Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) and the Department of Civil Defence have signed a strategic agreement aimed at updating the staff on the latest fire fighting techniques and safety procedures according to global standards.

DAFZ said the agreement was in line with its goal to provide a safe working environment for companies and staff through adopting safety procedures strictly.

Dr Mohammed Al Zarouni, DAFZ director general and Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, director general of Civil Defence Department signed the agreement in the presence of a number of officials and executives from the two institutions.
 
'Dubai Airport Freezone seeks to provide a safe working environment for global companies and their staff, so we need to work with the civil defence and institutions concerned with human safety and protection' Dr Al Zarouni said.

'We are  reassured at the level of advanced services provided by Civil Defence and qualified personnel which manages the operations of effective high level of systems and devices used in fire control operations, he remarked.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Al Zarouni said: 'It is a relationship of great importance for us and for major international companies working from the Freezone to be aware of the latest safety procedures and fire fighting techniques according to international standards.”
 
'We appreciate the efforts and the substantial work done by the Department of Civil Defence, which indirectly supports the nation’s investments and maintain health working place for all,' he added.

Al Zarouni pointed out that since the freezone was located adjacent to Dubai International Airport more caution was required in order to avoid any incidents related to security and safety. He said that DAFZ was ready to apply the latest systems and procedures recommended by Civil Defence.

Al Zarouni and Rashid Al Matroushi agreed to extend means of cooperation to take advantage of the capabilities of the two parties to provide the best levels of control and protection.

Al Matrooshi said signing such agreements with the leaders of various institutions would enable the Civil Defense Department to operate more efficiently and effectively.

According to him, the Dubai Airport Freezone was one of the vital investment and economic projects of the government, which employed more than 12.000 employees. 'This necessitates an awareness plan and training programs for these people to help them in case of any emergency,' he said.
 
'We are interested in the protection of economic institutions, in particular, for the countless benefits they generate for the society and country', he added.
 
'The Civil Defence has world-class qualified, trained and sophisticated human potential, technical equipment in the field of fire fighting and human safety,' Al Matrooshi stated. 

According to him, the Civil Defence used global institutions and specialised British companies to bring in the best early alarm devices, which have helped to reduce and prevent many accidents by up to 40 per cent in 2009.

He stressed that there were no major fires during the past eight months, such as fires that require hard work and a heavy presence of firefighters and special and advanced equipment to control them.-TradeArabia News Service