Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Science

First Advisor

Prof. Sherif Hussein Kandil

Second Advisor

Prof. Mohamed Fathy Hamoda

Third Advisor

Dr. Abdallah Abu Ruwaida

Abstract

Industrial workers are practically exposed to multiple environmental factors causing accidents in work places. A retrospective study of the impact of environmental factors on the occurrence of industrial accidents was conducted during the period 1984-1993 in Dubai and Northern Emirates, to determine the impact of

environmental factors on the incidence, causes of industrial accidents and the types of injuries among workers. Data were collected from the records of accidents registration in the industrial safety department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Dubai Emirate. Industrial visits have been conducted to inspect and identify the existing environmental hazards (viz. cement and cement products, building and construction, chemicals, printing and engineering industries). The total number of injured workers was 159 during the period of study. Accident frequency and accident severity rates were simultaneously increased and decreased in the years of study.

The study revealed that most of the accidents (69.2%) have occurred in Dubai Emirate. The highest levels of incidence were recorded in the building and construction industry (33 .9%) as well as in the cement and cement products industry (30.2%) .The mechanical accidental factors presented the highest risk (81. 8%) followed by chemical (12.6%), electrical (3 .1%) and physical (2.5%) in the different types of industries. The high prevalence of accidents among injured workers in different types of industries could be attributed to the following socio-demographic characteristics:

(i) The majority of injured workers were young (mean age ranged from 30±3.2 to 40 (years); (ii) they lacked both skill and experience (mean duration of employment was between 3.2±1.1 and 5.1±3.5 years); (iii) they did not enjoy good payment (highest mean salary per month was 1263 .3±614.4 Dirhams); most of them came from third world countries with poor health conditions and educational or background (63 .5% were Indians and 41.5% were illiterate).

Study of factors affecting industrial accidents revealed the following: Falls or slips(57.2%) and falling or flying objects (23 .9%) represented the main causes of injuries.Most of accidents (93 .1%) occurred due unsafe circumstances; and (84. 9%) of accidents occurred as a result of unsafe act of the injured workers. Injuries of the upper limb (52.8%) and lower limb (18.7%) represented the common injury sites among injured workers especially wound (47.2%) and fracture (17%). The type of first aid offered among injured workers was not known in 55 .3% of cases, and dressing (18 .2%) and bandage (20.8%) were the main known first aid. Disability occurred in

(21.3%) of injured workers especially in the upper and lower limbs and 24 death occurred in the period of study. Also 101 injured workers (63 .5%) were completely Recovered without residual effects. Safety training and health education programmers to minimize accidents occurrence is therefore recommended. Meanwhile, formulation of a specific sheet for industrial accident is a must to keep reliable records and good control measures to protect workers from different hazards and should always exist in the work place in different types of industries.

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