The workshop ‘Workplace Stress – A Collective Challenge’ was conducted on the occasion of annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Dubai Municipality that promoted the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally
Stress is one of the most challenging issues at a workplace, which represents potential risk in the field of occupational safety. The impact of stress on health can vary according to individual response; however, high stress levels can contribute to developing health-related impairments, including mental and behavioural disorders such as exhaustion, burnout, anxiety and depression, as well as other physical impairments such as cardio-vascular disease and musculoskeletal disorders. There are also emerging coping behaviours such as alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, unhealthy diet, poor sleep, and their relation with an increasing rate of workplace accidents and non-communicable diseases.
Dubai Municipality has understood and identified the need to mitigate risks for a safer and healthier workplace.
The workshop was an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on the magnitude of the problem and on how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.
At the workshop, Raed Al Marzooqi, head of occupational health and safety section at Dubai Municipality, said that Dubai Municipality is celebrating the ILO Day of Safety and Health, with the aim to deploy strategies for better wellbeing.
“We want to reach out and show everybody how Dubai and the UAE federal government are working towards removing workplace stress. People from all walks of life, including the police, are stressed. Security of nation or individuals is a highly stressful job – working within the society with righteousness and boundaries come with due responsibility within the police department. Also we ensure that we comply with safety regulations like labour accommodation, health and hygiene that can help tackle stress arising in workers.
“Our attempt is to discuss the different levels of stress and how everybody is participating in lowering stress levels – directly or indirectly. We are trying to fulfill our commitment towards the different categories of employees in the society. We are looking to adapt best practices, trying to ensure that we are in accordance with the international standards.
He added the Dubai Municipality is trying to enhance the vision of the government of Dubai through such events. “Our commitment is to lower stress in workers and to show the community what the Dubai Municipality is trying to achieve.”
Dubai Police also supported the event with Lt. Col. Saeed Rashid Al Helli, head of temporary employment conditions control section at general department of human rights, attending the event along with Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) chair Ahmed El Hadidi and other key participants.
