1. Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

2. Abu Dhabi Environment, Health and Safety Management System Regulatory Framework
(AD EHSMS RF)
An Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) is an integrated
system that takes into consideration all aspects related to protection of the work
environment, and the health and safety of the workers. It includes certain components
that facilitate the development of the policy, programs and procedures necessary to
improve performance in EHS issues.
On 6th December 2006, the Executive Council issued a Decree (No. 2-Session 31/2006)
approving "Abu Dhabi Emirate EHS policy". The objective of the policy is to achieve
excellence in the management and protection of the environment, health and safety,
through partnership between all government and private sectors to ensure activities
within Abu Dhabi Emirate are undertaken in a responsible, safe and sustainable manner.
In June 2007, a Higher Committee was established with high level representatives from
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

3. various government entities in Abu Dhabi Emirate, for the purpose of supervising the
development of an Environment, Health and Safety Management System Regulatory
Framework (AD EHSMS RF) for implementation within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
AD EHSMS RF is an Abu Dhabi Government Initiative that was developed to control
environmental impacts resulting from workplaces and to ensure safe and healthy
conditions for all workers in the Emirate. The first version was officially launched at the
“AD EHSMS National Symposium” held in February 2008.
Following that, AD EHSMS went through a one year process of consultation and revision
in cooperation with all sectors. This culminated in the issuance of version 1.2 which was
published in July 2009.
On 16th June 2009, Decree No. (42) of 2009 concerning the Environment, Health and
Safety Management System in Abu Dhabi Emirate was issued by the Crown Prince,
Chairman of the Executive Council. It aims to implement the Environment, Health and
Safety Management System in the Emirate through provision of a unified tool at Emirate
level to facilitate implementation of regulations relevant to environment, health and
safety and for protection of human health and safety and the environment and
conservation of natural resources.
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

4. This Decree specifies the roles of the Higher Committee, the Competent Authority, the
Sector Regulatory Authority and entities.
To facilitate implementation of the system at Emirate level, it was crucial to have a
specialized entity. For this purpose, the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi Emirate issued a
Decree in February 2010, approving the establishment of Abu Dhabi EHS Center. The
Center aims to ensure the implementation of EHSMS through provision of an integrated
regulatory framework for management of all issues related to occupational health and
safety as well as environmental impacts resulting from working places, in addition to
building capacities in the occupational safety and health field.
Starting October 2010, and under the supervision of the EHS Higher Committee, AD EHS
Center set a detailed plan for full review of AD EHSMS RF in cooperation with all
concerned sectors which currently include:
•Building and Construction Sector
•Industrial Sector
•Transport Sector
•Energy Sector
•Tourism Sector
•Health Sector
•Education Sector
•Food Sector
•Waste Sector
•Waste Water Sector
•Commercial Activities Sector
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

5. The new version has many benefits for the concerned sectors and entities implementing
the system as follows:
It Separates “Management System” requirements from “Technical” requirements.
It integrates EHS requirements at Emirate level.
It establishes “one document” as a single source of requirements on relevant topics.
It eliminates duplicate and conflicting regulations – especially at the Sector Level.
It Establishes consistency in Standards and Enforcement.
It facilitates multi-disciplinary entities comply with cross-sector requirements.
It facilitates additional Sectors/Entities implementing the AD EHSMS RF.
It provides a regulatory environment in Abu Dhabi Emirate which is aligned more
closely with other international jurisdictions.
Scope of AD EHSMS RF
The AD EHSMS RF specifies mandatory EHS management requirements for developing,
implementing and maintaining an environment, health and safety management system
to enable an entity to control its EHS impacts and aspects and continually improve its
EHS performance.
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

6. The extent of the application by any entity of the mandatory requirements of the AD
EHSMS RF will depend on factors such as the nature of the entity’s activities and the risks
and complexity of its operations.
The purpose of this Regulatory Framework is to lead all entities in the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi, both government and private, towards providing safe and healthy workplaces for
their workforce and minimizing environmental impacts of their workplaces.
The key areas of concern for the AD EHSMS RF include:
Occupational Health and Safety; and
Environmental impacts resulting from the Workplace.
Occupational Health and Safety
The AD EHSMS RF is designed to ensure workers’ safety and the promotion and maintenance of the
highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers by preventing ill health,
controlling risks and the adaptation of work to people, and people to their jobs.
The goal of all occupational health and safety programs is to foster a safe work
environment. Through the protection of workers the system will also protect visitors,
customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are
impacted by the workplace environment.
and its inhabitant
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

7. Environmental Impacts Resulting from the Workplace
The AD EHSMS RF is designed to ensure that these impacts are reduced and controlled,
at the individual entity level, to ensure the workplace is healthy and safe and to protect
and conserve the environment as a whole for the benefit of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Download 'EHS Policy' from following link
AD EHS Policy-English
•
Download 'EHSMS Decree' PDF from following link
AD EHSMS Decree-English
•
Download 'EHSMS Manual' PDF from following link
AD EHSMS Manual
•
Download 'EHS Elements' from following link
AD EHS Elements-English
•
1. Standards and Guideline Values
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

8. 2. Mechanisms:
Mechanism 01 - Integration of EHS Requirements in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
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Mechanism 02 - Concerned Sector EHSMS Requirements
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Mechanism 03 - Identify, Nominate and Register Entities
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Mechanism 04 - EHSMS Submission, Review and Approval
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Mechanism 05 - EHS Requirements for Low Risk Entities
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Mechanism 06 - EHSMS Performance and Incident Reporting
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Mechanism 07 - AD EHS Professional Entity Registration – Under Development
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Mechanism 08 - AD EHS Practitioner Registration– Under Development
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Mechanism 09 - Notification of Principal Contractor for Construction Work
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Mechanism 10 - Request to Update AD EHSMS RF and Associated Documents
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Mechanism 11 - EHS Incident Investigations
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Mechanism 12 - Notification Requirements for EHS Awareness Activities
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Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

9. 3. Codes of Practice
CoP 1.0 - Hazardous Materials
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CoP 1.1 - Management of Asbestos Containing Materials
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CoP 1.2 - Lead Exposure Management
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CoP 2.0 - Personal Protective Equipment
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CoP 3.0 - Occupational Noise
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CoP 3.1 - Vibration
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CoP 4.0 - First Aid and Medical Treatment
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CoP 5.0 - Medical Surveillance (Including Medical Records)
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CoP 6.0 - Emergency Management Requirements
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CoP 7.0 - Fire Prevention, Planning and Control
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CoP 8.0 - General Workplace Amenities
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CoP 9.0 - Workplace Wellness
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Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

10. • CoP 9.1 - Expectant Mothers
• CoP 9.2 - Managing Work-Related Stress
• CoP 10.0 - Rehabilitation / Return to Work
• CoP 11.0 - Safety in the Heat
• CoP 12.0 - Prevention and Control of Legionnaires Disease
• CoP 13.0 - Workplace Bullying and Violence – Under Development
• CoP 14.0 - Manual Handling and Ergonomics
• CoP 14.1 - Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
• CoP 15.0 - Electrical Safety
• CoP 15.1 - Electrical Safety on Construction Sites – Under Development
• CoP 15.2 - Temporary Electrical Systems – Under Development
• CoP 15.3 - Competency Requirements for Working with Electrical Systems – Under
Development
• CoP 16.0 - Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) – Under Development
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

11. • CoP 17.0 - Safety Signage and Signals
• CoP 18.0 - Employer Supplied Accommodation - General Requirements
• CoP 18.1 - Temporary Employer Supplied Accommodation
• CoP 19.0 - Occupational Food Handling and Food Preparation Areas
• CoP 20.0 - Safety in Design
• CoP 21.0 - Permit to Work Systems
• CoP 22.0 - Barricading of Hazards
• CoP 23.0 - Working at Heights
• CoP 24.0 - Lock-out / Tag-out (Isolation)
• CoP 25.0 - Transport Safety – Under Development
• CoP 26.0 - Scaffolding
• CoP 27.0 - Confined Spaces
• CoP 28.0 - Hot Work Operations (Welding and Cutting)
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

12. • CoP 29.0 - Excavation
• CoP 30.0 - Lone Work and/or in Remote Locations
• CoP 31.0 - Working In, Over or Adjacent to Water
• CoP 32.0 - Watercraft and Dredging Equipment – Under Development
• CoP 33.0 - Working On, or Adjacent to a Road
• CoP 34.0 - Safe Use of Lifting Equipment and Lifting Accessories
• CoP 35.0 - Portable Power Tools
• CoP 36.0 - Plant and Equipment
• CoP 37.0- Ladders
• CoP 38.0- Concrete Placing Equipment
• CoP 39.0 - Overhead and Underground Services
• CoP 40.0 - Falsework / Formwork
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

13. • CoP 41.0 - Steel Erection
• CoP 42.0 - Tilt-Up and Pre-Cast Construction
• CoP 43.0 - Temporary Structures (Office Buildings, Tents, etc)
• CoP 44.0 - Traffic Management and Logistics
• CoP 45.0 - Underwater Activities
• CoP 46.0 - Underground Construction (Tunnels, Shafts, Cofferdams, Piling, etc)
• CoP 47.0 - Machine Guarding
• CoP 48.0 - Spray Finishing
• CoP 49.0 - Compressed Gases and Air
• CoP 50.0 - Abrasive Blasting and associated Protective Coating Work
• CoP 51.0 - Powered ForkTrucks
• CoP 52.0 - Local Exhaust Ventilation
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

14. • CoP 53.0 - EHS Management During "Construction Work"
• CoP 53.1 - EHS Plan during Construction Phase
• CoP 54.0 - Waste Management
• CoP 55.0 - Environmental Management
• Glossary & Terms
Standard Forms:
• Form A - Registration for EHSMS Development
• Form B - Amendment to Registered Information
• Form C - Submission of EHSMS
• Form E - Entity EHSMS Quarterly Performance- Private Entity use only
• Form E1 - Sector EHSMS Quarterly Performance – SRA use only
• Form E2 - Government Entity EHSMS Quarterly Performance- Government Entity use onl
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

15. • Form F - Entity Annual External EHSMS Audit Report
• Form G - Entity EHS Incident Report
• Form H - Notice of Appointment of Principal Contractor
• Form J - Request for Modification of the AD EHSMS RF
• Form K - Coordination of Serious EHS Incident Investigation
• Form L - EHS Awareness Activity Notification
AD EHSMS RF Guidance Documents:
• AD EHSMS RF - GD - EHS Roles, Responsibilities and Structures
• AD EHSMS RF - GD - Key Performance Indicators
• AD EHSMS RF - GD - Self-Regulation and the AD EHS Guiding Principles
Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012

16. Technical Guidelines:
Occupational Air Quality Management
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Management of Contractors
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Manual Handling and Ergonomics
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Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People
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Process of Risk Management
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Safe Removal of Asbestos Containing Materials
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Safe Work in Confined Spaces
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Safety in the Heat
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Training and Competency
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Communication and Consultation
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Audit and Inspection
•
EHS Incident Investigations
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Abu Dhabi EHSMS Updates April, 2012