Arabian Construction Company (ACC) said it has marked another major milestone for its health and safety operations in the region by reaching 20 million LTI (Lost Time Injury)-free hours in Downtown Dubai.

The impressive figure was accomplished at the Sky View development, in Downtown Dubai, said a statement from the company.

A leading player in the region, ACC said reaching the benchmark figure of 20 million LTI hours at Sky View was an especially commendable achievement given the extremely high levels of activity at the site.

Not only is the location undertaking round-the-clock work, it is also located close to busy public thoroughfares and visitor attractions, it stated.

Mohammad Bidad, the group HSE (health, safety and environment) manager, said: "ACC leads by example in the care of its employees and members of the public, by applying the highest standards of health and safety. This fact is proven through our achievement of 20 million LTI-free hours at our busy Sky View construction site."

"This milestone figure is of particular significance due to the site’s close proximity to the Burj Khalifa Metro Station and The Dubai Mall, which attract thousands of passengers and visitors each day," he stated.

According to him, the health and safety considerations at Sky View, a mixed-use development of two towers, are considerable. Facilitating construction for the 4,500 strong workforce are nine tower cranes and one mobile crane.

With a small amount of ground space between the two towers and congested airspace due to the number of cranes working at the same time, guarding against potential crane collision is a major ongoing challenge faced by project management, he added.

According to Bidad, the company took great care to plan for the physical challenges at the Sky View site, including taking into consideration a diverse, multi-cultural workforce.

"ACC has addressed this challenge by creating a number of safety performance guides which work to positively influence our workers’ varying safety beliefs. This approach ensures that all personnel successfully work under a unique accredited Integrated Management System, which is in adherence with global health, safety and environmental standards," he added.-TradeArabia News Service