What counts as grave danger at work under UAE labour law?
Article 26 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 lists seven: a possible ignition source, live wires that can shock or kill, hazardous chemicals that cause disease, unusual temperatures that burn, noise that permanently damages hearing, radiation that causes cancer or blindness, and biological hazards. A worker may leave without notice if the employer knows and does nothing.
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The worker's right
Article 45 of the labour law lets a worker quit without notice, keeping all end-of-service rights, where there is grave danger at the workplace that the employer knows of and takes no action to remove.
Construction hazards that match the list
Hot works near flammables, exposed live cables on temporary power, solvents and curing compounds without controls, and prolonged noise from breakers and piling without hearing protection all fall within the regulation's categories.
How SupaJack Construct helps
Inspection records with dates and attached documents sit with each project, so a contractor can show when a hazard was recorded and when it was closed.
Related tools and guides
See the UAE labour law guide for contractors, the final settlement calculator, the gratuity calculator, the annual leave calculator, the unpaid leave deduction calculator, payroll and WPS in SupaJack Construct, time and attendance and the meaning of basic salary.
Worked example
A worker reports exposed live cables on a temporary distribution board. The site manager knows and leaves it for a week. Under Article 45 and Article 26 the worker may leave without notice and keep his gratuity.
Questions people ask
Is heat a listed hazard?
The list covers unusual temperatures that cause burns.
Must the employer know of the danger?
Yes, and fail to take action to remove it.
Does the worker lose gratuity?
No.