Construction Safety in Kuwait
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 24, Issue 1
Abstract
In gulf region countries like Kuwait, the construction process can become very challenging. In this paper, we analyze construction-related accidents in Kuwait including type of accident, type of injury, body part injured, and accident outcome for the years 1996–2007. We present examples of recent cases and evaluate these cases presenting current Kuwaiti rules and legislation and providing suggestions for ensuring a safer construction environment. As this research shows, the construction industry is the most hazardous industry in Kuwait. On average, falls are the major type of accident (33.2%) followed by being crushed or struck by a falling object (25.2%). Use or misuse of tools caused the third largest number of accidents in Kuwait (18.1%). The most frequent type of injury is fractures (52.6%) and the most common injured body part is the upper body (53.4%). An average of (82.7%) of victims of construction accidents in Kuwait sustain permanent disabilities. It is clear that the Kuwaiti construction industry has a safety problem and that there is a pressing need to change current practices and legislation in construction and building sites.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to thank everyone who provided information for this research. The writers would like to thank Miss Batla Al-Ajmi, Miss Samera Mandani Mr. Abdulaziz Taqi from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for their help. Officials in the Kuwait Department of Fire, especially Mr. Mishari Al-Faras, provided valuable information about construction accidents in Kuwait. The local newspapers, including the Kuwait Times, Al-Anba'a, Al-Qabas, and Al-Rai Al-Aam have helped throughout the preparation and information-gathering phase. Special thanks go to the editors and archivists of the Kuwait Times newspaper for sharing their resources and providing cases of construction-related accidents in Kuwait. The writers acknowledge excellent suggestions made by the reviewers without which this paper will not be published in its current state. While some recommendations are beyond the scope of this study, they have prompted further work that will be incorporated in future papers.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 24 • Issue 1 • February 2010
Pages: 70 - 77
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 24, 2008
Accepted: Apr 30, 2009
Published online: Jan 15, 2010
Published in print: Feb 2010
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