JEDDAH — Work-related injuries in the private sector increased by 25 percent last year, Makkah newspaper reported. Makkah Civil Defense Licensing and Regulations Director Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Assiri said the directorate recorded a total of 69,000 work-related injuries. "In 2014, the directorate recorded 52,000 work-related injuries, and they have increased by 25 percent in 2015. Most of the injuries resulted from negligence about safety and security regulations," said Assiri. He added that other factors also contributed to the increase in work-related injuries. "Sometimes workers or employees come from a different culture or speak a different language that they fail to read warning signs or misinterpret some instructions. Most of the injuries were reported during the summer season due to harsh weather," said Assiri. He said the directorate is working to enforce the regulations penalizing the companies found negligent in following the safety and security procedures. "The supervision of the implementation of these regulations falls on the Ministry of Labor, social insurance providers and the municipalities. Violations can result in fines or imprisonment. "We have explained the safety and security regulations to representatives from the Ministry of Labor to update them on any changes," said Assiri. The directorate held a workshop on Sunday titled "The Role of Safety and Security Regulations in Public and Private Institutions". The two-day workshop had three sessions and tackled eight different issues. Makkah Civil Defense Civil Protection Director Col. Hani Nabulsi said employers and employees need to be trained on crisis management and how to act in times of emergency.
