RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Diriyah Gate Development Authority has reached a major milestone with 50 million safe working hours to date across its project portfolio, which has already welcomed a million visitors in the five months since the opening of its first two physical offerings. With a daily workforce of over 21,000 and in excess of 1,100 pieces of heavy equipment on site, this landmark achievement establishes a new regional benchmark for safe construction and excellence in occupational health and safety management. Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the DGDA, said recently the company would stick to the commitment of protecting the well-being of staff. “A project of this caliber and historical and national importance demands commitment to the highest standards of health and safety. As we develop historic Diriyah into a world-leading destination to live, visit and work, we are constantly seeking new ways to improve and enhance the welfare of our workforce and management of our work,” he said. “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the success we have had to date. As we look to the future, we will continue to unwaveringly deliver unmatched building quality and the best working environment for all our staff,” he added. The company stated in a release that its occupational health and safety department is responsible for the well-being of all personnel and ensures that their activities do not put anyone at risk. In a testament to the efficient management of the project “TUV Austria,” the international accreditation body certified that the DGDA’s occupational health and safety management system is fully compliant with ISO-45001 Standards, with zero non-conformance found, the company stated. The company’s Quality-of-Life Program established a range of internationally recognized worker welfare standards that all contractors, sub-contractors and companies working for Diriyah must adhere to. Monthly inspections are conducted by company representatives and, if required, corrective measures must be taken within four weeks of the report being issued. The health and safety department has led the development and implementation of a dedicated management system, aligned to the best standards across the entire project development. As a prominent national symbol in the Kingdom’s history, Diriyah has been associated with the first Saudi state and was founded in 1727 by Imam Muhammad bin Saud, who made Diriyah his initial power base, the first capital of government and a scientific and social center.