Tough new health rules to protect labourers

SAFETY FIRST: Occupational health will be made a priority under a major overhaul of the system, a DHA official said. (Getty Images)

Stringent health and safety rules are to be introduced to protect labourers on Dubai’s construction sites, health officials said on Sunday.

Affordable and accessible basic care will be provided "as a matter of course", under plans by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) which aim to prevent workers becoming seriously ill and placing further pressure on the health service, an official told UAE daily The National.

“For me, occupational health is a top priority. We want to impose more rules and standards,” Qadhi Saeed Al-Murooshid, director general of the DHA , said, adding that a major overhaul of the health system would be announced in the coming months.

“We cannot afford to leave out any segment of the community. We will be looking after everyone, from the top chief executive to the unskilled worker."

Although some firms had been proactive in health and safety, the emirate had a long way to go before construction sites become sufficiently safe, Al-Murooshid said.

“We need to protect their health. To prevent the problem on construction sites we will be saving lives, saving their health and also saving hospital beds.”

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (0)

Have your say

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM