Contractors and consultant fined after workers hurt in roof collapse

DUBAI// A contracting company and a project consultant have been fined after four Asian workers were injured in an accident at a sports club last month.

Dubai Municipality said on Sunday that the workers had been injured because the project consultant and the main contractor had broken rules while working.

On February 27, the roof of a swimming pool being built at Al Shabab Al Arabi Club in Al Mamzar collapsed while concrete was being poured, injuring the four workers. Three of them have been discharged from hospital, while the fourth is still being treated.

The accident happened while they were placing a slab two metres wide above and around the pool in a process called jogging.

“The technical committee of the department has found that the accident which injured four workers is due to the violation of work rules by the project consultant as they subcontracted the work to an unauthorised contractor to work in Dubai,” said Marwan Al Mohammed, acting director of the buildings department.

Mr Al Mohammed said: “The subcontractor has no efficiency in the construction field and committed serious technical mistakes during the concrete-pouring works.”

The municipality said the consultant and main contractor were responsible for the fault and breach of rules. It has not yet been decided how much the fine will be.

Mr Al Mohammed said public health and safety was a priority and said firms should follow municipality regulations.

“The civic body urges all consulting and contracting companies not to subcontract any unauthorised companies that are not registered with Dubai Municipality,” he said. “The municipality will apply the penalties stipulated by the law on violators in order to protect the public and properties.”