Saudi Arabia's Health and Safety Association said that work injuries in the private and public sectors amounted to over 67,000 in 2016, costing over SR370 million ($98.6 million) in medical treatment.
The highest number of work injuries recorded last year were of workers falling off high platforms at construction sites, while digging excavations and working in factories. Collisions came second. Suffocation inside underground septic tanks was the third cause of death or injury.
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The numbers are based on the data provided by the General Organization for Social Insurance. “It is more necessary now than ever to implement all safety measures and bring to account those responsible for shortcomings,” said Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, a representative of the organization.
He spoke at a recent meeting attended by over 300 industry safety specialists in Alkhobar. He said the lack of training agency to teach Saudis safety forces industrial companies to seek the expertise of foreigners to train their staff at high costs.
