25.01.2007

Contractors in UAE must follow crane regulations

Construction companies in the United Arab Emirates must pay special attention to inspection and testing of cranes. This is the message from the Labour Inspection Department at the Labour Safety Section at the Ministry of Labour in Dubai.

The directive has been sent to the companies following several fatal accidents on worksites recently. The companies have been asked to follow the existing rules and regulations to ensure safety at work and protect workers against occupational hazards according to the ministerial order No: 32, No: 20 of 1982 and Federal Law No:8 of 1980.

The ministry has advised the companies to test all cranes and lifting equipment on the sites and make sure that all operators are fully trained by a qualified person, approved by the MoL. The certificates should be issued for these purposes every year.

Chains, ropes and other items must be tested every six months. Companies have also been asked to clearly display instructions about the maximum lifting capacity of the lifting equipment in Arabic and, if necessary, in another language.