Sglogo_1

 

Events Reports Directory Forum Articles Jobs in Steel Resume Post Links Currency Archive Metal Rate Archive Glossary Import Duty Structure Incoterms 2000 Technical Info Trade Leads Currency Codes Contact Us Disclaimer Feedback Privacy Policy Site Map

 

FAIL (the browser should render some flash content, not this).

October 08, 2008


UAE to form an agency to check health and safety at construction sites

The UAE ministry of labour will form an independent agency for the sole purpose of inspecting health and safety standards on construction sites. The agency is part of the ministry's plans to upgrade the country's health and safety regulations and is expected to be up and running within the next few months.

The Institute of Occupational Safety & Health has been working closely with the ministry to revise health and safety laws, which will also extend to labour accommodation standards.

According to Mr Ahmed Al Menhali of IOSH Middle East, the new regulations will also mean tougher penalties for construction companies violating the rules. He said that "We are in the early stages at the moment, but an independent agency will focus on health and safety inspections. It will work independently from the ministry of labour. There will also be more fines, contractors will be expected to prove good health and safety standards, and intentions prescription law can be good, but it's not possible to have an inspector on every site all of the time. So it will be up to the industry to assume responsibility."

Mr Al Menhali said that the new law is also expected to address heat related illnesses, first aid requirements, electrical safety at work and protective equipment to prevent falls from height. He added that "There's a very strong commitment from the ministry of labour to improve health and safety standards. But the law on its own won't be enough. We need to build a capacity for enforcement and the industry needs to improve things. Some sectors here, like oil and gas, have standards that are comparable with the rest of the world. So something has to be done by the construction industry to get its act together."

According to the latest figures, there are 60,000 accidents on construction sites each year. Contractors in the UAE stand to lose an estimated AED 18,300 per hour if work on site is stopped because of an accident. And fines for flouting standards are currently around USD 13,000.