Two fined after cement wall collapses on Dubai labourers

One Indian worker suffered fractures to his spine and ankle, while the other was also permanently injured, court hears.

DUBAI // A safety officer and a supervisor were each fined Dh5,000 after being found guilty of causing injury to two workers when a concrete wall collapsed on them.

The Court of Misdemeanours heard that P S and S R, both from India, were working on a construction site on Sheikh Zayed Road on the morning of April 13 last year.

They were on one side of the wall while other labourers added cement on the other side.

The wall fell when too much cement was added. P S and S R were hurt and taken by ambulance to Rashid Hospital.

S R had to have two operations on his left leg.

P S received fractures to his spine and ankle. He still experiences lower back pain that stretches down his left leg when he stands, or walks long distances.

Prosecutors charged safety officer S K, 30, and supervisor J L, 44, also Indians, with causing injuries to the workers, leaving one of them with a 10 per cent permanent disability and the other with a 20 per cent disability.

In court, both denied the 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,” the supervisor said.

“But I was not mistaken in any of the safety procedures, and I’m not guilty.”

S K gave the same statement, but both were convicted and fined on Tuesday.

A report from Dubai Municipality said that the construction company had breached safety regulations and it had been issued with warnings.