Table 1 Top five priorities, data gaps and resource needs for the United Arab Emirates in occupational health and safety, Delphi exercise, 2009

1. Adequate occupational health and safety legislation

1. Absence of workplace injury reporting system

1. Government support and commitment for occupational health and safety

2. Availability of guidelines on health and safety

2. Lack of accurate health and safety statistics

2. National guidelines on industry-specific health and safety standards

3. A central government authority for developing occupational health strategy

3. Data on the extent and results of occupational health screening

3. Education and training for different groups of health and safety practitioners

4. Competency of occupational health professionals

4. Data on occupational diseases

4. A central health and safety resource

5. Prevention of work-related illness and injury

5. Information on occupational exposure assessment

5. A system for collecting occupational health and safety statistics