DUBAI – Code for managing safety at construction sites in Dubai has been released in English. Dubai Municipality’s Building Construction Department issued the safety code to regulate the working conditions at construction sites in the city for safty of thousands of people employed on a variety of projects, be through contractors or sub-contractors.
The Arabic version of the code was released in July 2008 and the English translation was released on Sunday.
“As we face unprecedented and difficult challenges in offering the best infrastructure for a world-class city like Dubai, the issuance of such a manual is all the more relevant,” said Essa Al Maidour, assistant director-general of Planning and Building Affairs in Dubai Municipality.
“In designing this manual, many of the safety standards existing in the advanced and developing nations were referred to.”
The code says that consultant engineers and contractors are responsible for the overall safety of a construction project. Their responsibility also extends to buildings close to the construction site that may be affected by the works.
In addition they are also responsible for the safety of all employees and those present at the site or close to it. The code also has a raft of fire safety measures.
The code says that consultant engineers and contractors are responsible for the overall safety of a construction project throughout the implementation period and thereafter according to the prevailing laws and local order in this regard. Their responsibility also extends to buildings close to the construction site and any other public facility that may be affected by the works. They are also responsible for the safety of all employees and those present at the site or close to it.
The code also lists in detail the types of construction site accidents, work injuries, responsibilities for prevention of accidents, reporting of an accident, investigation into accidents, writing accident reports, vocational health and environment control, personal protection equipment, fire safety, storing of goods at construction sites, excavation works, concrete and block works, steel structure works, tunnels, dams, demolition works, welding works, electricity-related risks, insulation for power sources, hazardous chemical materials, road works, cranes…etc.
Arabic and English copies of this code are available for sale at the Customer Service Centres of the Dubai Municipality for a price of Dhs100 each.