When it comes to health and safety in the Middle East, it’s worth acknowledging just how far the region has come with its safety standards over the past decade. However, one of the most accident-prone environments remains the construction industry, as it results in the accidental injury and death of many workers year on year, particularly when it comes to large-scale projects. A lot of work is still to be done, but this will be the case for regions throughout the world until workplaces are absolutely accident-free.
The main statistics for Health and Safety in the UAE are as followed:
- 69% of construction companies in the Dubai Municipality lack understanding of the importance of health and safety
- 74% of workers in Dubai believe their training is outdated when they do receive it
- 71% of workers have no way of reporting accidents in Dubai
- Only 18% of construction companies in the Dubai Municipality conduct regular health and safety training
- 38% of construction deaths in Dubai occurred because of poor supervision, with a further 25% due to lack of training
- More than a quarter (27%) of people in Abu Dhabi said they had been involved in a road accident when using their phone
- 59% of employees in Dubai are never issued safety and health certificates
- 25% of UAE companies do not provide PPE to their employees
“in the UAE the construction industry is worth over £400billion, so it is unsurprising that the standards have advanced over the years”
With over 250,000 Britons living in the UAE, it is important all safety regulations are understood by all personnel in the workplace. The easiest way to do this is by the use of multi-lingual signs, as we are manufacturers we can print in any provided language, our most popular are our Arabic/English signs. We readily stock all main safety warnings and screen print them inhouse on top quality self-adhesive PVC.
In the UAE the construction industry is worth over £400billion, so it is unsurprising that the standards have advanced over the years. The 2009 Code of Construction Safety Practice for Dubai was implemented to help companies with their safety responsibilities from PPE to scaffolding and everything in between. This, along with a variety of additional rules and regulations, shows how seriously the region is taking its health and safety duties moving forward.