ADOSH-SF Technical Guideline: Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation

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Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and
Health System Framework
(ADOSH-SF)
ADOSH-SF Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for
School Transportation
Version 4.0
July 2024

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 2 of 12
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Definitions .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
3. Roles and Responsibilities............................................................................................................................ 5
4. Escalation Process ........................................................................................................................................... 7
5. Pick-up and Drop-off locations ................................................................................................................... 8
6. Driving in adverse weather .......................................................................................................................... 8
7. Vehicle Condition ............................................................................................................................................. 8
8. References ......................................................................................................................................................... 9
9. Document Amendment Record ................................................................................................................. 10

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 3 of 12
1. Introduction
(a) This document sets the framework for the safe operation of school transportation in
adverse weather conditions. The framework sets out the key definitions of adverse
weather and the roles and responsibilities of the main stakeholders involved in school
transportation. The framework also provides general guidelines for school transport
operators for safe driving and operation of school transport vehicles during adverse
weather conditions.
(b) This TG is subordinate to
ADOSH–SF – TG - Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions,
which should be consulted for more details regarding requirements for dealing with
adverse weather conditions and responsibilities of the different parties involved.

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 4 of 12
2. Definitions
(a) Adverse weather conditions covered within this framework include,
(i) Fog
(ii) Sandstorms / High Winds
(iii) Rain / Flooding
(b) For the purposes of this document, the definitions of adverse weather have been
taken from the
ADOSH–SF – TG - Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions. The
specific levels of adverse weather that require action are listed below in table 1.
Weather Condition Severity Level
Major Catastrophic
Fog
• Heavy fog with visibility
reduced to less than 100
meters
• Very heavy fog with visibility
levels reduced to less than
30 meters
Sandstorms and/or
heavy winds
• Strong winds (gusts over
50 km/h to 75 km/h)
• Sandstorms reducing
visibility to less than 100
meters
• Very strong winds (gusts
over 75 km/h)
• Sandstorms reducing
visibility to less than 30
meters
Heavy Rain /
Flooding
• Heavy rain
• Heavy flooding
• Visibility reduced to less
than 100 meters
• Very heavy rain
• Very heavy flooding
• Visibility reduced to less
than 30 meters
Table 1: Adverse weather conditions

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 5 of 12
3. Roles and Responsibilities
(a) Table two below sets out the main roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders.
These stakeholders are required to ensure that individuals are identified within their
organizations to fulfill the requirements.
Stakeholder Responsibilities
National Centre for
Meteorology and
Seismology (NCMS)
• Provide accurate and up to date weather forecasting;
• Provide weather alerts for predicted adverse weather
events.
Abu Dhabi Police
(ADP)
• Provide advice and support to school transport
stakeholders;
• Manage incidents during adverse weather (as required)
Department of
Municipalities and
Transport (DMT)
• Provide advice and support to school transport
stakeholders,
• Co-ordinate amongst stakeholders (as required)
• Monitor compliance with this framework
Department of
Education and
Knowledge (ADEK)
• Liaise with NCMS to ensure weather warnings are received
and disseminated to schools
• Determine and Authorize school closure (Emirate Wide) for
predicated adverse weather
• Authorize Local school closure (in consultation with school
management) for localized adverse weather events
• Monitor delays or disruptions to schools due to adverse
weather
• Monitor compliance with this framework
Schools
• Implement risk management principles to assess impacts
of potential adverse weather conditions, and to identify
actions required before, during and after the occurrence of
adverse weather, including any emergency response plans,
and any requirements of People of Determination (people
with special needs).
• Assign clear roles and responsibilities for dealing with
adverse weather conditions
• Assign a point of contact with the specific responsibility to
initiate and liaise for action in case of adverse weather /
weather warning.
• Monitor adverse weather warnings / Liaise with NCMS to
ensure timely actions.
• Action any closures due to adverse weather specified by
Department of Education and Knowledge.
• Co-ordinate with Department of Education and Knowledge
and School Transport Operators (STO) for any school
closures.
• Decide if delays to school starting is required due to
localized adverse weather (in conjunction with STO)
• Communicate with parents and students any closures or
delays to school transportation

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 6 of 12
Stakeholder Responsibilities
School Transport
Operators (STO)
• Implement risk management principles to assess impacts of
potential adverse weather conditions, and to identify
actions required before, during and after the occurrence of
adverse weather, including any emergency response plans,
and any requirements of People of Determination (people
with special needs).
• Assign clear roles and responsibilities for dealing with
adverse weather conditions
• Ensure that instructions from Department of Education and
Knowledge or Schools are followed
• Monitor adverse weather warnings / Liaise with NCMS to
receive adverse weather warnings.
• Communicate with school management advising of
localized adverse weather which may require delay in pick-
up
• Ensure that drivers and escorts are trained in their duties
in adverse weather conditions
Parents and
Students
• Ensure that instructions from Department of Education and
Knowledge or Schools regarding delays or disruption to
school transport are followed
School Bus Drivers
• Ensure that the vehicle is in a roadworthy conditions and
daily checks are completed
• Drive safely within the prevailing weather conditions
• Communicate correctly with supervisor, attendant and
students
• Follow any safety instruction given
School bus
attendants
• Carry out all duties correctly
• Ensure that students do not cause distraction to the driver
• Communicate correctly with supervisor, driver, students
and the school
Table 2: Roles and Responsibilities

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 7 of 12
4. Escalation Process
(a) The following process shall be used to escalate any adverse weather events:
NCMS Provides Weather Warning
(Catastrophic)
NCMS provides weather warning or
local adverse weather identified
ADEK determines the need for school
closures (Emirate wide or specific
areas)
Advises stakeholders:
Schools
Parents
DMT
School determines need for localised
closure (in consultation with ADEK)
Or Delay to start time
Schools advise local stakeholders:
School Transport Provider
Parents
Staff
Schools advise local stakeholders:
School Transport Provider
Parents
Staff
School Transport provider actions
Instructions
School Transport provider actions
Instructions
Localized Adverse Weather Conditions
Predicted Catastrophic Weather
Conditions

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 8 of 12
5. Pick-up and Drop-off locations
(a) The school transport provider must ensure through their risk assessment process that
designated pick up points remain safe during adverse weather conditions. Where
necessary to ensure safety, alternate pick-up locations may be required. The risk
assessment process must address requirements of People of Determination (people
with special needs).
6. Driving in adverse weather
(a) School transport operators must only use competent and qualified drivers who can
drive correctly in adverse weather conditions, in particular:
(i) correct vehicle speed and increased distances from the vehicle in front;
(ii) correct use of safety devices such as windscreen wipers, lights, fog lights, de-
misters etc.; and
(iii) emergency actions in the event of breakdown or incident during adverse
weather.
7. Vehicle Condition
(a) School transport operators are required to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy at all
times. Drivers must complete daily checks of safety critical items on the vehicles and
report any defect to their supervisor for repair.
(b) Safety critical items include:
(i) steering system;
(ii) braking system;
(iii) wheels and tyres;
(iv) lights (including fog lights and indicators);
(v) horn, mirrors and windscreen wipers; and
(vi) requirements of People of Determination (people with special needs).

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 9 of 12
8. References
•
General Secretariat of the Executive Council Circular No. (1) Of 2016 concerning
the Road Traffic Safety of the Employees in Bad Weather Condition and Poor
Visibility, 28 January 2016.

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 10 of 12
9. Document Amendment Record
Version Revision Date Description of Amendment Page/s Affected
4.0 15th July 2024
System acronym updated from OSHAD-
SF to ADOSH-SF to accurately reflect
document title
Throughout
Change from OSHAD to ADPHC
Change of Logo
Change from Department of Transport
(DOT) to Department of Municipalities and
Transport (DMT)
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements.

ADOSH-SF – Technical Guideline
Dealing with Adverse Weather Conditions for School Transportation
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024 Page 11 of 12