The Environment, Health and Safety Corporation at Dubai Municipality has issued a circular to owners and operators of industrial facilities and warehouses in the emirate, stressing the necessity of installing and implementing a set of modern and advanced safety systems when operating and using forklifts within work sites.
This step comes within the framework of Dubai Municipality's ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and hazard-free work environment, reduce occupational accidents associated with heavy equipment, and enhance compliance with applicable local legislation, including Local Order No. 61 of 1991 on environmental protection systems in the Emirate of Dubai.
According to the circular, Dubai Municipality has identified 5 key requirements that all industrial facilities using this type of equipment must comply with and implement. These include:
Establishing a comprehensive traffic management plan that separates vehicle routes from pedestrian pathways using logistical barriers and directional signage, and specifying permitted speed limits; as well as making it mandatory to install 360-degree surveillance cameras on forklifts to cover blind spots and enhance safe manoeuvrability in high-risk areas.
The circular also requires facilities to equip forklifts with short-range proximity sensors to prevent collisions with obstacles through audio and visual alerts upon approach, and to install blue and red warning lights that project beams onto the ground to alert passers-by to the path of an approaching forklift.
Dubai Municipality further stressed the necessity of conducting daily pre-operation inspections and scheduled periodic maintenance of equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions, and documenting inspection results in dedicated records to ensure continuous operational efficiency.