Safely home, everyone, every day

At Altaaqa Global, we are committed to helping ensure that everyone who works in our offices, and on or around our job sites returns home safely every day. That is why Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) is at the core of our culture.

We always seek to prevent injury and ill health to our workforce and to continually improve the performance of our OH&S management system, while complying with applicable legal and other requirements.

All of us, employees of the company, are encouraged to support the OH&S program and make health and safety a part of our daily routine. We always ensure that we are following safe work methods, and take an active role in implementing our OH&S program.

In line with this, Altaaqa Global's dedicated First Aid and Fire Team of 2017 underwent professional and qualified training in relevant procedures in late January 2017.

Here are the highlights of the two-day training, in pictures:

Initial hands-on training on using a fire extinguisher with a fire simulation device

Hand-on training on using the appropriate fire extinguisher with a live fire

Hands-on training on the proper way to do CPR

The Altaaqa Global First Aid and Fire Team with their training mates
proudly showing their attested certificates

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Drones to Replace Manual Work in Power Plant Inspections?

With their temperatures surging up to a thousand degrees Celsius, power plants need to be regularly and closely monitored for eventual wear and tear. US researchers claim drones can do it precisely, efficiently, quickly and safely...

Thoroughly inspecting power plants usually involve the dangerous tasks of climbing scaffolds and entering dark areas with temperatures-comparable-to-an-oven over at least a month. That practice may soon be a thing of the past.

Researchers at the University of Georgia in the USA have developed a sonar navigation system for drones that aims to improve the safety and efficiency of power plant inspections.

Looking to bats?

The objective of the team was to develop a navigation system that would eventually allow drones to replace manual work in power plant inspections. It, however, was not that easy.

The team had to face the challenge of developing a technology that could provide a reliable and precise signal despite the harsh environment of the generators. In the process of evolving the technology, the team found out that electromagnetic and material interference makes GPS and some navigation techniques difficult to use. The solution? The team looked to bats.

“It’s based on how bats navigate in a cave,” succinctly explained one of the researchers. The team developed a drone with a 360-degree rotatable scanner that sends ultrasound beams to the walls that could reflect pulse signals back to the sensor. This allows the team to accurately map the interiors of the steam rooms.

Replacing manual inspections with drones?

The team claims that with the use of the drone that they developed, inspections can be done within a day, instead of weeks or months. They added that since generators need not shut down during the “drone inspections”, the technology could increase power plant efficiency and save money.

Epilogue: Safety... everyone, everyday

Inspecting power plants, with the harsh environment inside the equipment and the dangerous procedures involved in the process, could pose serious risks to engineers and inspection professionals. In this light, all entities involved in the inspection of power stations should adopt an occupational health and safety (OH&S) policy to prevent injury and ill health to their workforce. All managers and supervisors should be responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained in approved work procedure and that they follow safe work methods and related regulations.

All stakeholders should be required to support the OH&S program of their companies, and health and safety should be a part of the daily routine of all staff members. 

OH&S is at the core of Altaaqa Global’s culture. To learn more: http://goo.gl/UxJgzb

To know more about the story: http://goo.gl/W0SL3g

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rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com

Jackie Chan Wanted Real Electrocution and It Almost Cost Him His Life

Jackie Chan wants every stunt in his films to be completely authentic. In several occasions, his commitment to authenticity lead him to hospitals due to fractures and broken bones, but it was an entirely different story for his 1985 film "Police Story".

Jackie was electrocuted as he was filming the iconic scene where he slides down a metal pole covered in lights in a shopping center. The accident caused 3rd degree burns to his face and hands, requiring him to rest for several weeks.

It was reported that the scene was supposed to originally only involve Jackie and the metal pole. After shooting the scene for several times, Jackie requested the crew to cover the metal pole in lights because he though that the "audience would love it". Despite the protest of his crew, the scene pushed through as Jackie wanted it, and the result was a near-death experience for him.

Well, we cannot forever be lucky as Jackie was. An electric shock is a serious matter, and it can cost one his health and even his life. As most of us are not world-renowned actors, we do not need to experience an authentic electric shock to convince an audience - do we? Thus, here are some sensible tips to keep us safe from electrocution:

Always be safety conscious 

Always prioritize safety when working on any project. Experts even advice to slow down. When one hurries through a project, there will be a greater chance for an accident to occur.


Shut the power off 

This is the first thing you should do before working on any electrical circuit is to shut the power off. As of writing, no one yet has been shocked by a circuit that is not energized.


After shutting off, test again

It is a good idea to check the circuit with a tester to make sure that it is off. Never ever assume that a circuit is off.


Aluminum ladders? Please, no

Never use an aluminum ladder for any electrical project. Insulated fiberglass ladders are available, so please use them.


More dangerous when wet

Avoid wet areas when working with any electrical project. If that is inevitable, make sure to wear rubber gloves and boots to decrease the chances of getting shocked. In addition, tools and appliances should be plugged into a GFCI outlet of GFCI extension cord. Lastly, don't forget to dry your hands before grabbing any cord to plug it in or unplug it.

Remember, working with electrical circuits can be extremely hazardous if you don’t take safety precautions. Electrocution can not only injure you but also, worse, kill you.

End

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Robert Bagatsing
Altaaqa Global
Tel: +971 56 1749505
rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com

Temporary Power in Hostile Environments

Temporary power providers are familiar with working in hostile environments despite the trials that such locations present. They accept the challenge of operating in countries where the political, economic, social and security systems are fragile. 

The temporary power industry is no stranger to hostile environments. Lack of infrastructure drives the demand for temporary power.  Operating in such hostile environments increases the temporary power provider’s duty of care. A hostile environment is generally defined as an unstable and insecure environment, where periods of unrest are caused by uncontrolled elements making the host country or the settlement an environment of conflict and unsafe operation. In such environments, workers may encounter risks, such as the presence of organized crime, theft, assault and hostage taking. When deploying professionals in such a context, it is essential for companies to provide safety alerts and travel tips, hostile environment training, country specific briefing and familiarization prior to travel, and a face-to-face consultation to clarify questions that employees may have in relation to the assignment.

Mitigating the risks 
The hazards of any particular project should be identified at the outset, prior to bidding and through a comprehensive risk assessment.  This may involve hiring local or internationally recognized security agencies and conducting site-specific risk assessment to identify the particular security requirements of the project site. The findings from the assessment will determine the extent of the security measures required to keep employees safe and the power plant generating the required power. When the risk level has been determined, safety and security control measures are put in place. The security measures may include using armoured vehicles along with close protection officers to transport employees. A detailed emergency evacuation plan should be drawn up and tested to ensure operational suitability. With security situations volatile, all personnel should be provided with daily security briefings. In worst-case scenarios, companies should be prepared with life, kidnap and ransom insurance policies.

Business continuity can be supported by engaging the services of locals where possible. In addition to supporting the company’s in-house staff members and ensuring that HSE standards are maintained throughout the project, local work force professionals provide specific operational knowledge and experience that are invaluable to the safe and peaceful completion of projects in hostile locations.

Benefits of duty of care towards workforce and subcontractors
Staff deployed to hostile environments are the backbone of the project; without them, the project cannot be delivered. Having a robust safety and security plan in place will provide the employees with the confidence to perform their jobs.

Staff should be provided with country-specific information and security briefings before travel to help reduce tension. After all the relevant information and situational assessment have been laid out, the choice of either accepting or declining the project should be freely given to those nominated for the project.

It is the aim of a temporary power service provider to offer uninterrupted and dependable service even in times of natural calamities, and political and security uncertainty. Business continuity planning considers the security of direct employees and subcontractors.

On hostility and safety
In many situations, accepting a project in a hostile environment is a necessary premise of providing emergency electricity services. These challenges provide opportunities to temporary power providers. Having a robust HSE plan that provides the necessary security to the people who operate and maintain the plant allows these companies to mitigate their risk to some extent. When employee safety takes precedence over equipment, it becomes easy to consider and to give staff security higher priority than profit generation. With business continuity plans in place, working in hostile environments can be made less daunting. The safety of our industry professionals should not be sacrificed, and formulating an HSE initiative should not be an after-thought. As companies, and their employees work in hostile environments, the duty of care through providing appropriate training and physical security becomes an integral part of the business operation.

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*The foregoing article was based on what was originally published in the December issue of Energize magazine, EE Publishers, South Africa.*


Postscriptum

Altaaqa Global's initiative, titled "Providing Adequate Security in Hostile Environments" has been recognized as the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Initiative of the Year at the MEP Middle East Awards 2014, and has been named among the finalists at the Middle East Electricity (MEE) Awards 2015.

Majid Zahid, Strategic Accounts Director of Altaaqa Global, and Meghana Millin, the company's HSE Officer,
receives the award for HSE Initiative of the Year.

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Robert Bagatsing
Altaaqa Global
Tel: +971 56 1749505
rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com

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Altaaqa Global
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Altaaqa Global, Altaaqa替代解决方案在2014年MEPO颁奖典礼上荣获大奖

获年度健康和安全机构殊荣
姐妹公司当选年度专业承包商

总部位于迪拜的临时电力解决方案全球供应商Altaaqa Global及其总部位于沙特阿拉伯的姐妹公司，领先电力、水利和临时控制解决方案供应商，Altaaqa替代解决方案（Altaaqa），在2014年11月26日于索菲特迪拜棕榈岛水疗度假村举行的2014年MEP颁奖典礼上获多项大奖。Altaaqa Global凭借其杰出的恶劣条件下人力资源和设备部署的健康、安全和保障方案荣获大奖，同时总部位于吉达的Altaaqa替代解决方案赢得了年度专业承包商奖，该公司在沙特阿拉伯阿尔卡吉成功完成了95 MW临时发电厂项目，仅耗时22天。

Altaaqa Global在众多提名公司之中脱颖而出，这些公司包括ETA Engineering, Arabian MEP Contracting, Mercury MENA, AECOM和ALEMCO。Altaaqa击败了多个入围企业，包括Arabian MEP Contracting和SEMCO。

年度健康和安全倡议奖所奖励的是在自己的项目地点遵守并改善健康和安全标准，取得杰出成就的公司，或者开展特别培训或认识提升项目的公司。德高望重的评委团一致认为，Altaaqa Global题为“在恶劣环境中提供充足的安全保障”的参赛项目展示了通过制定详细的风险评估项目计划，即使在交付要求高度严苛的情况下也能够确保人身安全。

在问到对公司近期所取得功绩的评价时，Altaaqa Global常务董事Peter den Boogert如是说：“能得到地区最有威望和最受尊重的出版物之一颁发的奖项，我们感到自豪，同时也感到荣幸。毫无疑问，大奖奖励的是Altaaqa Global辛勤工作的员工，他们承受住了公司运营地区的安全不稳定性和恶劣的气候环境。我们所获的大奖也属于当地工程师，以及帮助我们内部团队在发电厂所在地保持安全和环境管理最高标准的保安及健康、安全和环境机构。”

另外一项大奖是年度专业承包商奖，奖励在移动电力行业当前发展中起到关键作用的公司，以及通过促进可持续发展和成本效益，帮助移动电力行业同全球其他行业看齐的公司。评委们高度称赞具历史意义的22天内竣工的沙特阿拉伯阿尔卡吉95 MW发电厂项目。他们认为Altaaqa展示了高度的协作和计划水平，凭借评委们所赞誉的“钢铁般的意志”，能够完成具有高度挑战性的任务。

Altaaqa执行董事Emad Mukhalataty在颁奖仪式上说道：“这一大奖将进一步鼓舞Altaaqa整个团队，激励他们继续向客户提供超出预期的创新和高质量的解决方案。”

Steven Meyrick代表Altaaqa Global和Altaaqa替代解决方案的董事会评价说，这一认可将激励两家公司进一步改善流程，继续勇于承接挑战工程极限的项目，同时探索健康和安全领域的创新性最佳实践。

Majid Zahid代表公司的母公司扎西德集团发言表示，相关个人及国家政府将提供急需的关键电力这一任务托付给集团旗下公司，集团同他们分享这一荣耀。“尽管我们的几个项目在极其恶劣的环境中开展，在真主阿拉的保佑下，我们的团队获得了不断保持卓越的力量，为人们提供了一流的电厂。我们将不断保持为各个地区、城市和公司供电，他们都是全球发展的关键推动者。”

完

关于Altaaqa Global

Altaaqa Global是扎西德集团旗下的子公司，被卡特彼勒公司选中，在全球范围内提供多兆瓦级交钥匙临时电力解决方案。公司在客户指定地点建立临时的独立发电厂（IPP），整个工程的调动、安装和操作都由Altaaqa Global完成，建成的发电厂也归Altaaqa Global所有。公司现在重点关注撒哈拉以南的非洲、中亚、印度次大陆、拉丁美洲、东南亚、中东和北非的新兴市场。公司还提供以不同燃料为基础的电力租赁设备，燃料种类包括柴油、天然气或双燃料，还能够提供并迅速部署临时发电厂解决方案，在需要的任何时间和地点提供电力。

http://www.altaaqaglobal.com/press-media/press-releases

关于扎西德集团

扎西德集团代表了一系列多元化的公司，为多个蓬勃发展的行业提供全面、以客户为中心的解决方案。这些行业包括建筑、矿业、石油和天然气、农业、能源、电力和水力发电、物料运输、建筑材料、交通和物流、房地产开发、旅游观光以及酒店业。

http://www.zahid.com/

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Robert Bagatsing

Altaaqa Global

电话：+971 56 1749505

rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com

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Altaaqa Global

Marketing Department

P.O.Box 262989

迪拜，阿联酋

Risks of Working in Confined Spaces at Power Plants

Working in confined spaces is often touted to be one of the most risky types of work carried out in power generation contexts. The risks involved in working in enclosed spaces may include exposure to hazardous atmospheres, suffocation, electrocution or burns. Dangerous as it is, the hazards of working in such an environment can be predicted and mitigated, and the impending accidents prevented.

One of the foremost dangers of working in enclosed spaces is exposure to electrical energy. Arc flashes and thermal burns are especially dangerous in such a working condition, as it may be difficult for a worker to avoid unintentional contact or proximity. Flammability is another hazard, as the equipment already inside the space and the devices introduced by the worker into the space can potentially be sources of ignition.

When working in energized enclosed spaces is indispensable, safety procedures, such as de-energizing electrical equipment and controlling access to risky premises, should be strictly followed. In addition, it is essential to train and orient the workers prior to deploying them for work in enclosed areas.

Another danger of working in confined spaces is engulfment. Presence of matters such as coal, sand and dirt, to name a few, poses a considerable risk. For instance, when an auger operates, matters such as the ones mentioned flow out of the bottom of the storage area. Matters at the top may not flow down evenly, forming what is called a temporary bridge out of the matter. When a worker walks over the surface of a bridged matter, he or she can be immediately engulfed.

Pipes through which gases and liquids pass through also present several potential risks. Valves and pipes inside confined spaces are hard to access and infrequently inspected, and leaks could instantaneously create a dangerous situation. Moreover, since materials being transported in pipes, such as steam or refrigerants, are at extreme temperatures, working in close proximity with the pipes can bring a considerable risk.

The stratified gaseous atmosphere in enclosed spaces, such as tanks, also represents danger for workers. Gases have different densities and can rise or sink relative to each other. Depending on the temperature and source of the matter, gaseous hazards may be found anywhere in an enclosed area. In order to mitigate this risk, the air must be evaluated at short intervals in a potentially stratified atmosphere, and workers should only be allowed to venture into the spaces where atmosphere has been tested.  

The foregoing situations are just a few of the potentially dangerous conditions that require a thorough evaluation before engineers and professionals are sent to work in them. Aside from what is evaluated, a keen attention should also be given to the team doing the evaluation. A company has to make sure that the group is thoroughly trained and qualified, and evaluated to perform the processes. Emergency communications should also be well defined and centralized. A phone number or emergency contact detail should be on every document or work order so the information is easily accessible in cases when it is needed.

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Robert Bagatsing
Altaaqa Global
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rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com