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Workers risk death as they flout safety rules

SHARJAH - Recent accident reports of a number of workers being killed because of the lack of safety measures at construction sites in Sharjah have failed to make construction firms and workers to sit up, take notice, and implement the safety regulations that are in force.

Many companies, in fact, take a lackadaisical approach to the enforcement of the rules.

A large number of construction workers at various building sites in Sharjah continue to put their lives at risks daily by not using the proper safety gears like helmets, safety shoes and belts while at work.

Many construction sites have also failed to employ trained safety officials to oversee and ensure that safety measures are followed by workers.

While Sharjah Municipality, sources said, is seriously looking into the strict enforcement of safety regulations on construction sites and is currently preparing a book of safety regulations and fines to be imposed on violation, contracting companies remain placid, blaming workers for disregrading safety regulations.

'We provide them with all safety gears right from day one of the construction job,' said a project engineer of Al Kauther Contracting Company in Sharjah. He pointed out that while on duty, 'the company provides its workers with necessary safety equipement. But, workers find it inconvenient to wear them. However, we will have to become strict after the new safety regulations are enforced by the Sharjah Municipality in the coming weeks.'

Construction workers at a building site in Sharjah, indifferent to the dangers faced by them, dismissed the risks involved, saying 'accidents and mishaps are part of our job.'

According to one helper in Al Nahda, 'safety equipment do not ensure complete safety to lives. My friends have died despite wearing the safety helmets,' he quipped. He was referring to an accident that happened in Sharjah a few years ago when a temporary elevator carrying workers snapped, killing all the workers inside.

Another worker, having worked on several building projects in Sharjah, does not completely rule out the benefits of safety gears. But he disclosed that he - and many others - prefer not to wear the helmet because it leads to severe headache, specially, under soaring temperatures in the summer season. He claimed that safety helmets and the heavy safety boots cause a lot of discomfort.

A group of Asian workers, we spoke to, said most contracting companies do not employ safety officers at construction sites to ensure they wear the prescribed safety gears while at work. 'Besides, the foreman and supervisors too turn a blind eye, so we can get around the regulations,' they said.

Meanwhile, a Sharjah Municipality official on an inspection visit to a construction site on Al Nahda area said the municipality is currently drafting new safety regulation book for the construction industry. 'The book is currently under print and will be ready soon.'

'The new rules will come into force in about three weeks and once the regulations are in place, strict penalties will be imposed on violation of safety regulations. We will order stopping of all work at construction sites if found violating safety regulations,' the official said.

The Sharjah Services Coordination Committee had earlier established and maintained a unified safety and health regulation for contractors to regulate working conditions and ensure the safety of both people and property.

Although the manual was comprehensive and covered almost all issues pertiaining to safety and health conditions at construction sites, several violations are registered at construction sites that do not meet with the conditions stated in the manual, and contractors do not comply with the laid down safety and health rules.

The purpose of the manual was to explain the safety and health aspects of all employees involved in the activities of the authorities concerned in Sharjah, including contractors, subcontractors, and visitors. The manual highlighted the regulations pertaining to the surroundings and conditions effecting employees, sub-contractors, and visitors at work including the social, chemical, physical, psychological and biological risks.

According to the manual, contractors and sub-contractors shall establish and maintain a documented health and safety management system in line with the departments concerned.

The contractor should also appoint a safety officer responsible for the maintenance of the health and safety management system. The officer should also identify and control the machinery, tools, material not complying to the applicable safety codes of practices, and should conduct site inspection and instruct each employee on the safety conditions and regulations.

He should conduct safety inspections at the work site during the work site mobilisation and prior to commencement of the work and at regular intervals during the progress of work. Safety non-conformities should be recorded and notified to the contractor, a copy to the management representative (safety officer).

The departments or directorates concerned should approve on the site layout, which is prepared by the contractors and includes services facilities at the site and accessibility from public roads.

The manual said that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) should be obtained from the municipality and from the public services authorities including electricity, water, sewage, gas, telephone, among others.