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By Akpan David, Calabar
The federal government has been called upon to ensure that organisations and firms comply with safety regulations in their work places for their workers.
This comes on the backdrops of incessant industrial accidents which have exposed many factory workers to bodily harms and injuries.
A former Secretary of American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Nigerian Chapter, Ifiokabasi
Udo, a health safety engineer spoke in Calabar when his organisation conducted safety training for about 100 personnel of an organisation.
He spoke on importance of enhancing Occupational Health, Safety and Environment standards in work places.
“For a strong, healthy and productive society we must ensure that the workforce remains fit. This means that federal government should collaborate with organisations to ensure that Occupational Health, Safety and Environment
Training is properly incorporated into organisational operations.”
He said such collaboration and enforcement by government will help in creating the much needed OHSE awareness in organisations and the society.
This way, he said the safety engineer believes that work place related accidents will reduce or eliminated.
He emphasised that it is the employers who must acquaint the employees before commencement of work about the hazards they might be exposed to in their occupation and train them on the preventive measures that must be taken to ensure health and safety at workplaces.
On the other hand, Udo also stressed that a worker is required to imbide the instructions from Occupational Health, Safety and Environment professionals in order to maintain health and safety at the workplaces.
“Inexperienced worker is not employed at any machine or in any process that can lead to cause bodily injury, unless he has been fully instructed regarding the dangers related to it and the precautions that should be taken into account.
“Workers should receive a sufficient training to work at the machine or in the process; or they work under adequate supervision by a person who has a thorough knowledge and experience of the machine or process.”
He said Section 23 of the Factories Act (Cap F1 LFN 2004) should be sufficiently enforced..
He commended the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star for regularly embarking on safety trainings. .
Speaking, head of that organisation’s Establishments, Ronke Aluko said the 3-day training for their managers and staff covered general Occupational Health Safety, effective communication and good customer aervice for effective service delivery.
She added that the objective was to create awareness and ensure compliance with safe work practices and procedures.
