TODAY IS WORLD DAY OF SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK PLACE

Statistical records indicate that most work places in Nigeria lack basic facilities that can enhance efficiency of Labour and productivity especially social amenities and safety equipment such as helmet, safety boots, fire extinguisher, laboratory coat among others. It is observed that some civil servants in the private and public sectors do not adhere to safety and health precautions even when they are available.

Against this backdrop, the International Labour Organization, ILO, sets aside April twenty eight every year to sensitize the global community on the need to maintain safety and health for the well being of workers. Speaking on the significance of the event, the Director, Environmental Health, Ministry of Health Enugu State,  Doctor Rita Ojide said unavailability of Occupational Safety and Health, OSH facilities was one of the major causes of industrial hazards in work places.

Doctor  Ojide who observed that occupational safety and Health data were scarce in all sectors of the economy noted that it was not conducive for employees to perform optimally. Doctor Ojide who emphasized the need for intensive sensitization of civil servants on the importance of utilizing safety and Health facilities provided in work places, said the safety and Health of workers should be the paramount concern of government.

Contributing on the matter, the Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, Enugu State Council, Comrade VirginusNwobodo urged government to make budgetary allocation for safety and health equipment to enable foreigners employed by Nigerians to feel safe working in the country. The theme of this year’s World Day of Safety and Health at Work Place is “epitomize the collection and use of OSH data”.

EVELYN AWUNOR