6 Abu Dhabi construction firms fined for flouting tower cranes' safety norms

UAE - In a massive crackdown, six construction and contracting firms in Abu Dhabi were fined for failing to comply with safety requirements of tower cranes. As many as 42 warnings were also issued to building contractors and consultants.

The Abu Dhabi Municipality said the violating firms were identified during inspection campaigns carried out on 160 construction sites.

The campaigns were intended to highlight the safety standards of tower cranes at construction sites to prevent workers from getting exposed to risks.

During the campaigns, authorities also raised awareness among workers and employers and educated them about the need to adhere to the stipulated safety norms to protect workers and community members from dangers.

The municipal officials pointed out that the crackdown on site safety is part of a campaign to ensure that contractors and consultants abide by Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) standards to maintain the safety of employees, protect their lives and mitigate potential hazards in the workplace.

The municipality said it was working to strengthen contractors' commitment and awareness around auditing and supervising subcontractors.

This includes acquiring installation licences for the tower cranes, regular maintenance of cranes and review of maintenance reports, monitoring the loading and offloading of heavy machinery, carrying out regular maintenance and third-party safety checks, and ensuring mobile crane operators have the necessary experience to operate the machines.

The municipality has stressed the importance of compliance with EHS's risk assessment policy for construction projects to bring about safety of on-site workers and pedestrians.

The civic body, through EHS, has urged all consulting offices, contractors, and building developers to adhere to the prescribed safety standards.