As the directives allow reopening of companies of various sectors, the following of preventive and precautionary measures becomes even more critical to ensure safe working environment across the sectors.

Many industries allowed work from home opportunity to individuals, however, workers and employees at operational facilities continued to work on site round the clock across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, ensuring continuous supply of essentials and thus business continuity for vital sectors. This helped a continuous service to residents and citizens of the emirate.

During Covid-19 pandemic crisis, the energy sector demonstrated highly efficient and competent work, which helped in maintaining uninterrupted supply of electricity and water to commercial as well as residential areas in Abu Dhabi. This reflected commitment of Abu Dhabi Department of Energy for ensuring business continuity, while keeping safety of workers a priority.

“In collaboration with licensed entities in the emirate, the energy sector companies performed nearly 10,281 precautionary medical check-ups to detect any COVID-19 cases among workers. Furthermore, 371 sanitization points were set up across various facilities”, said Eng. Abdul Rahman Alalawi, Health, Safety and Environmental Director at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. He further asserted that DoE is collaborating with all companies and businesses in the sector to make sure that health and safety protocols are determined and implemented for workers safety, while meeting environmental standards, complying with DoE’s standards.

Alalawi further added, “As further precautions, companies in the energy sector distributed 538,027 protective equipment to more than 16,000 workers in key energy and water facilities to prevent against Covid-19. The DoE instructed companies to establish isolation rooms for staff who show symptoms or have been in contact with infected individuals, before transferring them to the competent authorities.”

All the licensed entities have been instructed by the DoE to distribute masks and protective gloves to all their employees at the workplace to help curb the infection spread.

Alalawi explained that DoE is raising awareness among employees and workers regarding their safety. 11 campaigns were conducted in this direction in March and April 2020 for employees in energy sector. Many meetings were also held additionally to follow up on the operations to ensure companies are meeting the requirements and also to assist them in any challenges they may face.

Alalawi commented, “The Department of Energy has published a manual about the preventative measures for the Covid-19 pandemic for all licensed entities in Abu Dhabi energy sector, to better prepare them to face the novel Coronavirus outbreak, implement the procedures and controls stipulated by the Abu Dhabi government, and adhere to international best practices. The DoE directed distribution companies to upgrade all their online services and allow customers to complete all of their transactions remotely.”

Reports of DoE are categorized into three main divisions – operational incidents, health and safety incidents, and environmental incidents. 

WAM