In stark contrast to the zero fatalities achieved during the construction of venues for the London Olympics, an investigation by the Guardian newspaper alleges that dozens of labourers have died during the construction of Qatari World Cup infrastructure.
According to the report, between 4 June and 8 August at least 44 workers died from heart failure or were killed in workplace accidents, with potentially thousands more working in dangerous conditions. The International Trade Union Confederation believes that at this rate, there will be at least 4,000 deaths in the run up to the 2022 World Cup.
What is perhaps more disturbing is that the debate about World Cup safety has centred on whether the footballers can play in the summer heat, rather than the multiple deaths that are occurring during the construction of facilities.
Throughout the Guardian report, reference is made to forced labour, migrant workers having salaries withheld, passports confiscated, access to drinking water denied and workers begging for food. In response, the real estate company in charge of the work commented:
“We will not tolerate breaches of labour or health and safety law. We continually instruct our contractors and their subcontractors of our expectations and their contractual obligations to both us and individual employees. The Guardian have highlighted potentially illegal activities employed by one subcontractor. We take these allegations very seriously and have referred the allegations to the appropriate authorities for investigation. Based on this investigation, we will take appropriate action against any individual or company who has found to have broken the law or contract with us.”
In an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live, Prime Minister David Cameron responded to these reports and said:
“We, in the Olympics, I think I’m right in saying, managed to build that entire Olympic Park with the best ever record on safety – no one dying during construction, keeping injuries to an absolute minimum.
“The British construction industry we really can hold up as a good example to the rest of the world.”
The contrast in reported safety standards between these two global events could not be starker and throws some real perspective upon the true value of the UK’s health and safety culture. Health and safety has its detractors, but when confronted with such reports, we’re reminded of why we have these “burdensome” rules and why they should not be cast aside. The legacy of the London Olympics is that it is possible to complete huge construction projects without a single life being lost through work related accidents. This standard should not be placed in jeopardy and is rightly held as an example to all others.
According to SHP magazine, the Prime Minister commented that while the British building industry didn’t have such a good record in the past, everyone had a duty to insist on the best safety standards. Has the man who famously vowed to “kill off health and safety culture for good” somehow been converted?
Workplace safety often gets bogged down in media trivialities, but is this case different? Does the health and safety record of the Qatari World Cup act as a reminder of what we do well in this country and why health and safety is of such importance? Let us know your thoughts!
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