to implement this Manual.
This Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published.
Abdullah Ali bin
Zayed Al Falasi
Director General
Issued in
Dubai on 5 March 2024
Corresponding
to 24 Shaban 1445 A.H.
Manual on Occupational
Health and Safety, and the Environment, in the Government of Dubai
First Edition: 2024
Manual on Occupational
Health and Safety, and the Environment, in the Government of Dubai
First Edition: 2024
Prepared by: Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR)
P.O. Box: 242222, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Translated
by: The Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai
All rights reserved to the Dubai Government Human Resources Department ©2024
The contents of this Manual may not be used, copied, or transmitted, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or printed, nor stored in any information storage or retrieval system, without obtaining the prior written approval from the Government of Dubai Human Resources Department.
“The role of governments is to create an
environment in which people can achieve happiness.
Indeed,
the role of governments is to achieve happiness.”
His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, “May Allah protect him”
“We
endeavour to realise the vision of Mohammed bin Rashid for advancing government
services in all sectors and position Dubai as a global leading destination for business and leisure.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan
bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Crown
Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai
“Dubai
government’s success in achieving high standards of service quality,
operational efficiency and innovation, under the leadership of His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has made it a role model for governments
across the world. The Emirate's future-oriented directions require a swift and
agile government performance, and the development of more effective tools to
enhance the delivery of better and faster services."
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum
bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Deputy
Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance
Table of Contents
Scope of Application Article (2)
Foreword by the Director General
of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department
Section One: General Framework
for the Manual on Occupational Health and Safety, and the Environment
OHS-E Risk Management Principles
Benefits of Implementing the
Concept of Employee Welfare
We, at the DGHR, believe in the importance of creating a safe and
healthy work environment, where environmental sustainability is prioritised,
and Employee happiness and welfare are ensured. This reflects positively on
Employee performance, the achievement of institutional goals, and the community
as a whole.
Hence, we call upon the leadership of government entities, corporations, and Departments of the Government of Dubai to spare no effort in enhancing the OHS-E culture, by developing, establishing, and implementing internal OHS-E regulations, policies, and procedures; and by encouraging practices and behaviours that demonstrate commitment to it. This also includes recognising the achievements pertaining to OHS-E, identifying areas for improvement, making the appropriate decisions, and taking the necessary Measures in this respect.
In light of the above, I am pleased to present to you the “Manual on Occupational Health and Safety, and the Environment, in the Government of Dubai”. This Manual outlines the principles that must be considered when planning, implementing, reviewing, and updating, as needed, OHS-E initiatives and programmes in the workplace. The Manual also highlights the importance of measuring the effectiveness and feasibility of these initiatives and programmes through the appropriate performance indicators to ensure their continued relevance. Furthermore, the Manual highlights the significance of building trust and maintaining effective communication between Employees, their immediate supervisors, and colleagues to encourage constructive dialogue aimed at developing institutional work.
In conclusion, I hope we have succeeded in providing a clear and accessible content that contributes to achieving the intended purpose of this Manual. I would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to the work team and the various Organisational Units that contributed to its preparation for their commendable efforts.
Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi
Director
General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department
Pursuant to “Law No. (8) of 2018 Concerning Management of the Government of Dubai Human Resources,” and the paramilitary human resources-related legislation in force in the Emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Government Human Resources Department has prepared the “Manual on Occupational Health and Safety, and the Environment in the Government of Dubai”. This Manual serves as a unified reference for Occupational Health and Safety, and the Environment across the Government of Dubai Departments. Each Department may add any controls it deems appropriate in line with the nature of its work, after coordinating with the DGHR in this respect. The Manual focuses on four (4) main topics: OHS-E management, Risk Management, Employee Welfare, and the workplace environment, with the aim of supporting efforts to provide a work environment that motivates Employees to work diligently, increases their productivity, and promotes constructive dialogue with a view to achieving institutional goals and objectives.
The Manual presents an overview of the fundamental principles of the OHS-E System and the duties and responsibilities assigned to all concerned parties across the Dubai Government Departments that are governed by the regulations of the DGHR. The Manual also details all aspects of the OHS-E management, including change management and measurement of related outcomes. In addition, the Manual discusses the concept of Risk Management, explaining its main principles, stages, and implementation process, with a special emphasis on Institutional Resilience. It also emphasises the importance of involving Employees in all OHS-E initiatives and programmes that contribute to Business Continuity. Additionally, the Manual introduces the concept of Employee Welfare and its various aspects that can mitigate or reduce Risks and increase the level of Employee satisfaction, reflecting positively on Employees and their Department. The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) has dedicated a section of the Manual to the workplace environment and the importance of environmental sustainability by clarifying the concept of Green Offices and what Departments can do to protect the environment.
It is worth noting that the Manual emphasises that the success of OHS-E management is contingent upon the commitment of senior management, the prevalence of a supportive culture that fosters trust among Employees, and provides opportunities for learning and specialised development in the area of OHS-E, in addition to monitoring and measurement for continuous improvement purposes.
The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Manual, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
Term |
Definition |
UAE: |
The United Arab Emirates. |
Emirate: |
The Emirate of Dubai. |
Government: |
The Government of Dubai. |
Law: |
Law No. (6) of 2012 Concerning Management of the
Human Resources of Local Paramilitary Personnel in the Emirate of Dubai and Law
No. (8) of 2018 Concerning Management of the Government of Dubai Human
Resources. |
Department: |
Any of the Government departments; public agencies
or corporations; or councils and authorities affiliated to the Government,
which are governed by the Law. |
DGHR: |
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department. |
Director General: |
The director general of a Department, including an
executive director, a chief executive officer, a secretary general, or any
other person in a similar position. |
Immediate Supervisor: |
An Employee who undertakes direct supervision of
other Employees. |
Employee: |
A male or female person who occupies a budgeted
civilian or paramilitary post in a Department. |
Organisational Unit: |
This includes any sector, directorate, section, division,
or other similar unit within a Department. |
Human Resources Directorate: |
The Organisational Unit responsible for human
resources within a Department. |
OHS-E Unit: |
The Organisational Unit in charge of OHS-E matters
in a Department, or a work team formed pursuant to a resolution of the
Director General, where no such Organisational Unit is created at that
Department. |
Manual: |
The Manual on Occupational Health and Safety, and
the Environment, in the Government of Dubai, approved by the DGHR. |
OHS-E System: |
The Occupational Health and Safety, and the
Environment System, in the Government of Dubai. |
Occupational Health and
Safety, and the Environment (OHS-E): |
The conditions and factors that affect, or could
affect, the health and safety of Employees, visitors, or any other person
present in a Department. These also include the work environment prevailing
at that Department and the procedures and rules aimed at ensuring a safe and
healthy workplace environment. |
Occupational Injury: |
An injury suffered by an Employee as a result of an
accident occurring at his workplace due to performing his duties; while
commuting from his residence to workplace and vice versa, provided that this
commuting does not involve deviation from the normal route; or while travelling
to perform his employment duties within or outside of the Emirate. Death
resulting from occupational exhaustion or exertion will also be deemed an
Occupational Injury or Occupational Disease. |
Partial Disability: |
Any disability that may permanently cause a partial
loss of an Employee’s ability to perform his employment duties. |
Total Disability: |
Any disability that may permanently cause a total
loss of an Employee’s ability to perform his employment duties and to engage
in any other work. |
Risk: |
An unplanned event, activity, or change in the work
environment that is likely to cause injuries, illnesses, deaths, or damage to
property. |
OHS-E Risk: |
A combination of the likelihood of occurrence of a
Risk, and the severity of its impact on Public Health or OHS-E. |
Risk Management: |
This includes all the processes related to
anticipating, identifying, evaluating, and assessing Risks; assigning
responsibility for them; taking measures to foresee, avoid, or mitigate them;
implementing the relevant Risk treatment plans and providing the required
resources; and monitoring and updating these plans based on the evolving
operational conditions. |
Risk Register: |
A document or system used to record Risk Management
processes for the identified Risks. The purpose of this document or system is
to establish responsibility for each Risk and for its management. |
Governance: |
A set of controls, standards, and procedures that
govern the management processes of a Department; and determine the
responsibilities and duties of senior management and other officials of that
Department, ensuring that the interests and rights of stakeholders are
protected. |
Emergency: |
An urgent, unforeseen event requiring immediate
Response to address it and/ or mitigate its impact and consequences, as it
poses a Risk, or has caused actual damage, to the health or lives of
Employees or visitors, or to property or the environment. |
Preparedness: |
Taking action to prepare the resources and
capabilities, and develop plans to respond to anticipated future Risks and
Emergencies. |
Measures: |
The procedures aimed at eliminating the causes of
Risks or Emergencies and reducing their likelihood. These include assessing
Risks and threats, prioritising them appropriately, proposing the necessary
relevant legislation, and implementing all security and preventive Measures
by all concerned entities. |
Response: |
All actions taken as a result of a Risk or Emergency
occurring in the workplace, with the aim of mitigating its negative impact,
and ensuring that assistance and support are provided to affected Employees
or individuals. |
Evidence: |
This includes the records, facts, or any other
information related to specific criteria, that are deemed sufficient and
reliable to reach findings and recommendations through the audit process. |
Non-compliance: |
An instance of failure to respond to a specified and
pre-documented need or expectation. |
Business Continuity: |
All the procedures and Measures taken by a
Department to continue providing its core services, during the occurrence of
Risks and Emergencies to which it may be partially or completely exposed, or
any other disruptive event. This includes developing plans for alternative
facilities, services, and staffing. |
Institutional Resilience: |
The ability of a Department to sense and predict
internal and external changes and to make appropriate decisions to respond to
these changes proactively or to swiftly and efficiently absorb these changes
adaptively through flexible work models and internal systems, with a view to
ensuring the Department’s Business Continuity, business development, and the
sustainable outcomes following unexpected changes or Risks. |
Employee Welfare: |
The factors that enhance Employee happiness and
prosperity in the work environment. These include the social, physical,
psychological, and professional well-being of Employees at a Department. |
Green Offices: |
The workplaces that adopt standards for
environmental sustainability with the aim of preventing the depletion of
natural resources and maintaining the environmental balance. |
Year: |
A time period consisting of twelve (12) Gregorian
months. |
This Manual aims to:
1. establish a unified OHS-E reference for
the Government of Dubai Employees;
2. ensure compliance with the legislation, regulations, and standards pertaining to OHS-E;
3.
effectively manage OHS-E Risks to ensure the
Readiness of Departments to deal with any Risk when it occurs, protecting
Employees, visitors from harm, and preventing damage to property, in line with
the principle of Institutional Resilience, and ensuring Business Continuity;
4. ensure that the effective key performance indicators are established to measure the impact of implementing OHS-E policies, initiatives, and programmes for the purposes of continuous improvement;
5. build institutional capacities with a view to supporting the OHS-E Risk Management efforts, including providing Employee training and development, and the necessary resources, etc.; and
6. foster an OHS-E Risk Management culture at the Departments.
This Manual applies to all the Employees working in a Department.
For the purposes of efficiently and effectively implementing this
Manual, the following general foundations must be taken into consideration:
1. Legislative and Regulatory Compliance
Legislative and regulatory compliance must include the following
aspects:
SN |
Aspect |
Description |
1 |
Obligations of Departments |
A Department must provide a safe and healthy work
environment for its Employees and visitors, sustain its efforts in respect of
the OHS-E System, and must provide the resources required for meeting its
requirements. |
2 |
Legal and Regulatory Requirements |
A Department must meet the legal and regulatory
requirements for developing, implementing, and sustaining the OHS-E System;
keep up-to-date with the latest amendments to these legal and regulatory
requirements; and communicate them to its Employees. |
3 |
OHS-E System Information |
A Department must identify, record, and regularly
update OHS-E information. |
2. Allocation of OHS-E System Resources
A Department must allocate the resources required
to develop, implement, and maintain an effective OHS-E System. These resources
include the following:
SN |
Resources |
Description |
1 |
Human Resources: |
A Department must appoint the Employees who will be responsible for managing the OHS-E System based on their knowledge, skills, and experience; and must clarify their roles, responsibilities, and powers. Employees must assume the responsibility for the OHS-E issues that arise in their work environment, and must meet the requirements of the OHS-E System adopted by the Department. |
2 |
Regulatory Infrastructure: |
The responsibilities and reporting structure must clearly describe the OHS-E System and how it is implemented, and must include processes for monitoring compliance with its procedures. |
3 |
IT Resources: |
A Department must provide the electronic programmes and/ or systems required to implement the OHS-E System effectively and mitigate the Risks to which the Department, its Employees and visitors, and society as a whole may be exposed. |
4 |
Financial Resources: |
A Department must allocate the funds required to implement OHS-E initiatives and programmes, or to meet the OHS-E System requirements that require financial resources. |
5 |
Assets and Property: |
A Department must provide all the materials, equipment, and systems required for implementing the OHS-E System, especially personal protective equipment (PPE). |
6 |
Knowledge Resources: |
A Department must empower its Employees with the essential knowledge, skills, and capabilities to meet the requirements of the OHS-E System. This can be achieved through providing training courses, accredited OHS-E programmes, and reliable knowledge sources on the best practices in this field. |
3.
Establishing the OHS-E Culture
The OHS-E culture refers to a set of shared principles and values adopted by a Department, which are disseminated and reinforced through various methods, so as to positively influence Employees’ behaviours, perceptions, and understanding of matters relating to OHS-E.
To ensure
success for the OHS-E System, a Department must create a work environment
imbued with the following three (3) key cultures:
1.
Knowledge Culture: This is reflected in the awareness of the officials
responsible for managing and operating the OHS-E System about the latest
developments related to the human, technical, organisational, and environmental
factors that determine the overall integrity of the OHS-E System.
2. A
culture
of reporting practices and incidents that are likely to cause
harm.
3. A
Culture
of Honesty and Integrity: An atmosphere of trust where Employees are
encouraged to provide essential OHS-E information.
4. Awareness and Training
A Department must develop a sustainable plan for raising awareness of, and providing
training on, the OHS-E System, including the policies, procedures, standards,
work instructions, and practices, and the relevant Risks and control Measures
to improve Response to OHS-E Risks. Awareness and training may be delivered
through various methods, including, but not limited to the following:
·
circulating OHS-E awareness by email and on
the intranet of the Department;
·
using
OHS-E awareness posters and leaflets; and
·
offering
awareness workshops prepared and conducted by the OHS-E Unit or by subject
matter experts invited for this purpose.
Moreover, a Department must evaluate and determine the training
needs of Employees in respect of the OHS-E System, with the aim of ensuring
that they clearly understand how to perform their employment duties and meet
their obligations, in line with the OHS-E System requirements, and keep them
informed of its detailed aspects. A Department must also ensure that trainers
have the competence required to deliver training on OHS-E procedures.
5. Engagement of Stakeholders
A Department must engage
stakeholders at all stages of the OHS-E System. This includes senior
management, Employees, and any other person involved in its activities. This
engagement fosters the Risk awareness culture, reduces workplace injuries,
encourages reporting of any OHS-E concerns, and ensures the development of
appropriate solutions through consultation and discussion.
6. Accountability
The senior management of a
Department must be involved and participate in matters related to the OHS-E
System to ensure the success and effectiveness of the OHS-E System. All parties
concerned with the OHS-E process must be held accountable for their OHS-E
roles, responsibilities, and duties, each according to his level of authority
and area of expertise.
7. Transparency
Transparency is important when it
comes to addressing issues related to the OHS-E System, and sharing the lessons
learnt and the relevant performance indicator outcomes with all stakeholders.
The success of the OHS-E System can only be achieved by creating an atmosphere
of trust, reinforcing the principle of acknowledging mistakes, and reporting
incidents, practices, and errors that may involve harm to ensure an effective
and prompt Response at all levels of the Department. It is also important to
promote awareness about OHS-E terminology, which must be known and published.
The efforts of several parties within
a Department must be concerted to achieve the desired outcomes of this Manual.
The general duties and responsibilities of each party are as follows:
1.
DGHR
The duties and responsibilities of the DGHR include:
1.
updating
the Manual and circulating it to the Departments;
2.
monitoring
compliance by the Departments with this Manual;
3.
measuring
and evaluating the impact of implementation of this Manual by Departments in
order to improve and develop it;
4.
providing
advice and the required support to the Departments on all matters related to
implementation of this Manual; and
5.
exercising
any other duties, responsibilities, or powers required for the achievement of
the objectives of this Manual.
2.
Departments
The duties and the responsibilities of a Department include:
1.
complying
with the requirements stipulated this Manual;
2.
approving
the OHS-E policies, initiatives, and plans, and ensuring that they are reviewed
and updated as needed;
3.
determining
the duties and responsibilities of the OHS-E Unit and empowering it to conduct
its assigned duties;
4.
providing
the necessary resources, such as allocating financial, human, technical, and
other resources, to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the
Manual;
5.
providing
the DGHR with the data and information it requests in respect of implementation
of the Manual;
6.
offering
specialised learning and development opportunities for the Employees involved
in implementing the Manual, and ensuring continuous awareness of it across the
Department;
7.
fulfilling
any other obligations related to achieving the objectives of this Manual, as
prescribed pursuant to a resolution of the Director General of the DGHR; and
8.
coordinating
with the DGHR when adding new provisions that are consistent with the
requirements and nature of its work, provided they do not conflict with this
Manual.
3. OHS-E Units
The duties and the
responsibilities of an OHS-E Unit include:
1. following up the implementation of the OHS-E
System in the Department;
2. ensuring compliance with the legislation, bylaws,
instructions, and the Department’s requirements pertaining to OHS-E;
3. developing OHS-E policies, initiatives, and plans,
and ensuring that they are reviewed and updated in the event of any changes
that affect the safety and health of Employees and their work environment;
4. identifying and addressing the causes of OHS-E
incidents;
5. coordinating the training and awareness of Employees
on the OHS-E Risks, and how to avoid and report them if they occur;
6. conducting
periodic OHS-E audits and following up the implementation of corrective and preventive measures
taken in this respect;
7. following up the OHS-E suggestions and
complaints received internally; and
8. preparing periodic OHS-E reports,
including recommendations and proposed solutions regarding relevant issues; and
submitting these to the Department's senior management.
4. Employees
The duties and responsibilities of an Employee include:
1. complying with all the instructions and rules
that ensure his safety and the safety of others in his Department;
2. actively engaging in OHS-E initiatives,
programmes, and activities;
3. participating in OHS-E awareness activities;
4. reporting to the OHS-E Unit any materials,
malfunctions, or behaviours that may posit an OHS-E Risk in the workplace;
5. reporting near misses, accidents, injuries, or
harm that may occur in the workplace as quickly as possible; and
6. cooperating with those in charge of internal audit
processes in the Department.
The DGHR has identified four stages for establishing, implementing, and maintaining an effective OHS-E management system. This aims to create a healthy work environment, minimise occupational and environmental Risks, mitigate their impact if they occur, promote safe work practices, and support a culture of continuous improvement.
The OHS-E management system comprises four stages, starting with the
"Planning" stage which emphasises the necessity of developing the
policy, objectives, and key performance indicators of the OHS-E System,
followed by the "Implementation" stage, which involves effective
change and Emergency management, and Risk Management. The third stage,
"Assessment," involves measuring the Department's ability to achieve
the objectives and implement the initiatives and programmes of the OHS-E
System; and conducting the internal OHS-E audit. Based on the Assessment
outcomes, the Department may take the appropriate measures to achieve the goal
of the final stage, which is " Enhancement”.
First Stage: Planning
Planning
ensures optimal utilisation of available resources for implementing the OHS-E
System. It also ensures that Risks are minimised or avoided, and that the
decision-making process is streamlined to enhance work efficiency and ensure adaptation to changes in the Department's OHS-E strategy
and activities. The "Planning" stage includes developing the
following:
1.
OHS-E
Policy
A Department must prepare and implement a clear, documented, and sustainable OHS-E policy; circulate and explain the same to all Employees and stakeholders. This policy must be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it remains up-to-date at all times.
In preparing the OHS-E policy, the following must be taken into consideration:
1.
the
nature and size of the OHS-E Risks at the Department;
2.
commitment by the senior management to managing
the OHS-E Risks and ensuring that the relevant necessary actions are taken;
3.
compliance with the relevant applicable legal
requirements; and
4.
the pre-established OHS-E objectives.
2.
OHS-E
Objectives
A Department must set measurable OHS-E objectives and observe the following:
1.
assess the operational environment at the Department,
including the management of the OHS-E Risks that may occur in the course of
conducting daily activities;
2.
determine
the scope of the duties and responsibilities of the Department and what
falls beyond that scope; and
3. align the objectives with the approved OHS-E policy.
3. OHS-E KPIs
The “Planning” stage involves defining the key performance indicators to measure a Department's ability to successfully achieve OHS-E objectives and implement OHS-E initiatives and programmes. These KPIs include, but are not limited to:
·
the number of implemented OHS-E initiatives and programmes
against the planned ones;
·
the Employee satisfaction rate with the OHS-E
Measures;
·
the number of Occupational Injuries/ work-related
deaths (based on type of injury);
·
the number of occurred incidents (based on their severity:
minor, medium, major);
·
average downtime as a result of Occupational
Injuries or deaths; and
·
the
number of Non-compliance cases revealed by audit outcomes.
4. Readiness
to Implement the OHS-E
System
In order to ensure readiness for the OHS-E System implementation, a Department must:
·
identify
the training courses required for raising Employee awareness of health and
physical fitness, and deliver these courses to Employees;
·
encourage
Employees to undergo regular medical check-ups;
·
create a
register of injured Employees in order to record and analyse Occupational
Injuries, Occupational Diseases, and fatalities; and make appropriate decisions
in respect thereof;
·
identify
working conditions that may affect the OHS-E and the efficiency of Employees;
·
determine
the nature of damage that may be sustained at the workplace based on the nature
of the Department’s activities, with a view to identifying health problems that
Employees may be exposed to when dealing with dangerous machines, pressure
systems, electrical systems, hazardous materials, and others;
·
develop
and implement the Measures required for identifying early warning signs of
Employee burnout;
·
develop
a programme for managing the use of prescription drugs and substances that
affect consciousness and cognition, and educate Employees about this programme.
The programme must include a relevant clear policy and specify the procedures
for providing the relevant information to Employees;
·
develop
a programme to manage Risks resulting from burnout and psychological stress,
taking into account and assessing any associated OHS-E Risks. This programme
must specify the procedures for managing these Risks and for minimising them to
the lowest possible level. These include:
o
specific
practices and procedures for scheduling work hours, including:
§ adequacy of working hours;
§ adequacy of alternating shifts; and
§ appointing
a sufficient number of Employees to meet requests for overtime arrangements,
and
o
requirements
for monitoring working hours, in particular:
§ procedures for
monitoring the actual working hours of safety personnel against the planned
working hours; and
§ providing an appropriate level of
education and awareness in respect of identifying and managing burnout Risks.
Second Stage: Implementation
An effective OHS-E System comprises a set of processes that ensure integration amongst the various systems of a Department, integrating the OHS-E lifecycle into the various stages of any project, programme, or activity of the Department. This involves identifying, assessing, and managing OHS-E Risks with the aim of mitigating and controlling them. This is achieved by consulting with Employees at every step of the Risk Management process to benefit from their expertise, knowledge, and suggestions.
It is noteworthy that the presence of safe working systems contributes to effective and proactive Risk Management. These systems include:
1. Change Management
When a change at a
Department, in the OHS-E System, or in its activities is required to uphold the
principle of Institutional Resilience, a precise description of
the current situation that warranted the change must be formulated. The nature
and scope of the change must be determined in consultation and coordination
with all relevant stakeholders within and outside of the Department.
Subsequently, the Risks that may arise from this change must be considered and
assessed, enabling the senior management to review the available options and
make the most appropriate decision based on clear information. After obtaining
the necessary approvals, a comprehensive plan with a timeline for the change
and any required control measures must be developed. The change must be
reviewed and its impact monitored immediately to ensure the availability and
effectiveness of all Risk controls, including training.
2.
Procurement
and Contracts Management
The OHS-E System must be leveraged at an early stage of the procurement process as part of the requirements for any tender, through:
·
developing and implementing controls for goods,
services, and equipment;
·
incorporating specific requirements for compliance
with the OHS-E System in the specifications for goods and services;
·
considering the need for training on the use
of personal protective equipment (PPE); and
·
updating contractors on workplace-related Risks
and ensuring the implementation of the relevant Risk Management controls.
3. Reporting
and Investigating Incidents
A Department must prepare the procedures for reporting and investigating
incidents and must disseminate, and raise awareness of, the same before any
incident occurs. Additionally, the Department must establish the appropriate
procedures for recording and analysing incidents, and train concerned personnel
on conducting the relevant investigations.
The first step to be taken when an incident occurs is reporting it
freely by Employees. The Department may need to submit a report on the incident
to the concerned government entities in the UAE, depending on its severity. In
case of an immediate threat to human life, Employees must call the emergency
number (999) immediately and notify the OHS-E Unit and their Immediate
Supervisor. They must then complete the relevant approved form within no later
than twenty-four (24) hours for death reports, and within three (3) days for
reports of serious incidents.
The incident site must be
secured, and the investigation must be undertaken by a team of independent
persons known for their impartiality and who are free from external influences.
The investigation team is responsible for identifying the root causes of the
incident, providing recommendations on how to prevent its recurrence, improving
the safety of the system under investigation, and focusing on the causes of the
incident. Investigations of severe incidents must include a crisis
communication committee and an official crisis communication plan to meet the
needs of stakeholders within and outside of the Department.
Evidence related to the incident must be collected and preserved
appropriately during the investigation process. Witnesses must be interviewed
as per the procedures adopted by the competent entities. The investigation team
may also appoint a technical committee to assist it in gathering information
and documents that may benefit the investigation and help determine the
sequence of events leading to the incident.
The outcomes of the incident data analysis and its root causes must
be discussed and communicated to the senior management. The investigation
report may include a summary of the incident background, investigation
procedures, the sequence of events leading to the incident, analysis outcomes,
conclusions, and recommendations. Since the investigation report is the primary
means of documenting the incident, the Department must exercise caution when
sharing this report if it contains any confidential information. Based on the
recommendations stated in the report and the internal discussions among
stakeholders, corrective and preventive actions must be taken as soon as
possible.
4. Corrective and
Preventive Actions
Corrective actions aim to prevent the recurrence of an incident, while preventive actions aim to prevent its occurrence in the first place based on the outcomes of Risk analysis and identification. Therefore, when developing corrective and preventive actions, a Department must:
·
implement
corrective and preventive actions as needed;
·
document
the results of corrective and preventive actions and disseminate them within an
appropriate timeframe;
·
link corrective and
preventive actions to the Risk Register to monitor their status until completion;
·
associate corrective and preventive
actions with the root causes of incidents; and
·
make any
changes resulting from corrective and preventive actions in line with the
change management
process.
5. Operational
Safety Systems
A Department must identify the operational processes required to establish controls for managing the OHS-E Risks identified through the Risk Management process. The operational controls must be integrated into the OHS-E System and support the requirements of the OHS-E policy. Additionally, the Department must document, and take the necessary corrective action in respect of, the situations where the operational procedures fail to support the OHS-E policy and its objectives.
6. Emergency
Management
To effectively prepare for Emergencies, a Department must engage and consult with all stakeholders in this respect; and must develop, document, and continuously monitor and update its Emergency plans at all times. For proper Emergency management, the Department must follow the steps outlined in paragraph (3) above (Reporting and Investigating Incidents).
Third Stage: Assessment
During
the "Assessment" stage, a Department measures its ability to achieve
the OHS-E System objectives, initiatives, and programmes; and conducts internal OHS-E audits
with a view to producing outcomes that support continuous improvement
processes.
1. OHS-E
System Performance Measurement
A
Department must monitor the OHS-E System performance by regularly and
systematically measuring key performance indicators, including those mentioned
in the "First Stage: Planning, paragraph (3): OHS-E KPIs". The
outcomes must be discussed with the senior management and all concerned
stakeholders to make appropriate decisions and take the necessary actions
within the appropriate timeframes.
2. Internal
OHS-E Audit
The
internal OHS-E audit aims to assess the implementation of the relevant
processes and whether Risks are managed properly within the Department. The
audit process is conducted as follows:
1. Developing an Annual
OHS-E Audit Plan and Programme:
·
In the last quarter of each Year, the OHS-E Unit
will commence the planning process for the OHS-E audit for the upcoming Year
using "Form (1) Annual OHS-E Audit Plan”.
·
The OHS-E Unit may use "Form (2) OHS-E Audit
Programme” to develop the programme, taking into account the following:
o scope and objectives of the audit;
o the
Organisational
Units to be audited and the names of the Employees to be interviewed;
o the
results of previous
audits;
o the
comments and
directions of stakeholders;
o the
name(s) of the
auditor(s) who will conduct the audit;
o the
date and time of
the audit; and
o the
duration of the
audit.
·
An OHS-E auditor must not audit his Organisational Unit or
any systems, procedures,
or processes for which he is responsible or in which he is involved.
2. Circulation of the OHS-E Audit Plan and Programme:
The
OHS-E Unit must circulate the audit plan and programme to all Organisational
Units and operation managers immediately upon approval.
3. Preparation of a
Reference Checklist:
A
Department may use "Form (3) Reference Checklist” when conducting the
OHS-E audit.
4. Conducting the OHS-E Audit:
a. Opening Meeting:
Prior to
commencing the OHS-E audit, the concerned auditor must hold an opening meeting
with the concerned Employee(s) of the Organisational Unit(s) involved in this
process to explain to them the scope and objectives of the audit.
b. Conducting the OHS-E
Audit:
·
Prior to conducting the audit, the auditor must review and thoroughly
understand all the standards to be audited.
·
During
the audit process, the auditor must:
o
gather
information by interviewing the concerned Employee(s) of the Organisational
Unit(s) involved in the audit, reviewing the relevant documents and records,
reviewing the operations, and verifying records;
o
collect
and record
audit-related Evidence on “Form (3) Reference Checklist”;
o
evaluate the information to identify the
objective Evidence to be covered by the audit; and
o
classify
the audit outcomes based on the Evidence as follows:
SN |
Audit Outcome |
Definition |
1 |
Major
Non-compliance |
·
Indicates a complete absence or failure in the
implementation of the systems, procedures, or processes, which hinders the
fulfilment of task or activity requirements, or negatively affects their
effectiveness; ·
Indicates the identification of two (2) or more
ongoing minor Non-compliance issues; and/or ·
Indicates the identification of a recurring minor
Non-compliance issue. |
2 |
Minor
Non-compliance |
Indicates
a partial absence or failure in the implementation of the systems,
procedures, or processes, which hinders the fulfilment of task and activity
requirements, or negatively affects their effectiveness. |
3 |
Observation |
Indicates the availability of minimal Evidence with an opportunity for improvement based on the auditor's experience and knowledge or on best industry practices. |
4 |
Strengths/
Best Practices |
Indicates the existence of one or more best practices exclusively implemented by the Department or the achievement of outstanding outcomes that can be adopted across some or all Departments. |
·
The Employee(s) involved in the audit must
cooperate with the auditor; provide him/ them with the required information,
records, documents, and Evidence; answer questions transparently; and
facilitate access to relevant facilities and other concerned Employees.
c. Closing Meeting:
Upon completion of the OHS-E audit,
the auditor will:
·
inform
the concerned Employee(s) that the Evidence leading to the audit outcomes is
based on the samples provided;
·
clearly present the outcomes to the concerned
Employee(s) and give them the opportunity to provide their feedback, by
accepting or rejecting with these outcomes;
·
discuss
feasible solutions and/or necessary corrective and/or preventive actions; and
·
explain the delivery process of the audit
outcomes and the subsequent steps.
d. Audit Findings:
·
The concerned auditor will complete the "Form (4) OHS-E
Audit Report", based on the discussions conducted during the closing meeting
with the concerned Employee(s).
·
The auditor will send the form to the concerned
Employee(s) to complete the relevant sections of the form within one (1)
working day from the date of the closing meeting.
·
The concerned Employee(s) will complete the relevant sections
of the form (including
the root causes and corrective actions, specifying the timeframe for
completion) and return it to the auditor within three (3) working days from the
date of receiving the form.
·
The OHS-E Unit will review the sections of the
form completed by the concerned
Employee(s), approve the same upon discussion with the Employee(s) and the
auditor, where required, and send a copy of the final form to the Employee(s)
for implementation and follow-up.
e. Addressing
Non-Compliance Issues:
·
Non-compliance issues must be addressed within a period not
exceeding three (3) months from the date of the audit by implementing the
agreed corrective and/or preventive actions.
·
Based on the information contained in “Form (4)
OHS-E Audit Report”, the OHS-E Unit will schedule another audit to follow up on
the existing Non-compliance issues, gather the necessary Evidence, and verify
the effectiveness of the corrective and/or preventive actions with the aim of
addressing the Non-compliance issue.
·
Where the Non-compliance issue is not
addressed during the first follow-up session, the auditor will schedule a
second session to follow up and address the issue.
f. Review by the Senior Management:
·
The OHS-E Unit will invite the senior management
and all other officials to attend monthly meetings to:
o
review the progress made in implementing the
approved OHS-E audit plan and programme;
o
provide
an overview on the audited Organisational Units, systems, procedures, and
processes;
o
present
the audit outcomes and the relevant corrective and/or preventive actions; and
o
take
the appropriate
actions and/or decisions without delay, if necessary.
·
These meetings must be documented in official minutes of
meetings maintained by the OHS-E Unit.
Fourth Stage: Enhancement
A Department must focus on continuous learning and improvement by:
·
staying
informed about any amendments to the OHS-E legislation, laws, or
regulations in force in the UAE in general, and in the Emirate in particular;
·
reviewing
and updating the OHS-E policy as necessary to ensure its alignment with any
changes in the Department's work and activities;
·
periodically
reviewing and updating the approved controls to avoid and/or mitigate Risks as
necessary;
·
implementing
the procedures related to the OHS-E System and benefitting from lessons
learned;
·
internally
monitoring the OHS-E operations, collecting data related to the performance of
the relevant procedures, continuously analysing and evaluating this data,
making the appropriate decisions, and taking the appropriate Measures
accordingly;
·
investigating the root causes of Non-compliance
and the relevant observations identified during internal audits and ensuring
the implementation of controls to prevent their recurrence at the Department;
and
·
sharing the Department's OHS-E strengths, best
practices, and outstanding outcomes with other Departments to disseminate
knowledge and enhance the efficiency of government work.
A Department strives to successfully
achieve its strategic goals and objectives. To this end, it is committed to
adopting the principle of Institutional Resilience to ensure Business
Continuity and maintain the OHS-E at all times. This commitment translates into
practical steps to safeguard the work environment from any Risks that Employees
or visitors may encounter; to protect assets and property from potential damage
or loss; and to protect the environment from any negative impacts.
To ensure the effectiveness of these
efforts, a Department must identify and analyse Risks; develop clear plans to
mitigate or address them if they materialise; and conduct continuous monitoring
to detect any new or potential Risks, ensuring Preparedness to address them
effectively. This entails training Employees, enhancing their competencies, and
fostering effective collaboration and communication with the competent
entities.
In accordance
with ISO 31000:2018 Standards, the concept of Risk Management revolves around
creating added value for the Department to assist in achieving its goals and
objectives, improving its performance, and fostering innovation and creativity
within it. This is achieved through adhering to the following key principles
upon which the concept of Risk Management is based:
To ensure the
effectiveness of the Risk Management process, it must be integrated within all
the Department’s systems and activities, regardless of the Department’s size
and nature of its operations. The Risk Management process must follow a
well-defined and comprehensive methodology that contributes to reaching
accurate and reliable findings that can be relied upon for informed
decision-making. So, when designing its Risk Management process, a Department
must consider both internal and external factors that may hinder the
achievement of its strategic goals and objectives.
One of the key factors for the success
of Risk Management process within a Department is the engagement of senior
management, Employees, and all relevant stakeholders at all stages of Risk
Management. This approach aims to leverage diverse knowledge, expertise, and
perspectives, ensuring the effective implementation of Risk Management. The
Risk Management process must be dynamic, meaning, it must take into account
internal and external variables that may impact institutional work, and address
them in a professional and timely manner. When applying the Risk Management
concept, it is essential to utilise the available historical or current
information, and to benefit from potential future expectations.
Instilling a Risk Management culture
and establishing supporting practices in the work environment are crucial for
continuous improvement efforts as they enable a Department to identify areas
for development and take the appropriate Measures accordingly.
The following Risk Management stages
aim to help a Department integrate the concept of Risk Management into its core
activities and institutional functions under Governance and senior management
support. These stages highlight the importance of designing, implementing,
assessing, and improving the Risk Management process across the Department:
Figure (1) Risk
Management Stages
Integration and Alignment
To ensure the integration and
alignment of the Risk Management concept with a Department's systems,
activities, and operations, it is essential to understand the Department's
mission, vision, Governance structure, strategy, and strategic and operational
goals and objectives and processes. It is crucial for the Department's
Employees to be aware of and understand their responsibility for Risk
Management within their respective positions and across all organisational
levels.
Stage One: Design
To design the Risk Management process,
it is essential to understand the internal and external factors that may impact
the Department's operations to make necessary
decisions and take Measures related to Risk Management. These factors include,
but are not limited to:
1. Internal
Factors:
·
the Department's mission, vision, and institutional values;
·
the
Department's strategy, objectives, and internal policies;
·
the
prevailing institutional culture of the Department;
·
the
standards, guidelines, and working models adopted by the Department;
·
the
organisational capabilities of the Department, including its available
resources and knowledge;
·
the
Department's information systems and data; and
·
the
prevailing work relationships with internal stakeholders, as well as their
views and opinions.
2. External
Factors:
·
social,
cultural, political, legal, legislative, financial, technological, economic,
and environmental factors at the local, regional, and international levels;
·
key work
trends and patterns that may impact the Department's objectives;
·
the
nature of work relationships with external stakeholders, including their
perspectives, opinions, needs, and expectations; and
·
the
contractual obligations of the Department.
Stage Two: Implementation
The implementation of Risk Management includes:
·
developing an appropriate plan that clearly outlines responsibilities,
resources, and time frames;
·
defining the Risk Management decision-making
mechanism and identifying decision-makers across the Department; and
·
ensuring that Risk Management mechanisms and
processes are understood and effectively implemented across the Department.
Stage Three: Evaluation
To assess the effectiveness
of its Risk Management, a Department must periodically measure the outcomes of
the "Implementation" stage and determine the adequacy of its efforts
in achieving institutional goals and objectives.
Stage Four: Improvement
A Department must monitor
internal and external factors that may affect the Risk Management process. If
areas for improvement are identified, the Department must develop the
corrective and/or preventive plans required for enhancement purposes.
The DGHR adopts a Risk
Management process based on ISO 31000:2018, which includes the following:
Figure (2) ISO 31000:2018 Risk
Management Process
First Factor: Communication and Consultation
Communication and consultation aim to
leverage the knowledge, expertise, and experiences of Employees and relevant
stakeholders at all the Risk Management process implementation stages. This
includes understanding diverse perspectives, opinions, and ideas when
setting Risk criteria and assessing Risks, ensuring the availability of
adequate and accurate information that supports decision-making. Hence, a
Department must develop and adopt a communication and consultation plan to
support the successful implementation of the Risk Management process.
Moreover, a Department must establish
clear mechanisms for internal communication among Employees and external
communication between management and relevant external stakeholders. Where
individual consultation with each Employee is challenging, the Department may
engage the representative of the concerned Organisational Unit to facilitate
communication between Employees and management, and assist in the development
and review of OHS-E policies and procedures.
Second Factor: Risks Scope, Context, and Criteria
Defining the scope, context, and
criteria of Risks is essential for designing a Risk Management process that
aligns with the Department’s requirements. This facilitates effective Risk
assessment and mitigation.
a.
Defining
the Scope
of Risks:
A Department must define the scope of activities related to the Risk Management process, taking into consideration:
·
identifying
the objectives to be achieved and the decisions to be made;
·
specifying
the nature of desired outcomes for each step of the process;
·
setting
the time frames for implementing the process;
·
determining
the appropriate Risk assessment strategies and tools;
·
identifying
the required resources, responsibilities, and records to be established; and
·
establishing
the link between the process and the projects, operations, and other activities
of the Department.
b. Understanding Internal and External Business
Context:
Understanding a Department's business environment helps in defining
the internal and external context that may impact its Risk Management. For this
purpose, the Department must analyse the factors mentioned in "Stage One:
Design" of the Risk Management stages.
c. Defining
Risk Criteria:
A Department must assess the severity and nature of the Risks it can accept, taking into account the Risk treatments and controls already in place. Additionally, the Department must assess any remaining Risks after implementing the necessary controls. When analysing the impact and likelihood of OHS-E Risks, the Department must take the following factors into consideration.
·
the nature and type of the Risks that may impact the
Department's objectives and deliverables; and
·
how to identify and measure the positive and negative impacts and
likelihood of OHS-E Risks. For this purpose, the Department may pose a number
of questions, including but not limited to:
o What is the occurrence frequency of the OHS-E Risks? How long does the
exposure of the Department's Employees and visitors to OHS-E Risks last?
o How effective are the OHS-E controls?
o Are there planned changes or specific operational
factors within the Department that could alter the level of Risks faced by
Employees or visitors?
o Do Risks arise from the working environment? Do
the behaviours of the Department's Employees and visitors increase the
likelihood of Risks and potential damage?
Risks
are classified according to the following matrix into five categories based on
their severity and impact levels:
Description |
Definition |
Points |
Very High |
Employees
may face death or Total Disability while performing their duties. |
5 |
High |
Employees
may suffer major fractures, poisoning, significant blood loss, severe head
injuries, or fatal disease while performing their duties. |
4 |
Medium |
Employees
may experience sprains, strains, localised burns, dermatitis, asthma, or
injuries requiring time off from work while performing their duties. |
3 |
Low |
Employees
may sustain injuries requiring first aid only, or short-term pain,
irritation, or dizziness, while performing their duties. |
2 |
Very Low |
Employees
are less likely, or unlikely, to get injured while performing their duties. |
1 |
Risk occurrence likelihood is classified as follows:
Description |
Definition |
Frequency |
Points |
Almost Certain |
Employees
are constantly exposed to Risks. |
Continuous |
5 |
Likely |
Employees
are likely to be exposed to Risks daily. |
Frequent |
4 |
Possible |
Employees
might be exposed to Risks infrequently (once a month or every two months). |
Once |
3 |
Unlikely |
Employees
might be exposed to Risks infrequently (once a year). |
Rarely, but possible |
2 |
Very Unlikely |
Employees
are rarely exposed, or have never been exposed, to Risks. |
Improbable or rare |
1 |
The Risk levels are determined using the following formula:
Risk Level = Severity of Impact Points × Likelihood of Occurrence Points |
Risk Classification |
Risk Level |
Required Corrective
Actions |
16 – 25 |
Very High |
Work
must be stopped immediately and corrective actions must be taken to eliminate
the Risk. |
9 – 15 |
High |
Work
must be stopped and corrective actions must be taken to eliminate the Risk
within a specified time frame. |
5 – 8 |
Medium |
Efforts
should be made to reduce the Risk and develop a corrective action plan, which
should be implemented as soon as possible. |
3 – 4 |
Low level |
Regular
monitoring of activities and periodic review of the corrective action plan
are required. |
1 - 2 |
Very Low |
No
action or record-keeping is required. |
Third Factor: Risk Assessment
The Risk assessment process
involves identifying, analysing, and evaluating Risks. To ensure the success of
this process, a Department must consult Employees and relevant stakeholders,
taking into account diverse perspectives and all available information.
a. Risk
Identification:
The Risk identification
process aims to detect and describe Risks that may hinder a Department from
achieving its goals and objectives. This process focuses on identifying the
causes and sources of Risks (in the context of physical harm), and on the
events, situations, or conditions that may result in an incident. It is crucial
for the Department to consider all systems, as well as the human,
organisational, and environmental factors that may pose a Risk to people and
the environment, or may cause damage to assets and property.
To identify OHS-E Risks, a
Department can:
·
review historical data and previous OHS-E
incidents (if any);
·
study cases resulting from planned or unusual
operations, events, or activities;
·
examine scheduled and unscheduled preventive
maintenance procedures to help identifying potential Risks; and/or
·
conduct an assessment of workplace Risks by the
competent Employees, which may involve interviewing other Employees to gather
their observations about existing Risks in their work environment.
These actions serve
as inputs for preparing an initial Risk Review Checklist, which can be utilised in a discussion or brainstorming session attended by
senior management, a number of Employees, and relevant stakeholders to identify
the OHS-E Risks that need to be prioritised based on urgency and importance.
OHS-E Risks may include, but are not limited to:
·
psychological
effects caused by work pressure, potentially leading to violence or burnout;
·
muscle
strain caused by manual tasks involving excessive effort or repetitive
movements;
·
potential
for falls, slips, and trips that may cause injuries, disabilities, or death;
·
exposure
to noise which may result in hearing impairment or loss;
·
exposure
to hazardous chemicals, radiation, or biological agents leading to respiratory
diseases, cancers, blindness, or death;
·
electricity-related
ignition, exposure to electric shock from wires, or fatality due to electric
shock;
·
exposure
to extremely high or low temperatures causing sunstroke, exhaustion, or skin
ulcers; and
·
fatalities,
injuries, or disabilities caused by work tools, equipment, and machinery.
b. Risk
Analysis:
Risk analysis aims to
understand the nature and level of the Risk. Analysis must include factors such
as:
·
likelihood and consequences of the Risk;
·
nature of the Risk and the magnitude of its
effect;
·
the level of complexity of the Risk and any
interrelationship with other Risks;
·
duration of downtime or possible stoppage of work;
and
·
effectiveness of Risk controls (if any).
To ensure a proper Risk analysis,
accurate information must be used, and the methods used in the analysis process
must be clarified, refuting any assumptions or exceptions considered during the
process. All this must be documented and explained to decision-makers in the
Department. Risk analysis methods are divided into quantitative and qualitative
methods. Quantitative data is used to estimate the likelihood and severity of
the consequences of the occurrence of the Risk in numbers. However, due to
practical constraints of the quantitative method, such as data availability,
time, and necessary resources, the qualitative method may be employed instead.
Additionally, the Department may use one or more Risk analysis methods as
needed.
c. Risk
Assessment:
The aim of Risk assessment is to support decision-making on matters pertaining to the OHS-E. Risk analysis results are compared with the adopted Risk criteria to determine the need for taking any Measures. The decision may be as follows:
·
no need for any Measures;
·
need to implement one or more available Risk
treatment options;
·
undertake further analysis for better and more
accurate understanding of the Risk; and/or
·
maintain existing Risk controls.
Fourth Factor: Risk Treatment
Risk treatment or control involves:
·
identifying available Risk treatment and control
options;
·
developing and implementing a clear Risk treatment
and control plan;
·
assessing the effectiveness of Risk treatment and
control Measures; and
·
making decisions about stakeholders' acceptance of
the remaining Risks. If not accepted, identifying additional treatment or
control methods.
There are a number of options available to treat and control Risks, but the Department must balance the potential benefits when applying any of these options against their suitability, cost, effort, and any negative effects that may result. Risk treatment and control methods may include:
·
avoiding the Risk
by not initiating an activity that may give rise to that Risk or halting
ongoing work if already started;
·
taking or increasing the Risk that may give rise
to another Risk to leverage an available opportunity in the job market or the
operational environment of the Department;
·
eliminating the Risk source;
·
sharing the Risk with other entities (e.g.,
insurance companies, contracting with partners, etc.); or
·
retaining the Risk with the need to monitor it to
make the relevant appropriate decision in a timely manner.
The
Department must document the option it applies for treating and controlling
Risks, taking into account its obligations towards individuals and
institutions, as well as stakeholders' feedback, its strategic goals and
objectives, its adopted Risk criteria, and the resources available to it.
However, implementing one of the available options does not necessarily mean
successful treatment or control of the Risk, as it may trigger new Risks that
need to be addressed. Therefore, the Measures taken must be closely monitored, and
appropriate actions taken in a timely manner.
Risks
will be recorded in 'Template (5) Risk Register,' which must be used as an
action plan for the Department. The Risk Register is an important part of the
Risk assessment process, as it helps in making decisions on OHS-E controls. It
also forms an agreed-upon reference that includes the significant Risks that
have been identified. The Risk Register functions both as a record of ongoing
Risk treatment activities and as a record of proposed actions to enhance the
control of specific OHS-E Risks.
A Department may use a Risk Register format that is appropriate to it, noting that a typical Risk Register includes a description of the Risk, its current level in terms of likelihood and severity, overall Risk classification, current controls and Measures, or proposed future controls. Risk controls must be adequately explained for audit purposes, particularly in case of high-risk operations.
Fifth Factor: Monitoring and Review
Monitoring and review must be conducted at all stages of the OSH-E Risk Management process, covering areas including but not limited to: Risk identification and assessment methods, Risk reporting procedures, documented controls, performance monitoring reports, and corrective and preventive actions. The monitoring and review process must be planned, so that the necessary information and data are collected, outcomes are recorded, and improvement proposals are submitted within an appropriate time frame, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of the process and its outputs.
Sixth Factor: Monitoring and Reporting
All stages of the OSH-E Risk Management process must be documented and reported using appropriate methods. This aims to:
·
disseminate Risk Management activities and
outcomes across the Department;
·
provide necessary information for decision-making
purposes;
·
improve Risk Management activities; and
·
ensure effective communication with stakeholders,
including those responsible and accountable for Risk Management activities.
Implementing
the OHS-E System contributes to enhancing Employee Welfare. It ensures that a
Department prioritises factors that promote Employees' happiness and
prosperity, and protect them from Risks that they may be exposed to while
performing their employment duties and responsibilities. This brings numerous
advantages and benefits to Employees, their Department, and the community. This
Manual is aimed at cultivating positive work environments where Employees
experience well-being and harmony across all Departments. It
supports Departments in attracting and retaining competent human resources
through the development, implementation, and monitoring of the supporting
policies, programmes, and initiatives, while also reinforcing the practices
that contribute to creating this conducive environment and ensuring its
success. This approach has numerous positive effects on institutional
performance.
The concept of Employee Welfare encompasses several aspects, including the social aspect in the work environment, which contributes to boosting the Employees' morale through fostering trust, empathy, and altruism; and the physical aspect related to the Employees' physical fitness, enabling them to perform their employment duties actively and energetically in a safe and healthy work environment. The psychological aspect is another key aspect of Employee Welfare, manifested by empowering Employees and giving them the opportunity to make decisions related to their employment duties and to express their opinions and suggestions. Finally, the professional aspect enhances the Employees' professional growth and development by providing opportunities for learning and development; offering a clear career path in a work environment characterised by fairness, recognition, and respect for diversity and differences, in addition to creating an appropriate physical office environment.
Implementing
the concept of Employee Welfare in the work environment will result in numerous
benefits, including:
·
achieving
institutional goals and objectives;
·
increasing
the level of Employee satisfaction and institutional loyalty;
·
reducing
Employee turnover and increasing Employee retention rates;
·
decreasing
Occupational Injuries and related expenses;
·
lowering
sick leave and absenteeism rates;
·
increasing
productivity and motivation at work;
·
enhancing
the ability to manage work pressure effectively;
·
promoting
team work; and
·
increasing
customer satisfaction rates.
The guidelines for Employee Welfare include the following
aspects:
Employees
Given that human capital is central to the
institutional ecosystem, the Employee
Welfare guidelines revolve around understanding the Employees' needs; listening
to their opinions, concerns, ideas, and suggestions; consulting them on work
policies and initiatives; and allowing them to have an impact on work-related
decisions.
Therefore, the senior management of a Department must
adopt an open-door policy and encourage Employees to actively participate in
all matters and express their opinions through various channels, including, but
not limited to, surveys, discussion groups, and periodic meetings.
1. Physical Safety and Psychological Health
Prioritising physical safety and psychological health
in the work environment is crucial, as these are fundamental human needs. This requires analysing
and evaluating workplace Risks, designing and
implementing physical safety programmes and initiatives, and regularly
reviewing them. These programmes and initiatives may include encouraging
Employees to engage in sports activities, promoting the importance of healthy
eating, redesigning the workplace to prevent potential injuries, modifying the
infrastructure (such as building entrances, etc.) to accommodate the needs of
people of determination, and developing and implementing policies related to
protection against, and control of, viral infections. To ensure the
sustainability of physical safety efforts, a Department must provide training
opportunities to Employees on the use of work tools and equipment in languages
that Employees of all nationalities understand. It is also
essential to assess the workload and the adequacy of available resources to
meet the needs of the Employees, and monitor working hours to limit any
unplanned overtime that may cause Employee stress or burnout.
Psychological health is equally important, as it helps Employees feel at
ease in the workplace, enabling them to express their ideas and suggestions.
Several factors support the Employee’s psychological health, including but not
limited to, providing a work environment free of psychological stress, and
establishing channels for Employees to report any psychological harm.
Factors
such as long working hours, insufficient sleep, or medical conditions
negatively affect the Employees' psychological and mental health, rendering them susceptible to fatigue,
panic attacks, and depression. Therefore, it is recommended to provide a
Department’s Employees sufficient rest periods to increase productivity,
protect Employees against burnout, and reduce errors and Injuries in the
workplace. To promote mental and psychological health in the workplace, a Department
must foster a culture that promotes mental and psychological health by
launching initiatives that provide the relevant specialised support and
prevention services, and psychological care to its Employees through health
insurance.
2. Social Relations in the Work Environment
Positive social relationships and effective
communication in the workplace environment are two (2) essential factors for
Employee Welfare. The stronger the work relationships that are built on
respect, trust, and tolerance of others, the more the Employees feel an
enhanced sense of institutional belonging and motivation to go to work. Active
participation in improving institutional performance, and having reassurance of
the existence of a social support network contribute to alleviating any tension
or anxiety that an Employee may experience. In this context, we must emphasise
the necessity of promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion in the
Department to prevent discrimination against Employees based on ethnicity,
gender, religion, age, or any other factor. By celebrating their differences,
Employees can generate new ideas, promote tolerance, and strengthen the team
spirit.
Effective communication at all levels of a Department is one of the key
factors that support maintaining positive work relationships, allowing
Employees to exchange opinions and feedback in a way that furthers the interest
of work. The Department’s leadership and senior officials play a significant
role in enhancing ongoing communication, listening to Employees’ feedback, and
adopting transparency to help them overcome work pressure, improve performance,
and boost engagement and creativity.
Strengthening relationships and communication amongst
Employees, within Organisational Units or across the Department, and providing
the tools that enhance teamwork play a significant role in achieving a common
goal despite differencing opinions, viewpoints, and personalities. This is
particularly relevant under telework or hybrid work conditions, as well as at
work environments where some Department Employees work full-time while others
work on a part-time basis.
3. Balance between Professional and Personal Life
With the
availability of numerous technological programmes that facilitate virtual
communication, the boundaries between professional and personal life have
significantly blurred, allowing Employees to be reached at all times and
anywhere, which may cause burnout, stress, and psychological pressure. However,
some Employees strive to strike a balance between their professional and
personal lives, but they are concerned about the impact this may have on their
performance at work and how others perceive them.
In light of the above,
a Department leadership encourages senior officials to communicate effectively
with their subordinates to understand
their life needs (such as the need to care for their young children or elderly
relatives, or the need for a break to recharge their physical energy and mental
health away from the work environment, etc.) The leadership must also urge
Department officials to consult with subordinates regarding the policies and
programmes that affect them and their performance (such as establishing on-site
childcare facility at the workplace, etc.)
It is
noteworthy that the Law takes into account the importance of striking a balance
between the Employee’s professional and personal life. It grants the Employee
annual paid leave to have a break away from the work environment, and a number
of other types of paid and unpaid leave, for specific periods and under clear
eligibility criteria, taking into account the Employee’s various circumstances
(such as Maternity, Delivery, and Childcare Leave, Paternity Leave, Idda
Leave, Compassionate Leave, unpaid leave, and other types of leave). The Law
also provides for the option of full-time, part-time, or temporary employment,
a telework system, and flexible working hours, in line with the interests of
the Department and the personal and family commitments of its Employees.
4. Recognition and Respect
An Employee's sense of recognition and respect in the
workplace environment leads to increased productivity and creativity, as he
becomes aware that his employment duties contribute to achieving institutional
goals and objectives. Therefore, it is important for the Department’s
leadership and senior officials to recognise their Employees’ hard work and
diligence through in-kind and moral incentives including by, but not limited
to, awarding bonuses, distributing certificates of appreciation and
recognition, commending Employees individually and before co-workers.
An inclusive work environment is typically characterised by respect for diverse
viewpoints and opinions, helping Employees identify and discuss areas for
improvement, and develop internal systems by proposing ideas and solutions and
remedial actions in an atmosphere of trust, cooperation, and openness.
Therefore, Employees' feeling of contribution to achieving a collective goal
across all employment levels gives them a sense of pride in and enthusiasm
about their work and reduces levels of stress.
Thus, a Department must adopt a culture of empowerment by providing Employees with opportunities to express their opinions on work processes, supplying them with the tools and resources to accomplish their tasks, and giving them a clear vision of their career path. An empowerment culture also helps Employees feel capable of making their own decisions and taking initiative, motivating them to exert their utmost efforts. Granting Employees even a small degree of autonomy in their work will significantly boost their happiness in the work environment and will enhance their confidence in their ability to contribute to furthering the achievement of the Department’s mission and vision.
5. Professional Growth and Development
Professional growth and development play an important
role by providing Employees with new skills, knowledge, and capabilities, or by
honing existing ones, empowering them to perform the tasks and duties of their
current and future job duties efficiently and effectively. Therefore, a
Department must provide
its Employees with learning and development opportunities at all career levels.
The Department leadership must also encourage senior officials to fairly
monitor and evaluate the performance of subordinates, provide them with ongoing
feedback, and use the appropriate methods and tools to identify their strengths
and areas for improvement in a constructive manner, so that they will be able
to bridge performance gaps and improve their performance.
It is important to note that a work environment
offering Employees opportunities for professional growth and development is attractive and leads
to Employee happiness and satisfaction. This is achievable through the
effective implementation of the Law and other legislation issued thereunder,
including:
·
Code of Ethics and Professional
Conduct of Dubai Government Employees: This Code outlines the basic values of
job ethics, including justice and equality, ensuring equal and motivating
professional opportunities for Employees.
·
Learning and
Development System at the Government of Dubai: This System emphasises the
importance of identifying the learning and development needs of Employees and
preparing individual development plans for all Employees. It also stresses the
necessity of providing Employees with learning and development opportunities in
accordance with a clear methodology.
·
Performance Management System of Employees of the Government of Dubai: This System
details the Employee performance appraisal process from planning to evaluation
and fair performance ratings.
·
Job Succession Management System
(Critical and Core Positions): This System explains the how to manage job
succession and emphasises the importance of giving Employees opportunities to
use their current skills and expertise or to acquire new ones conducive to
promotion to higher levels and assuming greater responsibilities.
To
achieve the benefits of implementing the concept of Employee Welfare in the
work environment, a Department can design and implement effective initiatives
and programmes in this respect. These initiatives and programmes will
contribute to increasing Employee satisfaction, motivation, and productivity in
the workplace. The following methodology must be adopted when designing and
implementing Employee Welfare initiatives and programmes. This methodology
consists of five main stages as shown below:
Figure (5) Employee Welfare Initiatives
and Programmes Methodology
First Stage: Support from Senior Management and
Information Gathering
Before launching any Employee
Welfare initiatives or programmes, a Human Resources Directorate must enlist
the support of the senior management to ensure the allocation of the resources
required for the success of such initiatives and programmes. The Human
Resources Directorate must explain the benefits that will accrue to the
Department and its Employees from implementing these initiatives and
programmes. It must also prepare an comprehensive study specifying the
performance indicators that will be positively impacted by the implementation
(such as higher Employee satisfaction rates, lower Occupational Injuries and
sick leave rates, and reduced Risk mitigation costs). In addition, the study
must review the goals and success rates achieved by other Departments and
corporations from the implementation of similar Employee Welfare initiatives
and programmes.
Upon approval by senior management to proceed with the Employee Welfare initiatives and programmes, the Human Resources Directorate must collect information on the needs of Employees and prioritise meeting these needs by involving Employees through various methods, including, but not limited to:
·
Discussion
Groups: In these discussion panels, Employees are given the opportunity to
express their opinions and propose solutions in respect of Employee Welfare
initiatives and programmes.
·
Surveys: A Human Resources Directorate may, in
cooperation with the OHS-E Unit, conduct surveys that help assess the Employee
Welfare requirements that are preferred by the Employees of the Department.
·
Work Environment Assessment: Evaluating the work environment helps
identify areas for development in the workplace, such as office spaces, rest
areas, parking lots, etc., and closely monitor any practices requiring
enhancement with a view to implementing the concept of Employee Welfare.
Second Stage: Designing Initiatives and Programmes
The stage of designing Employee Welfare initiatives and programmes begins by analysing the information collected by the Human Resources Directorate in the first stage, as this will help:
·
determine
the scope of the initiative/ programme (e.g., psychological health, sports
activities, etc.);
·
allocate
the required resources, including the human resources that will implement the
initiatives or programmes, the financial resources required to cover the
relevant costs, the electronic tools, devices, and programmes that the
Department may need to successfully implement the initiatives and programmes,
and the required infrastructure and assets (such as office space, etc.);
·
determine
the targets of implementing the initiatives and programmes, and present these
to the senior management and Employees; and
·
develop
an action plan that determines the implementation stages, responsibilities,
associated Risks, and time frames; and follow up on its implementation to
ensure orderly completion.
Third Stage: Implementing Initiatives and
Programmes
After designing the
initiatives and programmes, a Human Resources Directorate must disseminate
information about them amongst Employees, and ensure their participation and
satisfaction with them. Awareness activities may include, but are not limited
to:
·
Initiative/
Programme Launch Event: Employees are invited to an event attended by the
senior management of the Department, during which the initiative/ programme is
introduced.
·
Electronic
Communication: The initiative/ programme is introduced via email or through
posting on the Department’s intranet.
·
Informational
Posters and Leaflets: The initiative/ programme is introduced via posters
displayed at designated areas, and by distributing information leaflets about
the initiative/ programme.
·
Awareness
Seminars: The benefits of the initiative/ programme are discussed by
experienced qualified subject matter experts (such as psychological health
professionals, sports coaches, etc.) who are invited to the Department.
Successful implementation of an initiative/ programme requires periodic meetings to follow up the work progress, coordination with the appropriate partners (such as sports clubs, medical clinics, and others), effective management of the allocated budget, and continuous communication with Employees to motivate them to participate in the initiative/ programme. A Human Resources Directorate must prepare reports on the outcomes of the relevant performance indicators and appropriate solutions to address any challenges, if any; and submit these to the senior management.
Fourth Stage: Evaluating Initiatives and
Programmes
A Human Resources Directorate must, at least once a Year, evaluate the Employee Welfare initiatives and programmes to determine their success and areas for improvement. The evaluation may include the following:
·
Rate of Implemented Employee Welfare Initiatives
and Programmes against Targets:
o number
of implemented initiatives/ programmes;
o number
of Employees who participated in an entire initiative/ programme; and
o level of
Employee satisfaction with the quality of the initiative/ programme and their
relevant comments.
·
Changes
in the Work Environment:
o the
changes that occurred in the Department’s policies and procedures that support
the concept of Employee Welfare; and
o the
changes that have occurred in the work environment that increase participation
in activities related to physical fitness, healthy eating, and psychological
health.
·
The impact created by Employee Welfare initiatives and
programmes in the work environment on the Employee and Department, by
measuring:
o Employee
satisfaction rate;
o Employee
turnover rate; and
o Sick
Leave rate.
Fifth Stage: Improvement
After reviewing the outcomes of the Evaluation Stage of the Employee Welfare Initiatives and Programmes, a Department may re-assess its need for the implemented initiative/ programme to make the appropriate decision for the purposes of improvement, either by amending it or replacing it. The Department then proceeds with the implementation methodology again, involving the senior management and Employees in the process, with a view to achieving its strategic goals and objectives of creating a motivating work environment characterised by high levels of Employee satisfaction, loyalty, productivity, and creativity.
Section Five Workplace Environment
Given the global drive towards
conserving natural resources, reducing carbon footprints, and minimising
harmful emissions, discussions on OHS-E must address the significance of
fostering a conducive workplace environment by adopting the Green Office concept.
This approach also underscores the responsibility of Departments in upholding
environmental sustainability through the policies, systems, and positive
practices that align with this drive.
Implementing the Green Office Concept
A Department may implement the Green
Office concept through:
1. Assessing
the Current Environmental Situation in the Department
The work team must commence a comprehensive assessment of
the current environmental situation in the Department to identify the
practices, activities, and operational processes that will impact, and be
impacted by, the implementation of the Green Office concept; and determine the
positive and negative impacts of that concept on the environment. The outcomes
of this assessment will serve as the primary input for developing a
comprehensive action plan to transition towards the Green Office concept and to
set the relevant objectives and targets.
2. Developing the Environmental Policy of the Department
The OHS-E Unit must, in collaboration
and consultation with the stakeholders, develop the Department's environmental
policy and present it to the senior management for approval. The policy must be
documented and must reflect the Department's leadership commitment to
supporting the efforts to preserve the workplace environment. In addition, the
policy must outline the relevant principles to which the Department is
committed.
3. Determining Environmental Objectives,
Initiatives, and Programmes
Based on the results of the workplace
environmental assessment and the approved environmental policy, the OHS-E Unit
may set its environmental objectives and prepare a comprehensive action plan to
achieve them according to its priorities. This plan must clarify how the
Department intends to improve its environmental performance.
The environmental objectives must be formulated using the
SMART criteria, namely they must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable using the
available resources, Relevant, and Time-bound. Examples of environmental
objectives include reducing office waste by 30% by the end of the fourth
quarter of 2024. After approving the environmental objectives, initiatives and
programmes will be developed to ensure their achievement. These include
designing a system for collecting and sorting office waste by type. These initiatives
and programmes must aim to achieve the desired changes, improve environmental
performance, and enhance continuous improvement efforts.
4. Periodic Monitoring and Measurement
A Department must periodically monitor
the implementation of its environmental objectives, initiatives, and
programmes; and must periodically track the results of relevant key performance
indicators. Key performance indicators may include, but are not limited to:
·
the percentage of cost reduction (resulting from the implementation of
environmental initiatives and programmes);
·
the number of Employees trained in the environmental field (compared to the
planned number); and
·
the number of environmental violations in the workplace (classified as major,
moderate, or minor).
With a view to supporting continuous
improvement efforts, the OHS-E Unit must submit to the senior management
periodic reports clearly outlining the outcomes of the implemented
environmental objectives, initiatives, and programmes; the challenges faced;
and the proposed solutions for addressing them.
Opportunities for Mitigating Environmental
Impacts at the Workplace
A Department may become a strategic partner in achieving
the UAE's environmental sustainability objectives by adopting the Green
Procurement concept. This concept involves ensuring that the products,
services, and works procured by the Department are either less harmful or
harmless to the environment throughout their lifecycle. Implementing this
approach also contributes to cost reduction and enhances the positive corporate
reputation of the Department. Therefore, the Department must consider the
following when conducting procurement and contracting transactions:
·
accurately assessing its procurement needs to
verify the actual need for purchases;
·
developing technical specifications for its needs
of products, services, and works, taking environmental factors into
consideration;
·
establishing the environmental requirements to be
met by suppliers and ensuring that these requirements are integrated in the
supplier selection process; and
·
including provisions in contracts that ensure
suppliers' adherence to the targeted environmental standards.
Furthermore, the Department will have the opportunity to reduce its environmental footprint by focusing on the following:
1. Paper
Guided by the Government's approved Dubai Paperless Strategy, a
Department may make the appropriate environment-friendly decisions and
establish the policies and procedures that support environmental preservation.
This includes taking effective steps to implement the digital transformation.
2.
Water
Water has been significantly impacted by
climate change, with the world now facing a looming water scarcity in the
coming years. This places a substantial responsibility on the Departments and
communities to conserve water. In light of this, a Department must assess water
consumption rates and associated costs to identify areas for improvement and
develop the appropriate action plans to reduce water waste.
To conserve water, a Department may benefit
from the following measures which include, but are not limited to:
·
educating
Employees about methods to reduce water consumption;
·
using filtered
tap water instead of bottled water;
·
promptly
repairing any water leaks in pipes or washbasins;
·
installing sensor
taps to stop water flow after a set period;
·
purchasing
water-efficient appliances that meet local or international water usage
standards; and
·
conserving water
during the irrigation of plants around the workplace and its facilities.
3. Electricity
The Emirate adopts the "Dubai
Clean Energy Strategy 2050," which aims to transform Dubai into a global
hub for clean energy and the green economy. To assist in achieving this goal,
a Department must take the appropriate measures to rationalise electricity consumption,
thus contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint and related
expenses. This may be achieved by considering the following measures, which
include, but are not limited to:
3.1
Lighting
·
encouraging the use of natural lighting instead of artificial
lighting whenever possible;
·
retrofitting or replacing lighting fixtures (e.g., using
energy-efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and
light-emitting diodes (LEDs);
·
using solar
panels for lighting; and
·
installing lighting control devices (e.g., occupancy
sensors, motion sensors, etc.).
3.2
Heating,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems
·
retrofitting air
conditioners with Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems;
·
optimising the performance of air conditioner compressors;
·
installing
programmable thermostats;
·
optimising
the operation of cooling water pumps;
·
installing
variable-frequency drives (VFDs) for air handling units (AHUs) to operate them
at variable speeds according to a schedule or on demand; and
·
using
carbon monoxide sensors for exhaust fans in parking lots.
3.3
Buildings
and Facilities Coating
·
coating
the Department's buildings and facilities with thermal insulation paint to
improve thermal insulation efficiency;
·
using
advanced window tinting technologies; and
·
fitting
windows with thermal insulation to reduce heat, visible light, and infra-red
and ultraviolet rays passing through windows.
3.4
Electrical
Equipment (including computers and other equipment)
·
purchasing/
using electrical equipment with energy-efficient specifications; and
·
turning
off electrical equipment when not in use or using power-saving plugs that
automatically switch off devices if not used for a specified period.
4.
Transportation
Emissions from transportation
negatively impact air quality and cause environmental pollution. Therefore, a
Department must take the following actions to protect the environment:
·
adopt
telework under controls that ensure productivity;
·
encourage the use of audio-visual programmes for work
or training purposes;
·
launch carpooling programmes or encourage Employees
to use public transportation;
·
raise awareness
among Employees about ways to rationalise the use of car fuel; and
·
provide sufficient parking for Employees who use
pedal cycles for commuting to work, thus supporting the environment.
5. Waste Management
Waste management involves the
monitoring, collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, or disposal of
the waste generated at a Department. Waste management methods may be classified
based on their environmental impact, and priority should be given to preventing
waste generation, then reuse and recycling of waste, and finally waste
disposal.
5.1
Preventing
Waste Generation
Waste generation may be prevented in
the workplace through various methods, including but not limited to:
·
encouraging the
rational use of stationery by implementing an effective stationery request
system that allows the monitoring of consumption rates
in each Organisational Unit;
·
reducing the
purchase of single-use beverage and food containers (e.g., plastic cups and
plates, milk cartons, etc.);
·
minimising food
waste and donating any surplus to organisations that support food preservation
projects; and
·
replacing paper
towels in restrooms with hand dryers.
5.2
Reusing
or Recycling Waste
Waste can be reused or recycled
through various methods, including but not limited to:
·
reusing marketing
and promotional materials for multiple events and occasions;
·
identifying old
office furniture or electronic equipment and donating them to entities that may
put them to use such as official charitable associations, where the need
arises; and
·
replacing
traditional waste bins with those designated for recycling purposes.
5.3 Waste Disposal
Waste may be disposed of through
various methods, including but not limited to:
·
using bins
clearly designated for each type of waste including organic waste, hazardous
waste, etc.);
·
promoting and
disseminating proper waste disposal practices;
·
complying with
the waste disposal laws and regulations in force in the UAE; and
·
developing
strategic partnerships with the entities concerned with waste disposal (e.g.,
the "Recyclable Materials Collection Centre" affiliated with Dubai
Municipality, and others).
·
1. Form (1) Annual OHS-E Audit Plan
2.
Form (2) OHS-E Audit Programme
3.
Form (3) Reference Checklist
4.
Form (4) OHS-E Audit Report Outcomes
5.
Form (5) Risk Register
Form (1) Annual OHS-E Audit Plan |
||||||||||||||||||||||
SN |
Organisational Unit |
Target ed Audit Standard |
Please specify the target date in the
box below: |
Remarks |
||||||||||||||||||
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
If more space is needed, please attach additional pages as per the
table above. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Prepared By: (Full Name) |
|
Designation: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
|||||||||||||||
Approved By: (Full Name) |
|
Designation: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
|||||||||||||||
Form (2) OHS-E Audit Programme (Year) |
|||||||||||||||
Scope of Audit: |
|
Audit Objectives: |
|
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
SN |
Organisational Unit |
Concerned Employee(s) |
Auditor(s) |
Audit Date |
Duration |
Remarks |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
If more space is needed, please attach additional pages as per the
table above. |
|||||||||||||||
Prepared By: (Full Name) |
|
Designation: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
||||||||
Approved By: (Full Name) |
|
Designation: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
||||||||
Form (3) Reference Checklist |
|||||||||||
Organisational Unit: |
|
Concerned Employee(s): |
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Reason for Audit |
Audit Date |
Timing |
Auditor(s) |
||||||||
As per the annual audit plan |
Follow-up on addressing
Non-compliance |
Start |
End |
||||||||
☐ |
☐ |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|||||||||||
SN |
Audit Standard |
Auditor’s Notes/ Evidence |
Outcomes |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
If more space is needed, please attach
additional pages as per the table above.
|
Form (4) OHS-E Audit Report Outcomes |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Audit Date: |
|
Audit Conducted: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Organisational Unit: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Audit Standards: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Description of Non-compliance/
Strengths and Best Practices (Please state details): |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Please attach the Reference Checklist used
during the audit process. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Classification of the Case: |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Auditor's Name: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
For Use by the OHS-E Unit |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Root Causes of Non-compliance/ Strengths and Best Practices: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Required Action(s): |
|
Implementation Date: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Employee’s Name: |
|
Designation: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For Use by the OHS-E Auditor |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Audit Outcome (Follow-up Session 1): |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes: |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auditor’s Name: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Audit Outcome (Follow-up Session 2): |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes: |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auditor’s Name: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For Use by the OHS-E Unit |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status of Non-compliance/ Strength/ Best Practice: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes: |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Employee’s Name: |
|
Designation: |
|
Signature: |
|
Date: |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Form (5) Risk Register |
||||||||
Field/ Activity |
Outcomes |
Risk Classification |
Risk Level |
Risk Control Rules |
Residual Risks |
Notes |
||
SN |
Risk |
Probability |
Severity |
|||||
1. |
Fire in the file storage room. |
Employees are at risk of injury or death due to inhalation of toxic
gases or exposure to flames. |
3 |
5 |
High |
·
Periodic training for a group of Employees on use of
fire extinguishing equipment. ·
Adherence to the schedule of preventive maintenance of
fire alarm systems. ·
Transition to a paperless work environment (digital
environment). |
Low |
|
2. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
©2024 The Supreme
Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort
has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this
legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application,
reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the
Arabic text will prevail.