Analytical study of the safety records of a leading seaport in the GCC

The pertinent records of the year 1411 H (1990/1991) for a leading seaport of a member state of GCC were examined for appraising safety performance there. The recorded accidents during this year included: 270 accidents without injuries, 58 first-aid accidents and 138 work injuries (leading to absence off work) and 4 fatalities. The injury frequency rate there (3.41) is comparable with similar agencies, while the severity rate (725.2) is considerably higher. Collision of transport, lifting and material handling equipment represents the major type of work accident (58.9%), while the highest injury rates occurred in maintenance and operation of marine equipment, followed by loading and unloading, then housekeeping. Meanwhile, the rate of accidents showed considerable increase a--during summer months, b--during the peak months of the Gulf war followed by "re-export" of war equipment, c--in the middle days of the week, d--during the 4th and 8th hours of shift, with a sharp decrease during and after lunch hours, and e--among workers performing highly technical jobs; however decreased by gaining experience with the long duration of employment. Most of the accidents could be prevented by proper training of workers and appropriate supervision, since their cause was unsafe acts due to lack of attention and/or of supervision.