Further information has come to light today on the accident in which seven workers constructing a bridge at the entrance to Dubai Marina were killed.
Apparently it wasn't a bridge collapse as reported yesterday. The crane's heavy load of steel frames hit a wall, which collapsed onto nearly thirty workers.
There are two disasters to be faced by the families of the dead, the obvious grief of having lost a loved one being the first. But there's also the practical fact that they were probably the main bread-winner for their families.
At least there's help for them to deal with the second. The company have quickly confirmed that the families will receive ten years' salary in compensation. Medical expenses for the injured will also be paid by the company.
It's small comfort but at least the company seems to be doing the right thing.
It would be nice to think that it's standard practice. I wonder...
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Friday, November 09, 2007
Another fatal day in Dubai's construction industry
Seven workers were killed yesterday when part of a bridge under construction collapsed. Twenty-four of their colleagues were injured, although thankfully none of these are said to be serious.
The need for the bridge is because there was oviously a serious planning error in the design of Dubai Marina. On the ocean side, where the beach hotels and Jumeirah Beach Residence are located, there is only a small bridge with one lane in either direction to cross the marina entrance.
The planners incrediby thought that would be enough for tens of thousands of people to come and go.
Let me remind you what JBR looks like, and this is just a very small part of it:
JBR claims to be the world's largest single-phase development with 40 towers, four of which are hotels. It covers a one mile length and will be home to 25,000 people. There are also dozens of towers on the other side of the road, plus more than half a dozen existing hotels. A bridge with one lane in either direction was considered to be sufficient.
Astonishing.
We can't blame the RTA for that doozy, it was done long before they were formed. I do hope the people responsible were dealt with harshly.
The cause of yesterday's tragedy is said to be human error - a crane placed a huge load of iron rods on the upper part of the bridge, far too heavy for the under-construction bridge according to a statement from Mattar Al Tayer of the RTA. The seven workers were killed instantly and a fleet of rescue helicopters airlifted the injured to Rashid Hospital.
A committee of officials from the RTA, Dubai Police and Public Prosecutors has been formed to investigate the acident. I hope they include something I've talked about before - site supervision.
The need for the bridge is because there was oviously a serious planning error in the design of Dubai Marina. On the ocean side, where the beach hotels and Jumeirah Beach Residence are located, there is only a small bridge with one lane in either direction to cross the marina entrance.
The planners incrediby thought that would be enough for tens of thousands of people to come and go.
Let me remind you what JBR looks like, and this is just a very small part of it:
JBR claims to be the world's largest single-phase development with 40 towers, four of which are hotels. It covers a one mile length and will be home to 25,000 people. There are also dozens of towers on the other side of the road, plus more than half a dozen existing hotels. A bridge with one lane in either direction was considered to be sufficient.
Astonishing.
We can't blame the RTA for that doozy, it was done long before they were formed. I do hope the people responsible were dealt with harshly.
The cause of yesterday's tragedy is said to be human error - a crane placed a huge load of iron rods on the upper part of the bridge, far too heavy for the under-construction bridge according to a statement from Mattar Al Tayer of the RTA. The seven workers were killed instantly and a fleet of rescue helicopters airlifted the injured to Rashid Hospital.
A committee of officials from the RTA, Dubai Police and Public Prosecutors has been formed to investigate the acident. I hope they include something I've talked about before - site supervision.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
More Salik twists...
I just received a message from Salik that my account needs topping up.
Strange, I thought, I've only been through the tollgates six times, which means I still have Dh26 in my account.
Scrolling through the message I found the answer - which was a surprise. "Balance of 30AED is below the set recharge value." it told me.
Set recharge value? Do we know about this? I didn't. I haven't seen that anywhere. Have I missed it?
Anyway, I went into the website and eventually found the page that lets me manage and top up my account.
Another surprise - I couldn't top it back up to the original Dh50 because the minimum amount accepted is Dh50.
A 'set recharge value' of Dh30 and a minimum top up of Dh50. Have I misssed the information on all this? Does everyone but me know about it?
Strange, I thought, I've only been through the tollgates six times, which means I still have Dh26 in my account.
Scrolling through the message I found the answer - which was a surprise. "Balance of 30AED is below the set recharge value." it told me.
Set recharge value? Do we know about this? I didn't. I haven't seen that anywhere. Have I missed it?
Anyway, I went into the website and eventually found the page that lets me manage and top up my account.
Another surprise - I couldn't top it back up to the original Dh50 because the minimum amount accepted is Dh50.
A 'set recharge value' of Dh30 and a minimum top up of Dh50. Have I misssed the information on all this? Does everyone but me know about it?
Monday, November 05, 2007
Good news for construction workers
The Emirates news agency WAM reports some good news from the UAE Cabinet meeting held on Sunday.
The Ministry of Labour was told to collaborate with construction companies to prepare, as a matter of urgency, proposals on the issue of the salaries of workers in the construction sector.
They will also, the Ministry said, ' intensify their inspections of workers' accommodation, noting that some of the housing facilities being provided to workers by some companies are sub-standard and do not meet the conditions and specifications laid down by the laws of the state'.
Ain't that the truth.
Later, The Big Boss, who of course presided over the Cabinet meeting, was at Dubai Municipality. He ordered an increase in the number of inspectors to cover all labour accommodation and he instructed the Municipality to double its efforts to preserve the image of Dubai.
Later, Labour Ministry Assistant Under-Secretary, Humaid bin Deemas, was forthcoming in his statements.
He said the Labour Ministry was following with deep concern the protests being made by workers from a number of construction companies which it was dealing with. It was also committed to taking the necessary measures to bring an end to any form of violation of the law.
He said the Ministry strongly insists that all workers must receive full wages without any deductions, for whatever reason. He said the ministry totally rejects the excuses being given by some companies for their practice of withholding wages. The ministry was determined to eradicate this practice which, he said, was considered by the UAE government to be an unacceptable form of exploitation that is in contravention of the law. He warned that the ministry will impose heavy fines and severe punishments on all those who are found by the supervisory committee to have violated the law.
There are two obvious observations to make I suppose.
One, wouldn't it be nice if we didn't need this kind of enforcement because we all treated each other with respect and honesty. Human nature being what it is, though, far too many people take any advantage they can from other people.
Two, why does it need Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and the Cabinet to tell the Ministries they need to do what they should be doing as a matter of course?
Salaries not being paid, deductions from salaries, sub-standard accommodation and conditions, all are illegal. It's been going on for years, yet here we are needing a Cabinet directive because the Ministry of Labour isn't on top of it.
If you'd like to read the original WAM reports they are here and here.
The Ministry of Labour was told to collaborate with construction companies to prepare, as a matter of urgency, proposals on the issue of the salaries of workers in the construction sector.
They will also, the Ministry said, ' intensify their inspections of workers' accommodation, noting that some of the housing facilities being provided to workers by some companies are sub-standard and do not meet the conditions and specifications laid down by the laws of the state'.
Ain't that the truth.
Later, The Big Boss, who of course presided over the Cabinet meeting, was at Dubai Municipality. He ordered an increase in the number of inspectors to cover all labour accommodation and he instructed the Municipality to double its efforts to preserve the image of Dubai.
Later, Labour Ministry Assistant Under-Secretary, Humaid bin Deemas, was forthcoming in his statements.
He said the Labour Ministry was following with deep concern the protests being made by workers from a number of construction companies which it was dealing with. It was also committed to taking the necessary measures to bring an end to any form of violation of the law.
He said the Ministry strongly insists that all workers must receive full wages without any deductions, for whatever reason. He said the ministry totally rejects the excuses being given by some companies for their practice of withholding wages. The ministry was determined to eradicate this practice which, he said, was considered by the UAE government to be an unacceptable form of exploitation that is in contravention of the law. He warned that the ministry will impose heavy fines and severe punishments on all those who are found by the supervisory committee to have violated the law.
There are two obvious observations to make I suppose.
One, wouldn't it be nice if we didn't need this kind of enforcement because we all treated each other with respect and honesty. Human nature being what it is, though, far too many people take any advantage they can from other people.
Two, why does it need Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and the Cabinet to tell the Ministries they need to do what they should be doing as a matter of course?
Salaries not being paid, deductions from salaries, sub-standard accommodation and conditions, all are illegal. It's been going on for years, yet here we are needing a Cabinet directive because the Ministry of Labour isn't on top of it.
If you'd like to read the original WAM reports they are here and here.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
It's raining!
I thought I should record the fact that it rained today.
I can't temember the last time we had rain - sometime last winter obviously - but we had a little bit today. Not what we'd call rain in Australia of course, but enough to leave some wet patches on the ground.
It's apparently the fringe of the weather Oman is getting, and we're getting something we see very rarely, cloudy skies.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
I found some more...
Secret Dubai left a link on the last post to a great Dubai Christmas photo, and that got me searching through my own photos for my particular favourite. I came across a few others too, so here they are first:
And then away from the luxury of Madinat Jumeirah into beautiful downtown Karama:
Over to Deira to Naif Souk:
And then away from the luxury of Madinat Jumeirah into beautiful downtown Karama:
Over to Deira to Naif Souk:
And here's my favourite. That fat man in red gets everywhere - I think this was around Al Faheidi Street.
Oh, and the link to SD's photo is here. I think it's Mary Christmas...or perhaps a working girl who'd wandered into Jumbo Electronics by mistake?
Christmas in Dubai
A couple of posts back I put a photo of Christmas decorations already on display. Our blogger friend DownUnder, LDU, asked about Christmas in Dubai.
I rummaged through my thousands of photographs and came up with these, taken last year in Mall of the Emirates and Wafi Mall:
I rummaged through my thousands of photographs and came up with these, taken last year in Mall of the Emirates and Wafi Mall:
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