Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) has become the first government entity from Dubai to join Build Safe UAE (BSU), a non-profit organisation aimed at improving the health, safety and welfare standards of all stakeholders in the construction sector.

DSOA is the regulatory body for DSO, the region’s premier integrated innovations hub for high-tech industries.

Senior managers of leading developers, contractors, consultants, project managers, regulators and industry groups attended the ceremony held at the Le Royal Méridien in Abu Dhabi to sign up new members.

As a member of BSU, Dubai Silicon Oasis will commit itself to 10 key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and measure the participation levels of each signatory member organization.

Compliance with KPIs will be reviewed on a semi-annual basis and failure to do so will result in cancellation of the membership.

The membership also mandates Dubai Silicon Oasis to actively communicate best industry practices, collaborate and help raise the safety standards of all construction stakeholders in the UAE, while supporting the cause of workers’ welfare.

Muammar Al Katheeri, Chief Officer – Planning and Construction at DSOA, said: "DSO is fully aware of the importance of safety measures in construction and we are constantly committed to enhancing the current benchmark on health, safety and welfare across the UAE."

"Achieving this membership today will directly boost our own in-house organisational standards, even while emphatically driving employee morale, productivity and operational efficiency," he added.

At the Abu Dhabi membership signing ceremony, BSU member organizations pledged to share information on risk assessments, safe working methods, safety issues and advice, best practice case studies and any related information that may contribute to the overall development of the industry.

Grahame McCaig, Build Safe UAE chairperson & general manager of Dutco Balfour Beatty said: “We are proud to welcome Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, the first regulatory body from Dubai to formally become a full signatory member of Build Safe UAE.”

"This is a tremendous step forward for promoting and improving health, safety and welfare. With DSOA as a member, we now have a major regulator that supports our campaign and vision to improve the current benchmark performance of all stakeholders in the UAE construction sector."

"We hope more government organizations and client groups will now come forward to collaborate and set higher standards” McCaig added.

Dubai Silicon Oasis is a free zone technology park for the semiconductor, microelectronic and other high technology-based companies looking to set up their regional headquarters and R&D facilities in the Middle East and North Africa region.-TradeArabia News Service