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Watchmen’s visas tied to fire-fighting training

AJMAN — Residence permits will not be issued or renewed to watchmen of residential, industrial and commercial buildings unless they have gone through the training on safety and protection aspects offered to them by Ajman Civil Defence, Brigadier Salih Saeed Al Matroushi, Director-General, Ajman Civil Defence Department, has said.

by

Afkar Ali Ahmed

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Published: Mon 10 Oct 2005, 10:15 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 8:48 PM

He said the department, in coordination with labour, immigration and naturalisation offices in Ajman, would ensure that all the watchmen are well trained and prepared in various aspects of fire safety and protection of the public.

"Through the labour office, the department is working towards reaching all watchmen already employed to provide them with safety training to educate them on the use of safety equipment including fire extinguishers, alarm panels and exits available in buildings," Brig Al Matroushi said.

He said this initiative was part of the fire safety campaign, which is aimed at preparing the watchmen who are expected to play a greater role in reducing damage to properties and lives by following safety protection procedure.

"They should conduct initial rescue attempts which would help in limiting the damage, besides extending help till the fire fighters of the civil defence arrive at the place of accidents," he added.

Brig Al Matroushi said the training would include ways of evacuations, rescue and putting out flames.

"The training would comprise theoretical lectures to be held at the department premises and practicals at different commercial, residential and industrial buildings in the emirate," he said.

He added the department was also seeking to link all building, particularly in the industrial areas, to the department's control room for duty officers to monitor them 24 hours, seven days a week.

Brig Al Matroushi said unless the watchmen produced the certificate of training from the administration of the civil defence, they would not be given residence permits. The department, which has electronic connectivity with the municipality and free zone, was also working towards e-linking with labour and immigrations offices to facilitate the processing of residence visa, he added.

He said as part of the safety and protection campaign, the department would organise fire protection awareness programmes for students in schools and universities who can also participate in rescue and damage control during fire accidents.

"The Civil Defence has also made it mandatory for factories to train its workers and employees on fire safety and protection as well as administering first aid," he said.

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