By Christy Uden, BCSP CEO
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a beautiful place, from the stunning architecture and bright lights illuminating the Dubai skyline to the fusion of cultures and the vast resources dedicated to innovation.
Earlier this fall, BCSP Board President Leslie Stockel and I visited the UAE for our first Industry Roundtable and a full itinerary of meetings with industry leaders to discuss the health, wellness, and safety of a growing workforce in the region of India, the Middle East, and Africa (IMEA).
We began our trip in Dubai, greeted with gracious hospitality and learning of the emphasis on workforce development in the region. There is interest in allocating resources to improve occupational safety and health in the UAE, with investment in education, upskilling, and professional development. That’s where BCSP can help.
With such immense projects and a population comprised nearly 85% percent by expatriates from around the globe, cultivating a common understanding of safety is essential. Universal, ANAB-accredited certifications like those we offer are a tangible way to accomplish that goal. Our standards give companies confidence that BCSP-certified workers have demonstrated a baseline knowledge of safety practice, easing concerns over their qualifications and enhancing the safety culture of work environments.
We were honored to meet with leaders from the following organizations during our trip:
Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority (SPSA) protects the health and safety of a growing workforce through unified risk management methodology surrounding occupational safety and health. SPSA has accredited the Salama Preventive Training Institute in its efforts to reduce risks and prevent accidents through distinctive health and safety training programs for laborers in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Abu Dhabi Ports, part of AD Ports Group, owns or operates 10 ports and terminals in the UAE. It operates facilities utilizing sea, air, road, and rail transportation to provide gateways between the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and global markets. Through its world-class infrastructure and strategic partnerships, Abu Dhabi Ports seeks to drive global trade and diversify the emirate’s economy.
National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) is a world-class engineering, procurement, and construction company providing total EPC solutions to the offshore and onshore oil and gas sectors. Headquartered in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, NPCC provides engineering, procurement, project management, fabrication, installation, and commissioning services to project owners and operators.
American University of Sharjah (AUS) is an internationally accredited teaching and research institution with a strong academic reputation. AUS offers 28 majors and 45 minors for undergraduates, 15 master’s degree programs, and three PhD programs. It was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah.
Emirates National Oil Company Group (ENOC), a wholly owned company of the Government of Dubai, is a leading integrated global oil and gas player operating across the energy sector value chain. Comprised of more than 30 related subsidiaries and servicing thousands of customers across 60 markets, ENOC is helping to drive Dubai’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
Dubai Airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai and is the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic. It is also among the top 20 busiest airports in the world for general passenger traffic and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight. It is one of the world’s busiest cargo airports and the busiest for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements.
National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) is one of the Middle East’s marine industry leaders. Based in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, NMDC strives to provide flexible, cost-effective, and on-time solutions for marine projects, including dredging and reclamation. With a large fleet of dredgers and support vessels, NMDC has the capability to operate anywhere in the world.
