Abu Dhabi Economic Development department issues circular outlining COVID-19 precautions across several sectors
Move aims to enhance companies’ productivity and continue business and commercial activities in an appropriate and safe environment
A circular has been issued to owners and managers of licensed commercial, industrial and tourism facilities by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).
The circular is said to cover preventive health and safety guidelines in the workplace, as part of the precautionary measures issued by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Six main directives relating to employees operating at companies, as well as preventive measures for the wholesale and retail sales and marketing departments are covered by the circular. Measures for the transport sector, financial services, construction, manufacturing and utilities, as well as additional measures for the catering and hospitality sector have also been outlined.
Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, undersecretary of ADDED, said the circular seeks to promote business continuity for private companies, while ensuring the health and safety of their employees through the set of guidelines provided in the circular.
The circular highlights the extreme necessity to allow only employees in the age group of 18 to 55 years, with good health and free from all chronic diseases and disabilities, to work. Employees suffering from chronic diseases who are over 55 years of age must not be allowed to go to the workplace, since they are more subjected to the risk of being infected with the virus, the circular explained.
Additional measures pertaining to the transportation, financial services, construction, manufacturing, restaurants, and hospitality sectors, as well as service facilities in the private sector are also covered. The circular outlines the installation of thermal cameras at the main parking entrances, wearing gloves and face masks at all times, and reducing the company’s vehicle capacity down to 50%.
The circular highlighted that passengers must leave a space between each other and avoid crowding, and that sanitisers should be at hand at the entrances and inside all transportation vehicles. Drivers should be protected by installing a transparent barrier to separate them from passengers, it explained.
For the wholesale and retail establishments, the circular said it was mandatory to install thermal cameras with advanced thermal detectors at the entrances of all establishments that have 30 employees or more. Employees should always put on face masks and gloves during their shifts and ensure that presenting products be done from behind installed glass barriers, as per the circular.
