UAE Joins International Workers Memorial Day

The UAE, through the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the regulatory body of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, will for the first time join many countries around the world that officially recognise the 28th of April as Workers Memorial day, an International Day of Action for Safety and Health at Work.

According to HAAD statistics, 108 workers lost their lives in 2009 while undertaking their daily work activities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, 47 of these deaths were caused by falling from heights and falling objects which are all preventable with proper controls and precautions.

Engineer Zaid AL Siksek, CEO of HAAD, said "Formal recognition of this event will reinforce the significance and importance of good health and safety practices at the work place and raise awareness of the number of people who are killed, disabled, injured or made unwell through their work. All workers deserve the right to be safe at work. This initiative is the responsibility of all employers across all sectors of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi so let’s keep our workers safe. The international slogan for this day is ?Remember the dead - Fight for the Living’. This highlights the need for action and prevention to reduce occupational injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide."

Through the recognition of this day, HAAD aims to highlight the importance of a safe working environment at all times across all sectors, the employers’ responsibility for the health and safety of their employees and/or contractors, the criticality of risk management, the need to utilize the appropriate equipment for each work task undertaken, the essential role of health and safety training for all employees and prevention of occupational fatalities.

Dr. Oliver Harrison, Director of Public Health and Policy Division at HAAD, said: "The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an international campaign worldwide to promote safe, healthy, and decent work - a basic right for all, and to enhance the knowledge and recognition of employers across all sectors in the UAE of the need to take renewed responsibility and accountability for the health and safety of their employees." As part of its campaign for occupational and environmental health and safety interventions for 2010, HAAD is currently working with the Ministry of Labour to release a booklet for employers outlining their responsibilities in terms of the Labour laws, basic hazard identification and risk assessment and preventative steps to reduce the risk to workers in the UAE.
 

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