Caring is mutually beneficial

Dubai firms are being told how preventing heat stress among workers can help them gain reputation, improve production, minimise worksite accidents and make more profit—all by winning hearts of their employees. The Dubai Municipality’s “Safe and Healthy Summer Campaign” for workers is advocating the benefits that companies can achieve by providing proper care for workers to protect them from heat stress and exhaustion. “When the workers are tired and exhausted due to heat, they will be absent from work, or they can cause mistakes and accidents,” said Raed Al Marzouqi, the head of Occupational Health and Safety Section at the municipality’s Public Health and Safety Department. He said heat stress can cause lack of concentration which can easily result in worksite accidents. “Statistics show that falls from heights are three times higher during summer. It could be linked to heat stress.” By adopting measures to prevent heat-related illnesses among workers, Al Marzouqi said, companies can ensure the wellbeing of employees, which will, in turn, result in better work output. “When they are being taken care of, workers will feel more responsible, committed and loyal. They will have more work precision, better ideas and better productivity. This will automatically increase the production and profit of the companies.” The official said firms that are not investing on workers’ welfare either have misunderstandings or make wrong calculations. “If employers can make very small investment to supply electrolytes, shades and nutritional food to workers, they will not be absent from work and will make less mistakes, accidents and injuries. At the same time, the companies can gain more reputation and profit.” The municipality’s campaign is using a flow chart to explain such benefits for both employers and employees.