Risks faced by workers on garbage collection trucks

A common sight on Dubai roads that makes you wonder whether a circus has come to town.

This is not a scene from a circus. It is workers hanging on the sides of a garbage collection truck. On their daily routine, usually during the early hours of the day, two workers hang on precariously on such trucks, while the truck moves on the roads to various garbage collection points in town.

These workers are balancing on a narrow foothold and clutching the handle with no safety harness in place. A slight slip could result in grave danger for the workers.

A few days ago, I saw the same happen opposite Musalla Post Office in Bur Dubai. Many others may have witnessed such a sight. I wish to raise concern about the safety of these workers. Why are they allowed to work in such precarious positions? A simple solution will be to provide a small seat and a seat belt to ensure their safety instead of making them stand on a narrow foot hold while clinging to a handle and giving way to accidents.

— The reader is an entrepreneur based in Sharjah and a resident of the UAE for the past 34 years.

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