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Emirates Global Aluminium

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world’s largest premium aluminium producer and the UAE’s largest industrial company outside oil and gas, has partnered with SafeStart to enhance safety, achieving its best safety year ever.
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  • Client
    Emirates Global Aluminium
  • Location
    United Arab Emirates
  • Year
    2023
  • Industry
    Aluminium

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), is the world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer and the biggest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas.

EGA operates across the entire aluminum value chain, from bauxite mining and alumina refining to smelting and producing high-quality aluminum products. The company is known for its state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to sustainable practices, prioritizing energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. EGA plays a crucial role in the global aluminum industry, contributing significantly to the economic development of the UAE while maintaining a focus on innovation and excellence in its operations.

EGA brings innovative behavioural safety programme to region to progress journey to zero harm

EGA’s decision to partner with SafeStart in UAE is part of the company’s journey to zero harm.

EGA’s safety performance is already significantly better than global industry benchmarks, however, the company is now aiming to eliminate the risk of serious harm in its operation this decade, a bold goal that has never been achieved by any industrial company.

The company is focused on continuously improving all four factors of safety – technical solutions including inherently safe equipment, organisational safety management systems, authentic safety leadership, and human behaviour.

SafeStart is a training programme that teaches people about the four main human factors and critical errors that contribute to over 95% of all unintentional injuries anywhere: at work, at home, in the community or on the road. It is currently being used by over 10,000 worksites in 75 countries. It is available in 33 languages and over 4.5 million people have been trained.

When I was first presented with the SafeStart concepts and introduced to the critical error reduction techniques I wanted to have this instilled in all our employees as quickly as possible.

Salman Abdullah, VP – HSSEO at EGA.
SafeStart Cards

The best year for safety in the history of the company

One of the main goals with SafeStart at EGA, was to enable EGA’s people to recognise the early signs of rushing, frustration, fatigue and complacency in themselves throughout their lives.

So, EGA began SafeStart training in March of 2023 for 5,500 employees, supervisors, managers, and executives. The training was done by approximately 60 of their own employees who went to a 3-Day Trainer Certification course put on by Mike Shaw (Senior SafeStart consultant) and Larry Wilson, who is the author and founder of SafeStart.

Mike and Larry also did the Leadership support sessions for over 200 supervisors and managers. Larry also trained the executives in one of the most important units entitled “Eyes on Task and Mind on Task” (Unit #2). A steering committee was set up and trained at their two main sites Al Taweelah and Jebel Ali. So far, this has been the best year for safety in the history of the company.

We have had an excellent response from both the leadership group and the employees. We have even received complaint emails from people we had to turn away and reschedule because too many people showed up for the sessions and, as a result, would have exceeded the maximum number of people due to fire regulations. This has never happened before.

Dr. Ron Otte, Director of HSE at EGA.

A good problem to have

In a realm where safety training often succumbs to monotony, SafeStart emerged as a refreshing antidote for EGA. The popularity of SafeStart training sessions soared to such heights that, despite the fervent interest of employees filling every available room, a few had to reschedule due to the overwhelming demand that exceeded the room capacity.

The participants were notably impressed with the content presented in each session, providing them with a tangible experience of the knowledge and heightened awareness gained during the training. SafeStart not only revitalized the approach to safety education at EGA but also left an indelible mark on the engaged and enthusiastic workforce.

Under the visionary leadership of Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, the Chief Executive Officer of EGA, the company has embarked on an ambitious journey to eliminate the risk of harm within its industrial operations. Recognizing that achieving such a goal requires a collective effort, EGA emphasizes a culture of safety that permeates every level of the organisation.

Our goal of eliminating the risk of harm is essential and very ambitious for any industrial company. To achieve it, we must focus on further improving all aspects of safety. Each of us at EGA is responsible for our own safety and the safety of everyone around us. This program will enable us to recognize behaviours which all human beings are prone to which can lead to someone getting hurt.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium.
SafeStart Cards

What is next?

Besides continuing with the great work and focusing on improving safety and performance each and every day, EGA is having a “family day” for all their employees and families in 2024. They expect over 10,000 people to attend to strengthen the safety culture on and outside the workplace and SafeStart concepts.