On October 19 at around 11:45 am in Haa Dhaal Kulhudhuffushi airport, a gas cylinder exploded and was reported to police. The incident occurred while refilling a cylinder used in the airport's fire training. Four employees of the fire department of the airport were injured in the incident. One of the employees sustained serious injuries and was taken to India for further treatment.
Two days later, on October 21, at 04:15 pm, Haa Dhaal Makunudhoo residents were shocked by a powerful explosion in the harbor area of the island. Two foreign workers lost their lives in the incident. The incident occurred when a gas cylinder exploded during welding.
The blast was so powerful that parts of their bodies were scattered more than 200 feet away, making it difficult to identify them. The deceased were two workers of the land reclamation and shore protection project for the Makunudhoo airport. They are Mohammad Raja Ansari, 27, and Sudhira Sethy, 25, of India.
In the past 10 years, 15 workers lost their lives in 17 such incidents. Since there is no proper record of incidents at workplaces in Maldives, it is not an official statistic. The actual number of deaths in workplace accidents is expected to be much higher.
The government-proposed Occupational Safety and Health Bill, which can address many of these concerns, is pending in Parliament. The lack of adequate efforts to pass the bill is a concern of both workers and industry experts.
Risky Occupations in Maldives
Construction, agriculture, fiber work, fishing, garages, diving and other similar work should be done with proper safety measures. While working in these industries, there have been tragic incidents due to a lack of proper safety measures. The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a study in Maldives detailing the risks faced by all the workers.
Construction workers have suffered many injuries from wall paint, UV rays, welding, chemicals and operating power tools. There are also many incidents caused by electricity.
Image shows how the iron rod entered the worker's body.
One of the most notable incidents occurred on September 17, 2022 when a foreign worker was injured by an iron rod while working on a construction site. Workers were lifting the rods with the help of ropes when they fell through the ventilation shaft and injured the worker.
The cause of the fall and the extent of safety measures were not investigated. It is also not known whether anyone was held responsible for the worker's serious injury or neglect.
In addition to the construction industry, fiber workers are also exposed to hazardous chemicals. They are at risk for respiratory problems and skin problems. There is also a risk of kidney problems, liver problems and cancer.
The strong chemicals used by farmers pose a threat to them, and working in the hot sun without proper safety measures is a threat to farmers as well as fishermen. It can cause skin problems and damage to the eyesight.
WHO also notes that fishermen falling off vessels and going missing is a serious risk. On October 14, Ibrahim Yoosuf, 68, went missing in a similar manner on Alif Dhaal Dhangethi island. That morning, Yoosuf went fishing in a small motorboat by himself. the boat was spotted near Randheli resort between 09:00 and 09:30 am but Yoosuf was missing.
The army dived and searched an area of about 80,000 acres in search of Yoosuf. However, he has not been found.
While going out fishing alone is common in Maldives, fishermen should be made aware of how to proceed in such situations. Key precautions should be identified and ensured that they are followed.
Diving and working in garages that repair cars, bicycles and other vehicles are also on the list of dangerous jobs in Maldives.
Occupational Safety and Health Bill stalled in Parliament
The Occupational Safety and Health Bill was introduced in Parliament on November 13, 2022. The bill was moved by Baarashu MP Ahmed Abdullah on behalf of the government.
Sections of the Bill:
- Workers' rights
- Responsibilities and Powers of Law Enforcement
- General responsibilities of workplace-related persons
- Permission to work
- Accident reporting and investigation
- Compensation for expenses and damages due to injury
- Crime and Punishment
The bill stipulates that the Minister shall determine policies to ensure the health and safety of all workers in Maldives.
Within six months of the bill becoming law, a multi-agency council called the Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Council will be established under the ministry. The bill also sets out the responsibilities of councils.
Workers make up about 80 percent of the population and society and their families bear the brunt of the injuries they suffer in the workplace.
Experts in the field agree that it is a huge setback for the workers that the bill on such an issue involving the interests of so many is stalled in the parliament.
"[The Occupational Safety and Health Bill] being stalled in parliament is a challenge. It is a shame that there is no law for so long. It is sad that the bill has not been passed in a parliament with a government majority," said Mauroof Zakir, the president of the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM).
Fathimath Shaira, a workers’ rights activist, believes the bill is being delayed because there are people in senior positions in government and in parliament who will face losses if it becomes law and comes into effect.
Farming in an island.
"The interests of big companies are also represented in parliament. Lawmakers are the parliament but they have an interest in not protecting workers. It will be a loss to them," Shaira said.
Working without any training
One of the main reasons for the large number of dangerous accidents in the workplace in Maldives is the lack of proper training. Most workers are not aware of the safety rules to be followed when entering the workplace.
Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) Chief Risk Officer and Maldives Occupational Health and Safety Association's President Ibrahim Zahir highlighted the issue of awareness.
"If there is a job to do, the worker should be trained for it. A competent person. When it is completed, safety precautions should be taken. Safety precautions should be included in job training," Zahir told Adhadhu.
He noted that often foreign workers are not trained for the job they are undertaking. That is why it is important to train people and make them aware of the rules, he said.
"Training is more important for the risky and dangerous work than for the person working under the computer in an office. Often in Maldives, it is done by foreigners. They often do not even know to speak Dhivehi," he added.
In need of a regulatory agency and a law
Experts in the field say that Maldives urgently needs an Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Council or a body to inspect the workplace as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Bill.
"There is no legal criterion to check whether a person is competent. There are no people to check, there are no safety supervisors, there is no mechanism to monitor this," Zahir said.
Like other developed countries, Maldives can reduce workplace accidents by establishing a proper workplace monitoring agency, he said. He also noted that the most appropriate people to look into workplace incidents are those who are competent and experienced.
"When incidents are investigated in a criminal aspect, the real reason for the incident is not uncovered. An accident can be prevented by a root cause analysis and a health and safety aspect probe. In other countries, an accident is investigated by a regulatory body. Police will only probe if there are suspicions of intent to harm."
Noting that businessmen and contractors do not give priority to workplace safety and security, TEAM President Mauroof said the failure to hold employers accountable is one of the reasons why workers' rights are not being fulfilled.
A construction worker.
"It is also important for the health of the employer's business to have standards set. Safety standards are set but they are not implemented because the employer is not legally bound," Mauroof said.
The lack of an Occupational Health and Safety Act also poses challenges for workers to be compensated for accidents.
“If there is a case, the compensation claim can be filed as a civil case but there is no legal protection and there are many difficulties in the court process,” he said.
The lack of a healthy workforce is a major detriment to the future of this country. The solution is to create a special agency to ensure the safety of workers and to enact a separate law.
This is why it is important to pass a key bill like the Occupational Safety and Health Bill for the benefit of the country, instead of keeping it stalled for the benefit of a few people.
This article was first produced in Dhivehi by Adhadhu's Mariyam Afaa Nizam.
