Construction Safety in Kuwait

In gulf region countries like Kuwait, the construction process can become very challenging. In this paper, we analyze construction-related accidents in Kuwait including type of accident, type of injury, body part injured, and accident outcome for the years 1996-2007. We present examples of recent cases and evaluate these cases presenting current Kuwaiti rules and legislation and providing suggestions for ensuring a safer construction environment. As this research shows, the construction industry is the most hazardous industry in Kuwait. On average, falls are the major type of accident (33.2%) followed by being crushed or struck by a falling object (25.2%). Use or misuse of tools caused the third largest number of accidents in Kuwait (18.1%). The most frequent type of injury is fractures (52.6%) and the most common injured body part is the upper body (53.4%). An average of (82.7%) of victims of construction accidents in Kuwait sustain permanent disabilities. It is clear that the Kuwaiti construction industry has a safety problem and that there is a pressing need to change current practices and legislation in construction and building sites.