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Even with strong HSE regulations of the UAE Government still workplace accidents and incidents are increasing. The major cause for these accidents is unsafe behaviors, not unsafe conditions. Studies show that human behaviors remain the cause for more than 90% of workplace incidents.
This blog will explore the top 10 unsafe work practices and provide relevant actionable measures that align with NEBOSH, IOSH, OSHA, and UAE OSHAD standards, along with real-world scenarios.
Risk of not using the right PPE ?
Failing to wear the right PPE can lead to serious consequences.
Let’s consider a scenario where a laborer at a Dubai construction site has just removed his helmet as he felt hot. Within a few moments, the rebar falls from above while shifting, resulting in a near-fatal miss.
If you look at the cause for this near miss, the worker was not aware of wearing the proper PPE, and poor supervision was also a cause.
Ways to prevent:
- Ensuring UAE-heat-friendly PPE
- Availability of PPE
- Emphasizing “No PPE, No Work” rules
Hasty actions to speed up work
Skipping essential safety procedures or bypassing operating procedures will lead to accidents. Employees who take shortcuts to speed up productivity or finish work quickly expose themselves and others to risk.
A scenario at a warehouse workplace in Abu Dhabi:
An employee bypassed the safe ladder and tried to climb a storage rack. It resulted in an accident, and he had a fracture in his leg, and also the scenario led to interrupted operations. Here, the employee was unaware of his unsafe practice and obsessed with deadlines.
Ways to prevent:
- Equipping awareness about safe work practices through IOSH and NEBOSH training
- Stringent supervisory
- Employees should report unsafe shortcuts
1. Mobile Phone Use During Wor
Using mobile phones during work makes it difficult to stay focused on work, and the distraction can lead to safety risks.
It can be best explained with a scenario in a Manufacturing Facility in Sharjah, where a machine operator was attentive to his phone during the operation of a press machine. Lack of focus on the work resulted in equipment damage due to improper misalignment.
Underlying causes:
- Lost focus on work
- Unaware of potential risks
- No mobile-use policy
Ways to prevent:
- Designing mobile-free work zones
- Using signage and inspection checkpoints
- Appropriate breaks for personal use
2. Lack of Safety Instructions or Signboards
Not providing safety instructions or not adhering to signboards will lead to catastrophic consequences.
If you look into the situation below, you will best understand the potential outcomes.
A technician in the Dubai Metro Maintenance Crew made an unauthorized entry into a high-voltage electric room. He overlooked the warning message ‘Don’t enter’ and thought that the power was isolated. Fortunately, the situation didn’t end in any mishaps. However, the causes such as no communication and not obeying the signage remain.
How to prevent such situations?
- Give compulsory induction training
- Enforce Permit-to-work (PTW)
- Include cross-checks for authorized entry
3. Dangers of Poor Manual Handling
Consequences of improper manual handling are serious and long-lasting. This is further explained through the following situation:
An employee in a Jebel Ali Free Zone logistics lifts a heavy carton improperly, i.e. by bending his back. This poor handling led to muscle strain, and hence the employee was absent from work for three days.
Causes for the poor handling
- Urgency in work
- No ergonomics training
- Handled without any lifting supports
How to prevent it?
- Providing manual handling training
- Appropriate use of pallet jacks, trolleys and lifts
- Signage of ergonomics
4. Machine Guards violation
Machine guards should never be bypassed; if done will result in severe workplace injuries.
A real-time example can emphasize the significance of avoiding unsafe activity. A worker engaged in work in the Ras Al Khaimah Manufacturing Plant assumed that the machine guard slowed the production, and hence he removed a guarding plate. As his glove got stuck in the moving part, he suffered injuries to his fingers.
What leads to this?
- Pressure for production targets
- No maintenance
- Improper practices
How to prevent it?
- Executing lockout–tagout (LOTO) procedures
- Systematic machine inspections
- Strict action against bypassing guards
5. Not reporting Near misses
Not reporting near misses will lead to blind spots that allow unsafe behaviours in the workplace.
It would be right to explain this with a scenario in the Oil & Gas Facility in Abu Dhabi. The improper rigging of a suspended load swung nearer to a worker. He ignored the thing as if nothing had happened to him. However, it later resulted in a severe injury to another worker.
Why did it happen?
- Afraid of blame
- No knowledge of reporting
- Poor safety culture
How to avoid?
- Create a no-blame reporting system
- Reward mechanism for near-miss reporters
- Perform regular Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
6. Working at height without protection measures
Working at height contributes to major injuries and fatalities. If the right protective measures are not taken, it increases the risk of falling.
At this point, it would be better to understand through a scenario.
A worker who stood on scaffold edges in a Sharjah construction project lost his balance due to strong winds. Luckily, he avoided a narrow fall.
What caused this?
- No proper equipment
- Lack of supervision
- Overconfidence
How to prevent it?
- Strict use of harness and anchor systems
- Regular scaffold inspections
- Comprehensive fall-protection training
7. Fatigue and Long Working Hours
Longer working hours and fatigue are major unsafe practices that reduce safe working ability and increase safety risks.
Consider a security guard engaged in the UAE FM sector for prolonged working hours. His fatigue impacted his skills, and he missed a fire alarm alert in the control room.
Probable causes:
- Overtime fatigue
- Shortage of guards
- Improper work schedule
Ways to prevent:
- Rotational shifts
- Sufficient breaks
- Fatigue management training
8. Improper Use of Tools and Equipment
Certain tools and equipment are meant for specific tasks. Not using the right tools or equipment for the intended purpose is unsafe and dangerous.
Here is a harmful condition where the technician uses an improper size wrench to tighten bolts, which resulted in a slip and caused injury to the person and equipment damage.
Probable causes:
- Improper tool selection
- Inadequate training
- Hasty action
Ways to prevent:
- Choosing the right tools
- Proper tool selection training
- Regular equipment check
Unsafe Behaviours Are Red Flags for UAE Industries
UAE regulatory bodies like Dubai Municipality, OSHAD, Civil Defense, and the Ministry of Labour insist that employers have strong HSE controls. Unsafe behaviours lead to:
- Costly penalties and fines
- Workplace shutdowns
- Reduced productivity
- Fatalities or major injuries
- Reputation damage
NEBOSH, IOSH & OSHA Training Reduce Unsafe Behaviours
Establishing a robust behaviour-based safety culture is possible with globally accredited HSE courses that help employees to:
- Recognize hazards
- Build safe habits
- Comprehend risk assessments
- Adhere to correct procedures
- Enhance communication
- Reduce unsafe behaviours
Conclusion
Unsafe behaviours are risky for UAE workplaces. By providing the right HSE training, emphasizing SOPs, and improving supervision, employers can reduce workplace risks and ensure a safer environment.
