Government of DubaiRanjit Raj, HSE Manager for UAE-based smart facility services provider Farnek, has received a Taqdeer Health & Safety Manager Award from the Government of Dubai at a gala ceremony in the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) on the Expo 2020 site.
Sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the Taqdeer Awards were introduced by the Emirate to incentivise and motivate companies to excel in their respective fields whilst implementing best practice in labour rights.
The special edition of the Taqdeer Awards was organised to recognise excellence amongst Expo 2020 contractors and service providers for their ongoing commitment to ensuring worker welfare and implementing the highest health, safety, quality and environment (HSQE) standards.
On receiving his award from HE Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) and Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer – Expo 2020, Raj said: “The Covid pandemic presented many challenges at the Expo 2020 site. Farnek’s HSE and welfare teams acted swiftly to provide strategic crisis management to limit the spread of Covid amongst our workers. The result was little if any disruption to our operational service delivery.
“Our approach included comprehensive risk based Covid controls on site, close coordination with Expo HSE and WW teams and updated physical infrastructure at Farnek Village, our staff accommodation centre.
“Our workforce played a significant role in limiting any further outbreaks, they all performed responsibly, well aware of the potential impact on their colleagues and the operation. This understanding and cooperation was key to the success of our mitigation plan, it was true team spirit.”
Babar Hussain, Farnek’s Head of HSE, added: “With Ranjit’s support, I oversaw the implementation of a detailed tracking, monitoring and reporting system which included the use of thermal scanning biometrics machines which automatically alerted management, of any staff with elevated body temperatures. It was exceptional teamwork.”
Farnek was also recognised with Taqdeer Gold Excellence Cards for excellence in the categories of worker welfare and health and safety (H&S) across Dubai after providing the judging panel with examples of best employment practices and its comprehensive use of global benchmarks, including labour policies, facilities and infrastructure, health and safety, labour security, recruitment and wages, justice and transparency, labour perceptions and other key performance indicators.
The cards allow the company to save millions of dirhams annually through government incentives from four government bodies, the RTA, DEWA, DM and GDRFA-Dubai. with employees also being able to avail of discounts offered by more than 60 establishments and shops throughout Dubai.
Markus Oberlin, Farnek CEO, comments: “This not only provides our employees with well-deserved recognition, it also reassures existing and potential customers that our staff welfare programmes and health and safety initiatives are best in class.”
Author
