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‘Lack of data on occupational health, safety at workplaces’

The OH&S programme is a joint venture between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Labour (MoL) while other authorities and agencies also play an important role at the national level.

Dr Ahmed Nabil Abou Taleb, Consultant of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, and Head of Occupational Health Section at the MoH, Dubai, said that by law the work inspection authority was the MoL, while the MoH had a consultation role.

“Other constraints on a national level include rapid industrial growth in all sectors and ignorance of local laws and regulation by foreign investors,” he explained.

Earlier, Dr Taleb gave a presentation at the first three-day Enoc International Occupational Health Conference being held at Movenpick Hotel. The conference was opened by Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Quttami, Minister of Health.

Dr Taleb also cited establishment problems as a reason behind lack of data on occupational health and safety at workplaces. “We have sporadic cases of reporting by companies on injuries or disease at the workplace. This is because companies are not following rules according to which they should report such cases directly to the MoL’s OH&S section,” explained Dr Taleb, adding that companies were unwilling to invest in workforce health.

He cited setting up of a proper data base for occupational injuries and diseases as future plans to improve the OH&S in the country. “We also need to establish a national committee for OH&S and reinforce the manpower and its needs,” he said.

Dr Taleb said that at the regional and international level, there was a need to establish a stable reporting system between the GCC countries and EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office).

Broken bones, muscle sprains, trauma and cuts are the most commonly reported injuries at the workplace, he pointed out.

• UAE