Workplace falls are symptom of lax safety culture

Weekend construction-site tragedies remind us that while workers have the first responsibility for preventing accidents, employers and authorities must also focus on safety.

At least three workers plummeted to their deaths at construction sites at the weekend. On Friday, five workers fell from a construction site in Abu Dhabi; two died. Yesterday, two more men were killed in Dubai. In both accidents, the men fell after construction scaffolding collapsed.

These are not isolated - or excusable - incidents. In the first half of last year alone, 40 construction workers died in falls across the country. And yet that grim statistic has not moved employees, employers, contractors or regulators to take these cases as seriously as they should.

First and foremost it is every person's responsibility to take proper measures to protect himself from harm. Only workers know their limits. But companies and authorities bear some of the blame for this string of high-rise tragedies.

A day after the five men fell from the poorly-secured scaffold in Abu Dhabi, workers at another site nearby could be observed carrying on as if nothing happened. One worker was seen leaning on poorly-secured bars on the seventh floor.

Some accidents are truly accidental; this weekend was abnormally windy, a possible factor. But in most cases human error, carelessness, equipment failure or some other preventable element contributes. It is therefore the responsibility of companies to clarify the risks through regular awareness campaigns. Safety gear must be available and used. When ropes are tattered or cradles rickety, they must be replaced. Third party inspectors - independent companies, government authorities or both - can help ensure they are.

Haste is also a contributor, with workers being asked to complete construction projects within hard deadlines. This increases the chances for fatal error due to exhaustion and lack of attention. Company safety officers must ensure workers take necessary precautions.

When companies realise that incidents are costly, be it either in dirham terms through fines or in a battered public image, it stands to reason they will put safety first. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of clear-cut criteria for who is liable in accidents, meaning subcontractors, contractors, owners and foremen have less to lose when disasters happen.

The blame for deadly falls must be placed somewhere. Sharing it, however, is the swiftest way to ensure that this weekend's tragedies are not repeated.