Dubai: Expo 2020 Dubai gathered leading experts on Thursday for the first of a series of health, safety, quality and environment (HSQE) leadership events.
The session included contractors, sub-contractors, project managers, regulators and partners, along with Expo 2020’s construction and health and safety team leaders. Regulators from Dubai Municipality and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) were also present.
The session covered a wide selection of HSQE subjects related to the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
Ahmad Al Khateeb, Expo 2020 Dubai’s senior vice-president for Real Estate and Delivery, said the health and safety of all workers on the site — who now number 15,000 — was a joint responsibility.
“This is about our collective commitment to do the right thing and to demonstrate leadership to all our teams to make sure the high standards Expo 2020 has set are enforced across the project,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tony Aikenhead, chief infrastructure and delivery officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, highlighted the importance of providing leadership and a collective commitment to ensure that the high standards set at Expo 2020 are achieved. “We are working very closely with all contractors and the Dubai authorities in a collaborative environment,” she said.
At peak times, construction workers on the 4.38-square-kilometre site will total 35,000. Expo 2020 Dubai is on course to complete its shell and core construction a year before the World Expo opens on October 20, 2020. To date, more than 14.5 million work hours have been completed on the Expo 2020 site.
All major design elements are complete — the last being the iconic Al Wasl Plaza, a 150-metre-wide, 67.5-metre-tall domed space that will be enjoyed by millions of visitors.
The three theme districts are also progressing well. External cladding work on the three theme pavilions has begun and will be completed by the end of this year.
