DEWA secures five British Safety Council honours

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has received five awards from the British Safety Council for 2025, reinforcing its standing in occupational health, environmental management and organisational wellbeing, according to official announcements from the utility and the London-based safety body.

The awards include the Sword of Honour for Health and Safety, the Globe of Honour for Environmental Management and the Shield of Honour, distinctions that are granted only to organisations achieving the highest audit scores under the British Safety Council’s five-star assessment framework. DEWA also earned additional accolades linked to workplace wellbeing and safety leadership, taking its tally for the year to five.

Senior executives at the Dubai government-owned utility said the recognition reflected sustained investment in safety systems across power generation, water desalination, transmission networks and administrative operations. DEWA has expanded digital monitoring of field activities, strengthened contractor safety compliance and embedded international standards across its sites as part of a broader institutional risk strategy.

The British Safety Council awards are widely regarded as among the most demanding global benchmarks for corporate health, safety and environmental performance. Candidates undergo independent audits covering leadership commitment, risk management, workforce engagement, training, emergency preparedness and continuous improvement. Only organisations achieving near-perfect scores are considered for honours such as the Sword, Globe and Shield.

The recognition highlights DEWA’s global safety leadership, officials said, pointing to measurable declines in workplace incidents and improved environmental performance indicators over multiple years. DEWA’s leadership has previously stated that safety outcomes are treated as core operational metrics rather than compliance exercises, with senior management directly accountable for performance.

Environmental management formed a key part of the 2025 awards cycle. DEWA’s Globe of Honour reflected initiatives linked to emissions reduction, water efficiency and ecosystem protection. The authority operates the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the world’s largest single-site solar facilities, and has continued to integrate renewable capacity into Dubai’s energy mix. Environmental audits assessed lifecycle impacts, governance structures and the alignment of projects with international sustainability standards.

Institutional wellbeing and workforce safety have gained prominence within the British Safety Council’s assessment framework as employers face tighter regulatory scrutiny and rising expectations from investors and employees. DEWA’s Shield of Honour acknowledged policies covering mental health, fatigue management, occupational health services and employee engagement, areas increasingly viewed as critical to long-term productivity and risk reduction.

Industry analysts note that utilities face elevated safety and environmental risks due to heavy infrastructure, high-voltage systems and hazardous materials. Achieving top-tier scores in independent audits can strengthen credibility with regulators, insurers and international partners, particularly as energy systems become more complex with the integration of renewables, storage and smart-grid technologies.

DEWA has aligned its safety and environmental management systems with ISO standards, including ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety and ISO 14001 for environmental management. Internal data shared by the authority in previous disclosures indicate consistent reductions in lost-time injuries and improved compliance across contractor operations, an area that has historically posed challenges for large infrastructure operators.

The British Safety Council, established in 1957, works with organisations in more than 60 countries and is known for its emphasis on leadership culture rather than procedural compliance alone. Its awards programme is designed to recognise organisations that demonstrate excellence beyond statutory requirements, with a focus on embedding safety and wellbeing into corporate strategy.

For Dubai, the recognition adds to a broader push to position government entities as global benchmarks in governance and operational excellence. Public sector organisations across the emirate have increasingly sought international certifications and awards to validate internal reforms and attract global partnerships.