Ashghal performs basic health tests of nearly 90% of workers
THE Public Works Authority (Ashghal) succeeded in performing health screenings on 67,719 workers, representing 89.12 percent of the entire workforce in 2020 and the first half of 2021, Ashghal said in a statement.
According to the statement, any worker identified with an abnormal result was referred to a hospital that is part of Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health network, where they were retested and given an individualised treatment plan, with medication if needed, and regular follow up.
This proactive health programme is one of very few of its type worldwide that is implemented in an infrastructure programme.
As part of its commitment towards the welfare of its workforce and protecting them from injuries on project sites, Ashghal has continued to implement a set of procedures and regulations to ensure the health and safety of its workers, and adheres to permitted working hours in accordance with the ministerial decree 17 of 2021 regarding the necessary precautions to protect workers against heat stress on outdoor work sites during summer.
The decree prohibits outdoor work between 10am and 3:30pm starting from June 1 until September 15 of every year, concerning works performed directly under the sun or on outdoor sites with no ventilation.
A safe work environment is one of the most important requirements imposed by Ashghal on its contractors, who are obligated to develop plans to deal with the risk of exposure to heat stress and to avoid its effects, while implementing a number of procedures at work sites.
These include providing several shaded rest areas within the project area, providing all workers with free drinking water at all times, as well as personal protection equipment.
Ashghal also obliges contractors to appoint paramedics and supervisors for occupational health and safety on project sites to provide safety instructions and first aid for workers. This is in addition to implementing awareness campaigns for all workers on the dangers of heat stress between June and mid-September of each year.
Ashghal continues to implement its health screening programme for workers in order to detect chronic diseases that may increase the risk of heat stress. The screening is free of charge for workers.