HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING

RAMADAN
HSSE Awareness

•1
 What is Ramadan?
Ramadan – sacred month in the Islamic Calendar

Islamic Calendar or the Hijri Calendar is based on the lunar year.

• Muharram • Safar • Rabi al Awwal

• Jumadi • Jumadi at
• Rabi at thani
• al Awwal • thani

• Rajab • Shaban • Ramadan

observed as a month of fasting; fasting

• Shawwal • Dhu al Qaidah • Dhu al Hijjah during this month is regarded as one of the
Five Pillars of Islam

•Health and safety during

Ramadan
Fasting means abstinence

To stop eating, drinking & smoking from dawn until dusk

For those who are not fasting, please be considerate and avoid eating,
drinking or smoking in front of colleagues who are fasting

•
X XX•Food

Health and safety during

•Drinking •Smoking

Ramadan
Safe Ramadan

• During this month we do not keep our usual eating, sleeping, exercising or
socialising hours. If not managed, these changes put additional stress on
the body, causing fatigue and diminishing our ability to perform tasks.
Although the possible affects are relatively mild and rarely serious, they
should be recognised to ensure that a serious situation does not develop.

• Health and safety during

Ramadan
Common effects of fasting

 Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar

(glucose) in the blood drops to a lower than
normal level
 Dehydration occurs when the amount of water
in the body falls below normal, which can
disrupt the balance of sugars and salts
(electrolytes)
 Low blood sugar & dehydration can be
caused by fasting

 What we might feel: tired, irritable,

headaches, faint or light-headed, hunger,
decreased concentration, sleep deprivation,
nausea and dehydration

• Health and safety during

Ramadan
High risk times

During Ramadan, exposure to safety risks will mainly increase during the
following timings:

• While Driving
• Before and after midday
• The first few days & the last 10 days of the
month
• Near the end of the work day
• When activity levels are high in our work area

Important!
Before and after midday is when you are more at risk due to not eating
or drinking leading to tiredness and fatigue.

• Health and safety during

Ramadan
Sleeping

• Sleeping habits often change during Ramadan

• We may stay up late at night or get up early in the morning for Suhoor

• Please note that seven to eight hours of

uninterrupted sleep is important to
everyones health and well-being

• Health and safety during

Ramadan
Further suggestions

• Drink sufficient water between Iftar and sleep to avoid dehydration

• At Iftar, have a very light meal first (e.g.: dates and juices or soup)
• Consume sufficient vegetables at meals. Eat fruits with high water
content at the end of the meal (i.e. watermelon, orange, strawberry)
• Avoid intake of high sugar (table sugar, sucrose) foods through
sweets or other forms
• Avoid hot & spicy foods
• Avoid fried foods
• Avoid too salty foods
- retain water in our body
- give you the feeling of being bloated

• Health and safety during

Ramadan
Further suggestions

• Avoid caffeine drinks such as sodas, coffee or tea

• Three days to five days before Ramadan gradually reduce the intake
of these drinks. A sudden decrease in caffeine prompts headaches,
mood swings and irritability
• Avoid over-eating during or between Iftar and Suhoor; health
problems can emerge as a result of excess food intake which can
‘clog’ our digestive system
• Avoid tea at Suhoor (Dawn) - Tea increases salt excretion in the
urine, which is needed for our body during fasting
• Many people eat a late night meal and sleep through till the dawn
prayers. This is not advisable

• Health and safety during

Ramadan
 Avoid accidents - be proactive
• Ramadan work timings are adjusted to compensate for the fasting
• Extended working times can lead to problems and there have been
accidents attributed to fasting and extended work hours during Ramadan
 fainting
 fatigue
 decreased concentration
• Watch our work loads carefully. Where high risks exist, additional control
measures need to be put in place:
 use shifts where possible to meet deadlines effectively and safely
 plan our demanding activities in the morning when we are more alert
 minimise driving later in the day – double up on drivers where needed
 ensure tool box talks, safety meetings and pre-job preparations discuss and
understand the hazards
 STOP WORK where we think it is unsafe
Report any signs or symptoms of fatigue or other health issues to our
local health team or doctor
• Health and safety during
Ramadan
Avoid accidents - be a safe driver
• The biggest safety challenge during Ramadan is driving, due to drivers
being tired and fatigued
• Be a safe driver by: • Once you feel fatigue
 getting enough rest
there is nothing you can
 following procedures (seat belt, vehicle check, etc.)
 not speeding
do except STOP at a safe
 being a defensive driver
 avoiding unnecessary journeys place away from the road

• Try to avoid: as soon as possible and

 driving during peak hours
 driving in congested traffic areas
take a break.
 long drives
 driving alone

• Health and safety during

Ramadan
 • Have a safe & healthy Ramadan by
following these precautions

•Health and safety during

Ramadan