DUBAI// A safety officer and a field supervisor have denied their responsibility for an incident where two workers were injured when a cement wall collapsed on top of them.
The Dubai Court of Misdemeanours heard that the Indian victims, PS and SR, were working on a construction site on Sheikh Zayed Road on the morning of April 13 last year when the incident took place.
The victims were carrying out work on one side of the wall while other workers were adding cement to the other — it collapsed after they added more cement than needed.
Other workers on the site called an ambulance, which took the two injured men to Rashid Hospital.
SR underwent two surgeries to his left leg. PS suffered fractures to his spine and ankle and needed more time for treatment. He also underwent surgeries but during his last medical check, it was found that he still suffers from lower back and leg pain. The report said that he suffers pain when standing or walking long distances.
Prosecutors charged SK, 30, safety officer and JL, 44, supervisor, both Indians, with causing injuries to the workers that left one of them with 10 per cent permanent disability and the other with 20 per cent.
At court they both denied charges.
“I was on site at the time of the accident and the reason the wall fell was that the other workers on the opposite side put more sand which caused the collapse but I was not mistaken in any of the safety procedures, and I am not guilty,” said JL.
SK gave the same statement.
A Dubai Municipality report said that the construction company violated safety regulations and were issued with warnings.
A verdict is expected on August 18.
salamir@thenational.ae
