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Dubai: The number of deaths at the construction sites in Dubai has reduced last year, thanks to the strict implementation of the new safety code by the civic body.

Some 46 workers were killed and 181 were injured last year compared to 50 fatalities and 177 injuries in 2007. There were 8,000 construction sites in the emirate last year with around 800,000 people involved in the construction work, according to statistics revealed by the Dubai Municipality at a seminar held yesterday as part of the municipality's Construction and Occupational Safety Week.

Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Municipality opened the safety week under the banner "Safety: Our Road to Sustainability".

Lootah said the municipality was very keen in enhancing occupational safety in the emirate by strictly enforcing the prevailing rules and regulations.

"We have enacted a set of legislation including local orders, technical guidelines and codes with the objective of ensuring occupational safety of workers," he added.

Speaking to reporters, Redha Salman, Director of Environment and Safety Department at the Municipality, said the fatality rate at the construction sites is in fact far less in Dubai compared to the United States. The fatality rate in Dubai is 5.6 people per 100,000 workers while in the United States it is 10.8 per 100,000. The fatality rate in the United Kingdom is 3.7 people per 100,000.

"We have managed to control the occupational related accidents resulting in deaths and injuries due to strict implementation of the code of occupational safety which was reintroduced last year after some amendments," said Salman.

He said extensive surveys and inspections in addition to awareness campaigns have also helped contain fatal accidents despite massive increase in construction sites. There has been 51 per cent increase in the number of construction sites last year compared to 2005 while the increase in accidents was 31 per cent.

Salman said that the municipality focused more on personal protection and proper training of people working at the sites.

5.6 fatality rate in Dubai per 100,000 workers
10.8 fatality rate in the US per 100,000 workers
3.7 fatality rate in the UK per 100,000 workers
46 workers killed and 181 injured last year at construction sites compared to 50 fatalities and 177 injuries in 2007.
There were 8,000 construction sites in the emirate last year with around 800,000 people involved in the construction work.
5.6 people were killed in Dubai out of 100,000 workers compared to 10.8 fatalities per 100,000 in the US. and 3.7 per 100,00 in the United Kingdom.

Source: Copyright © 2009 Gulfnews.com. All rights reserved.