There has been a string of accidents around the UAE this month. Apart from a crane collapse, we've also heard about a piling rig falling over, a grader reversing over a sheer drop and workers being electrocuted as a backhoe severs live electrical cables.
There has been a string of accidents around the UAE this month. Apart from a crane collapse, we’ve also heard about a piling rig falling over, a grader reversing over a sheer drop and workers being electrocuted as a backhoe severs live electrical cables.
While it is noted that these accidents are being recorded, rather than simply swept under the carpet, there are still some steps that could and should be taken.
For a start, the larger emirates should move the burden of investigating industrial accidents away from the police and on to a separate body equipped solely for the purpose. The kingdom of Bahrain has just implemented this, and been applauded by various human rights groups for its progress.
Secondly – and I’m particularly thinking of tower cranes here – operators should all have to undergo a standard training course, with a government-set test at the end of it.
Finally, all cranes should be inspected at regular intervals and certified to a recognised standard. This should include testing ‘invisibles’ such as periodic non-destructive testing of structural steel, as well as visible points such as staples, bolts, mountings and so on.
Of course there is financial cost in taking these steps, but far better that than the alternative. Over the last year, the UAE has taken great strides in terms of safety, with the establishment of Build Safe and so on. However, until these steps are taken, we fear that towers will continue to fail.
UAE needs to focus on safety
There has been a string of accidents around the UAE this month. Apart from a crane collapse, we've also heard about a piling rig falling over, a grader reversing over a sheer drop and workers being electrocuted as a backhoe severs live electrical cables.
There has been a string of accidents around the UAE this month. Apart from a crane collapse, we’ve also heard about a piling rig falling over, a grader reversing over a sheer drop and workers being electrocuted as a backhoe severs live electrical cables.
While it is noted that these accidents are being recorded, rather than simply swept under the carpet, there are still some steps that could and should be taken.
For a start, the larger emirates should move the burden of investigating industrial accidents away from the police and on to a separate body equipped solely for the purpose. The kingdom of Bahrain has just implemented this, and been applauded by various human rights groups for its progress.
Secondly – and I’m particularly thinking of tower cranes here – operators should all have to undergo a standard training course, with a government-set test at the end of it.
Finally, all cranes should be inspected at regular intervals and certified to a recognised standard. This should include testing ‘invisibles’ such as periodic non-destructive testing of structural steel, as well as visible points such as staples, bolts, mountings and so on.
Of course there is financial cost in taking these steps, but far better that than the alternative. Over the last year, the UAE has taken great strides in terms of safety, with the establishment of Build Safe and so on. However, until these steps are taken, we fear that towers will continue to fail.