Safety of construction workers should be given due diligence
Reader highlights the issue of workers operating without safety gear
Iwould like to highlight a concerning scene on a construction site across from my residence in the Rolla area of Sharjah.
Early morning, a group of construction workers arrive at the site without proper safety gear. They are walking on the edges of the wooden frames without any sling or ropes. No safety officers are present on site to monitor these workers, who are probably from different backgrounds with different skills.
I am always under fear and tension as the building height increases. The authorities must monitor these construction sites closely and alert the construction companies to be more vigilant.
Last month, two incidents of cranes collapsing at construction sites in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah were reported by the media. These accidents were really scary. People were injured and so many vehicles were crushed.
The authorities must pay serious attention to this issue as there are so many buildings under construction.
Heavy and large structures
The safety of people staying in these areas is at risk, too, mainly because these cranes are very heavy and large structures.
Suresh Venkit, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician based in Sharjah has also come across this issue. He sees a lack of safety measures in the buildings under constructions close to his residence, too.
He said: “Construction workers are on site without safety shoes or helmets. The authorities must visit the sites frequently and educate the workers about safety.”
Mohammad Rushdi, a mechanical engineer based on Al Wahda Street, Sharjah, agreed and has also spotted many workers operating without safety gear.
He said: “There are lot of buildings coming up in my area. Most of the workers wear normal clothes and do high risk jobs. More attention is required on this subject matter.”
During the construction of a building a lot of activities are involved, most of which must involve high-risk jobs. These need extra care and focus. Workers need to be aware of the safety rules and regulations to be followed.
Frequent safety training and awareness sessions, along with proper safety gear, need to be given to the employees to reduce the risk of accidents on the sites.