Aldar Properties has received international recognition for its outstanding health and safety performance in 2008.

Abu Dhabi's leading property development, investment and management company, has clinched the 'Best Health and Safety Achievement in Construction' award 2008 by the Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) and the Institute in Occupation Safety and Health (IOSH).

SHP is the largest safety and health magazine in the world, while IOSH is the largest professional body of occupational health and safety practitioners in the world.

Both UK-based institutions have credited Aldar with the best health and safety record in the construction sector worldwide.

Aldar was selected as the winner from hundreds of entries worldwide in the construction sector.

The award ceremony took place recently in London and the award was received by Andrew Broderick, head of Health, Safety and Environment, Aldar Properties.

The SHP IOSH Awards are widely regarded as the Oscars of the occupational safety and health industry. The winners are voted by an expert panel of judges that included the President of IOSH, Ray Hurst.

Aldar's case for the competition was its leisure destination of Yas island, a 2500 hectares development that is set to become a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi's fast growing tourism industry.

The judges hailed the safety performance at Yas as very impressive, given the scale and context of this project.

'Just under two years into construction, only two lost-time injuries have occurred in more than 19 million hours worked, and standards of health and welfare for the vast workforce are extremely high.

'Opeartives' villages have been constructed to house them, and are fully equipped with catering, sport, and medical facilities. Given the scale and context of the project, these results are very impressive,' the judges said.

John Bullough, CEO, Aldar Properties, said: 'We are certainly proud that Aldar is the first company outside the UK, and indeed the first developer ever, to have won this prestigious award.

'We are delighted to see our efforts at raising the bar on health and safety standards get international recognition from such prestigious organisations as the SHP and the IOSH.'

He added: 'This award is a valued addition to an already impressive list of recognitions that sets Aldar apart on health and safety issues.'

Andrew Broderick, head of Health, Safety and Environment at Aldar Properties said: 'This award is another proof of how seriously Aldar is taking the issue of health and safety.

'The strong leadership exhibited by Stephen Worrell, director of Yas Island has been instrumental in what has been achieved.'

The Yas Island development includes the Yas Marina racing circuit, the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, a Warner Bros.

Theme Park, five-star and boutique hotels, a water park, over 300,000 square metres of retail space, a links golf course, several marinas, restaurants, various entertainment facilities and luxurious residential property.

Yas Island is a 30-minute drive from Abu Dhabi City and only 10 minutes from the Abu Dhabi International Airport. - TradeArabia News Service