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36 workers hit by heatstroke in RAK
RAS AL KHAIMAH - Around 36 workers suffering from heat exhaustion were admitted to the emergency department at Seif Obaidullah Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah since the beginning of May.
- PUBLISHED: Tue 21 Jun 2011, 10:00 PM UPDATED: Fri 12 Jul 2024, 9:42 AM
Most of them are outdoor construction workers and were brought to the hospital during the hottest time of the day when temperatures exceeded 40 degree Celsius.
Majority of the heatstroke cases were reported before the midday break rule came into effect on Wednesday last week, according to doctors at Seif Obaidullah Hospital. The hospital received 17 cases in May and 19 cases in June. The doctors said the workers suffered from dehydration after spending many hours under the sun which caused them fatigue, high blood pressure, rise in the body temperatures and other heat-related diseases.
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Dr Ramez Atallah, a health expert in RAK, said that it was very important for employers to let the outdoor workers rest during the hottest time of the day as required by the country's laws.
The doctor noted that if the body is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, it loses a lot of fluids and salts which may lead to loss of consciousness and a rise in body temperature that could also affect the brain functioning.
Workers are advised to drink huge quantity of water during these periods of high temperatures to avoid the risk of dehydration.
The doctor also urged the public, especially children, the elderly and people with heart diseases, diabetes or other health problems, to limit their movements during the hot sun.
Meanwhile, officials at the Ministry of Labour in RAK said that they have not caught any firm violating the midday break rule in the first days of its implementation.
Companies, especially construction firms, were urged to strictly follow the midday break rule throughout the months of high temperatures for the sake of safety and wellbeing of their workers. Saeed Rashed Al Nuaimi, Chief of Labour Office in Ras Al Khaimah, said that companies should be extremely cautious about workers' safety during summer and should limit their operations on outdoor sites during the hottest period of the day. The official said that they had intensified inspections on various firms and sites to ensure that all companies comply with the laws during summer. Al Nuaimi said that no excuses will be accepted from companies that will be caught violating the midday break rule.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
