Sanwo-Olu tasks organisations, citizens on occupational safety

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has tasked citizens and organisations operating in the state to prioritise workplace safety in order to curb increasing cases of occupational accidents and deaths.

Sanwo-Olu made the call, Thursday, in his keynote address at the 2022 Lagos State occupational safety and health conference with the theme, “Let’s act together to build a positive safety and health culture.”

He said the annual global event was important to raise awareness and promote the entrenchment of safe practices in workplaces and ensure employers of labour take seriously the health and safety of their employees.

Represented by the secretary to the state government, Folashade Sherifat Jaji, the governor said, “In Lagos, for several years now, we have consistently taken into consideration our population strength and this has greatly influenced most of our policies and initiatives especially as it comes to job creation, employee, employer relationship as well as workplace safety.

“Lagos is the economic capital of Nigeria and by implication; our state has more companies, businesses and employers than other states. This means that we cannot afford to joke with or take lightly the safety of the workplace and the health of employees as doing this will have a detrimental implication on the individuals, families and the entire Lagos populace. Globally, a lot of Injuries and accidents happen in workplaces and I believe this is what has increased the concern and demand for workplace safety and health.’’

Sanwo-Olu said it was important for people to have a sense of security and assurance that whenever they leave their houses for their offices and places of work, they will return home safely to their families.’’

The director-general. Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, on his part, said the Lagos State government has consistently demonstrated commitment to the safety and wellbeing of workers by providing the necessary funds and support to ensure that the Commission joins the rest of the world in marking the event.

Mojola noted that the vision of creating a safe and healthy work environment in Lagos could only be achieved through effective dialogue and active participation in the development, formulation, and revision of occupational safety and health frameworks, policies and strategies.

“It is only when stakeholders are carried along in the development of safety management systems that they can effectively connect with such policy documents. This is why the Lagos State Safety Commission has been at the forefront of constructively engaging ministries, departments, agencies, professional bodies and other non-governmental organisations to ensure that a culture of safety is created across Lagos.

“Earlier in the year, we flagged off the “Zero Accident ‘’Campaign” for Y2022 and have since commenced active sensitisation and advocacy to Lagos residents on basic safety practices that will prevent injuries, accidents and fatalities,” the DG added.

To guarantee a safer environment for effective teaching and learning in the state, Mojola said the commission in conjunction with the ministry of special duties and inter-governmental relations as well as other stakeholders inaugurated the Safe Schools Lagos (SSLAG) Initiative.