By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
National Chairman of the Nigeroian Institution of Safety Engineers, NISafetyE, Engr Akaninyene Ekong has called for a continuous collaborative approach on matters of safety for National Development while emphasizing the special competencies of Safety Engineers.
Ekong was speaking at the Workshop of the Draft Review and Validation of Nigeria Country Profile on Occupational Safety and Health, organized by the International Labour Organization and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.
The National Chairman who.led a team of Safety Engineers to the workshop further stated that the Approved Code of Practice for Construction Safety is the first technical document domesticated and issued as a guidance for Construction Operations in Nigeria
Ekong therefore invited all to the overview presentation of the Approved Code of Practice in Construction Safety at the International Safety Engineering Conference holding in Uyo from October 26-28 2023.
In her address at the conference, Minister of State,Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha said the FG remained passionate about the protection of the labour force and the revitalization of the economy for improved well-being of Nigerians hence this collaboration with ILO meant to develope a robust and comprehensive National Profile on Occupational Safety and Health.
Onyejiocha said the Profile would stimulate effective management of workplace Safety and Health in Nigeria and enhance economic growth of the nation, in line with Priority Three (3) of the Administration’s Development Agenda.
The Minister further said that the Nigerian Government has already ratified ILO convention 187 on Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health, which aims to promote a preventive safety and health culture at the national level.
This according to her has been an important step towards ensuring safe working environments nationwide through the activities of the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The Minister maintained that the review of the National Occupational Safety and Health Profile would ensure that the Occupational Safety and Health Management System is effective in preventing and mitigating the impact of workplace accidents, injuries, illnesses, dangerous occurrences, disasters and deaths.
Stakeholders at the workshop agreed that the workshop would identify new tools for effective Occupational Safety and Health Management through the review and validation of the 2016 Nigeria Country Profile on Occupational Safety and Health.
They however agreed that this would require a coordinated response whilst highlighting the roles and responsibilities of Stakeholders like the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE) and Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) thus encouraging inter-ministerial and inter-agency involvement in Occupational Safety and Health.
The framework also considered the Legislative Framework, Occupational Safety and Health Technical Standards such as Codes of Practice as issued by NISafetyE for Construction Safety, Process Safety and Food Safety.
