General guidance

for employers and workers

in inclement weather conditions
 High Winds

High winds are a common hazard in the UAE.

To reduce risks during high wind, the below should be

considered as part of risk management procedures:
 General

For employers For workers

• Follow up regularly the weather

notifications and conditions from Follow up regularly with notifications which
concerned official authorities. are sent by the employer.
Safety
• Issue notifications for all employees. Alerts

Review any work at height and outdoor

working when the wind speed reaches or External
gusts higher than 38km/h. and
high areas

Ensure all windows are closed and
doors only opened as required.
Remove lightweight or loose objects from
open areas.
Open Areas
• Stop any lifting operations if wind speed
reaches or gusts higher than 38km/h.
• Ensure any cranes or lifting equipment are
secured.
operations
Inspect buildings and projects to confirm
that unsecured equipment has been
removed.
Inspection
Issue alerts and notifications to all
employees regarding safe driving during
high winds.
Employer should be notified in case of
Windows increased wind speed concerning the
and Doors following:
• Any work at height and outdoor
working.
• Any doors or open windows.
• Light weight or unsecured equipment
in open areas.
• Lifting works.
• Unsecured equipment.
lifting
• Follow up regularly with notifications
which are sent by the employer.
• Drive only if safe to do so.
• If your journey is not essential,
postpone it until the heavy rain
subsides.
• Reduce your speed.
• If visibility becomes very poor, pull
Driving over in a safe place until it improves.
• Ensure tires and windscreen wipers
are in good condition.
• Do not drive close to other cars,
increase the braking distance.
 General

For employers For workers

• Follow up regularly the weather

notifications and conditions from
concerned official authorities. Follow employer’s instructions in
• Issue alerts to all employees in affected affected projects and locations
areas and projects.
Safety
Alerts
• Issue notifications for all employees.

• Use critical electrical equipment only

during lightning.
• Consider using only critical electrical Use of • Stop operating unnecessary
equipment during lightning storms Electrical equipment.
• Switch off non-essential equipment. Equipment • Stay away from objects that conduct
electricity (barbed wire fences, power
lines, etc.).

Stay in your office and don’t leave until

Inform employees to stay indoors. you get approval from your manager.
Staying inside
buildings
• Ensure entrances and exits to buildings
are safe and have non slip mats to
prevent ingress of water. Use building exits and entrances which
Building include non-slip carpets
• Provide additional cleaning staff at ‘entrances
entrance and exit points to buildings and exits’

Add signboards within locations and
activities which include hazards that
affect employees’ health and safety such
as (water pipes, water ponds, water
bodies, isolated trees, and equipment
which are connected to power... etc)
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths
and faucets.
• Get out immediately from ponds,
• Get away from other bodies of water
Dangerous • Never shelter under an isolated tree or
locations metal structure.

• Drive only if safe to do so.

Issue alerts to all employees to
• Drive safely and reduce speed.
• Postpone unnecessary driving.
• Move the vehicle away from the road
to a safe area in case visibility is too
Driving
poor until it becomes clear.
• If your journey is not essential,
postpone it until the heavy rain
subsides.
• Reduce your speed.
• If visibility becomes very poor, pull
over in a safe place until it improves.
• Ensure tires and windscreen wipers
are in good condition.
• Do not drive close to other cars,
increase the braking distance.
 Heavy Rain / Lightning / Flooding

Heavy rain and Lightning can cause occupational

safety and health issues within the workplace, so
precautions should be taken to prevent employee
exposure to lightning and employers should recognize
lightning as an occupational hazard.

As part of any adverse weather procedure, consider

the following during times of heavy rainfall or
lightning storms as part of risk management
procedures:

For employers
Follow up regularly the weather
notifications and conditions from
concerned official authorities.
Issue alerts and notifications to all
employees regarding safe driving
during foggy weather.
General
For workers
Follow up regularly with
notifications, which are sent by the
employer.
• Follow employers’ notifications
• Reduce your speed.
• Do not drive close to other cars,
increase the braking distance.
Driving • Drive only if safe to do so.
Alerts • If visibility becomes very poor, pull
over in a safe place until it improves.
• Do not use hazard lights.
• Use high intensity fog lamps, If
visibility is less than ١٠٠ meters
• Review the need to travel
 Fog

og can cause very hazardous conditions for driving

n public roads due to reduced visibility.

o reduce risks during fog, the below should be

onsidered as part of risk management procedures:
 Heavy Rain, Lightning, Flooding

For employers For workers

• Follow up regularly the weather

notifications and conditions from
concerned official authorities.
Follow up regularly with notifications that
• Issue alerts to all employees in
affected areas and projects.
Safety are sent by the employer.
Alerts
• Issue notifications for all employees.

Ensure appropriate signage is in place and

beware of areas with standing water or
that may flood.
• Review the use of electrical installations or
plant and equipment during heavy
rainfall.
• Undertake additional checks of any
scaffolding, ladder, heavy equipment etc.
that may become unsafe due to heavy
rainfall.
Comply with signboards’ contents.
Signage
Confirm following up with employer’s
notifications and instructions regarding use of
equipment, electrical machines, or
Plant and
installations during the rainfall.
Equipment

Review any activities that involve Excavation

excavations. Work

• Check any areas where work at height

may be undertaken and ensure it is safe Confirm following up with employer’s
to do so. Work notifications and instructions regarding
• Notify the employees and workers to at continuing construction which is related
stay away from high areas such as Height to excavation, high areas and external
platforms, scaffolds, and others during construction.
thunderstorms.

Stop work outdoors during electrical Outdoor

(lightning) storms. Working

Ensure any chemicals or hazardous Do not use chemicals or hazardous

materials are secured and covered. Chemicals materials.

Provide staff with appropriate wet weather Personal Use PPE and clothes which are adequate for
clothing if working outdoors. Protective rainfall in case construction is within External
Equipment areas.
 Instructions for building
and construction

Building and Construction is considered one of the high-risk

activities and the level of risk increases on workers in
adverse weather conditions such as Heavy Rain, Lightning,
Flooding, High winds and fog.

To reduce risks during adverse weather conditions, the

below should be considered as part of risk management
procedures:
 Fog

For employers For workers

• Follow up regularly the weather

notifications and conditions from Follow up regularly with notifications that
concerned official authorities. are sent by the employer.
• Issue notifications for all employees Safety
Alerts

Wear the personal protective

Personal equipment that has been supplied by
Provide appropriate high visibility clothing
Protective employer, such as reflector vests during
for outdoor workers. Equipment working in external or construction
areas.

Review the possibility of continuing work Confirm following the employer’s

in heavy lifting activities considering instructions regarding ability to continue
the visibility conditions. Lifting working if weather is foggy.
Operations

Pay attention to voice and light

Ensure audible and visual warnings are
warning systems in plant and
activated on plant and equipment.
Plant and equipment and use them when
Equipment required.

Note: In addition to the above, follow general instructions for employers in

heavy rain/ lightning/ flooding, high winds and fog
 High Winds

For employers For workers

• Follow up regularly the weather

notifications and conditions from Follow up regularly with notifications that
concerned official authorities. are sent by the employer.
Safety
• Issue notifications for all employees. Alerts

• Review any work at height and outdoor
working when the wind speed reaches
or gusts higher than 38km/h.
• Secure objects that can be easily blown
away by strong winds.
• Confirm following up with employer’s
instructions regarding ability to carry
Work out required work in high areas.
at
Height • Avoid standing next to construction or
accumulated materials.

• Stop any lifting operations if wind speed

reaches or gusts higher than 38km/h. • Follow employer’s instructions
• Ensure any cranes or lifting equipment are regarding the ability to continue
secured. lifting works.
• Tag lines should be used when hoisting Lifting • Use ropes to lift heavy loads which
loads with large flat surfaces. Operations have wide surfaces.

Ensure that tools are packed away safely Comply with signboards and other
and that roofing sheets, cones, signage requirements and notify employer about
and other loose materials are safely any signboards which have fallen as a
secured. Signage result of strong winds.

• Provide eye protection to keep dust and

debris from blowing into the eyes.
• Ensure hard hats are securely fastened. Personal Wear the required PPE which has been
• Provide protective gear against falls Protective supplied by employer.
from high places. Equipment

• Ensure temporary or site fencing is

securely fixed.
Ensure Follow employer’s instructions.
• Ensure any chemicals or hazardous Equipment and
materials are secured and covered. Other Materials
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