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Labourers Benefit from RAK Heat Awareness Programme

RAS AL KHAIMAH — Labourers from nearly 15 companies in Ras Al Khaimah have so far benefited from the health awareness programmes about the effects of the scorching sun including heat exhaustion and other heat related problems, which have been conducted by Saqr hospital since the beginning
of summer.

Dr Yusuf Al Tair, Head of the Emergency Section at Saqr hospital, said his department organised the awareness programmes during this year’s summer period in order to educate the workers mostly from construction companies and their employers about the effects of heat and the risks of spending many hours under the sun.

He said the move followed the numerous cases of workers especially at construction sites who suffered from heat exhaustion during the previous summer periods.

“Scores of workers suffering from dehydration and various other heat stroke-related problems were hospitalised at Saqr hospital over the past years. Most of the workers did not know the effects of heat and the risks of direct exposure to sunlight especially
during the afternoon hours,” said
Al Tair.

According to Al Tair some employers have not been mindful about their workers’ lives and many were not bothered to rest them during the periods of high temperatures including the stipulated lunch hours, between 12.30pm and 3pm.

He stressed that there has been a great need to educate the employers about risking their employees’ health when they make them work under the scorching sun.

“During the awareness programmes, the health officials also teach the workers about the necessary first aid they could provide to their compatriots who suffer from the heat exhaustion. Companies are also encouraged to provide their workers with cold water, juices and sun shields,” said Al Tair.

More than 50 cases of heat exhaustion have been attended to at Saqr hospital since June. Booklets in several languages including English, Arabic, Urdu and Hindi are provided to the labourers to inform them of the safety measures.

“The booklets explain how workers can avoid falling ill while working in hot temperatures, and the different types of diseases and conditions that they could face,” he added.

Dr Al Tair warned that workers who stayed out in the open during the middle of the day were at risk of developing symptoms including red
hot and dry skin, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion
and unconsciousness.

He said direct sun could also affect the digestive system.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com