30.03.2009

Dubai clamps down on safety violations

Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has fined a contractor Dh 200,000 ($54,000) fine for violating its rules resulting in a crane accident in February 2008.

The unnamed contractor was fined for violating the instructions and code of procedures without seeking the consent of the Consultant and the RTA to do a night-time job. The action made by the contractor resulted an accident where a crane toppled over while attempting to install a directional signboard gantry on Al Ittihad Road. The incident resulted in the closing of Al Ittihad Road for 10 hours, triggering tailbacks and disrupting traffic flow on a number of roads in the emirate.

The accident took place at 3am while the crane was lifting a sign gantry into place, the crane operator apparently took the load beyond the cranes lift chart, resulting in it losing stability and tipping.

According to Maitha Bin Adai, the chief executive of RTA: “Investigations revealed that the flipping of the crane was caused by the failure of the company to comply with the technical specifications and stipulations, safety procedures and precautions required for doing such a job”.

“In the light of investigations made, RTA has taken stringent action against the company operating the crane that caused the accident including the fine and is a measure intended to reflect the tough stance of the RTA towards any violation jeopardizing the public safety, causing losses and disrupting traffic flow.”