Dubai Municipality has issued a guidance document covering the precautionary measures to be followed in residences, buses and construction sites, as well as a document including a permit to transport construction workers in Dubai.
The guidelines, drafted by Dubai Municipality’s Health & Safety Department and Building Control Department, have been structured to assist the owners or operators of labour accommodations to take preventive steps and counter the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The precautionary measures to be followed within labour accommodations include increased frequency of disinfection and cleaning, limited gatherings, and social and physical distancing of 2 metres to be practised in specific areas.
In addition, construction workers’ temperatures must be tested before entering the premises and before leaving. If upon testing, a worker is found to have a body temperature of 37.8°C or more, it is imperative that the worker is placed in isolation and is constantly checked for temperature and appearance of symptoms. Concerned authorities must contact the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in the case of any follow up actions or queries.
For workers who have been suspected of posing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, isolation rooms in appropriate numbers must be made available, as part of the precautionary measures.
A transportation permit must be filled by the accommodation management before a worker goes to site.
The form must contain details such as bus number, project plot number, Makani number, and number of workers, among others.
Across the buses, workers must practise safe distancing and sanitisation upon entry, and on-site large gatherings must be avoided. Buses will undergo frequent cleaning and sterilisation, with Dubai Municipality-approved products.
Following the recent National Sterilisation Programme extension announcement, intensified restrictions on movement were enforced on all individuals, with the exception of employees working in vital sectors. The construction sector falls under the ‘vital sectors’, and is hence, exempted from the restrictions, subject to obtaining a permit from Dubai Municipality and the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs.
