DUBAI // Two construction workers died this week after falling from the 27th floor of a building next to the Burj Khalifa.
The Indian men, ages 24 and 27, were installing glass at about 4.30pm on Tuesday when their cradle encountered a "mechanical error", said an official from the project site who declined to be named.
Another anonymous source said the side winch of the cradle had failed, and a statement issued by Dubai Police said the men's cradle had "lost balance".
The men were wearing safety harnesses and hard hats when they fell, according to a photograph of the accident scene provided by police. It was not clear whether the harnesses failed or were not correctly attached to secondary cables. Police say they are investigating the incident.
Both workers died on impact, and their families have been informed, the project official said.
In a statement released yesterday, Emaar said: "We regret to report the death of two employees of a private company. We extend our sincere condolences to their families."
The site, known as Plots 12 and 13 of the Burj Dubai Development, is run by Samsung-Baytur JV. It features two glass-panelled towers that are 30-plus storeys high, and taper at the top. It is centrally located in the Emaar Downtown area, on Emaar Boulevard opposite the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa.
Construction of the building started in 2007 and is set to finish this month, according to a sign posted at the site.
According to Baytur, 866 workers have been employed in the construction of the mixed-use commercial tower. Most are from South Asia.
Until Tuesday, the site maintained a relatively clean safety record - some workers had sustained minor injuries, like cuts or small particles stuck in the eye, said a Samsung-Baytur JV employee involved in the project.
Now that the project is winding down, about 12 employees a day visit the on-site nurse, who works 12 hours a day and is on call at night.
Almost all the glass facades of both buildings have been installed, although a few panels are yet to be set in place at the top of the second tower, where metal scaffolding with wooden slats juts out from the building. Work on the building where the accident took place resumed soon afterward, according to a source at the site.
Yesterday afternoon, workers could only be seen on the ground floor, carting materials inside. They wore hard hats, and some wore harnesses.
The deputy manager of the project said he was not authorised to comment. Others involved in construction at the site could not be reached.
In a separate cradle accident in Sharjah five months ago, four workers died after falling six storeys outside the Ansar Mall.
The workers had been employed by Al Reyami Signs and Advertising to erect a banner outside the mall. It was unclear if those workers were wearing safety harnesses at the time. Three of the men were killed on impact, while a fourth died later that day at Kuwaiti Hospital.
Imad Jamal, the vice chairman of the Higher Technical Committee for the UAE Contractors Association, which promotes safety on construction sites, said at the time of the Sharjah incident, many construction firms could have improved their safety standards.
Brian Florance, the operations manager of Malt Techniques, which installs and manages cradles in Dubai, said cradles must be checked for a variety of things: "There are design criteria, installation criteria and safety regulations for working at heights."
chuang@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Wafa Issa and Eugene Harnan
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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