Deputy governor lauds summit, canvasses workplace safety

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, has lauded the organizers of the Safety Summit Lagos 2018, stating that the forum was a necessary and strategic decision that would enhance the prospects of strengthening work-place safety policies and practices. She said the summit would bring exposure to many work place challenges and their solutions.

She noted that the summit provided an avenue for safety professionals, individuals, stakeholders and businesses to come together to develop a suitable and adaptable safety culture, risk management strategies and improved compliance techniques.
Speaking on the topic “The Importance of Safe and Healthy Workplace for Social Well Being and Economic Prosperity” at the summit in Lagos, Adebule affirmed its relevance and timeliness.

She said: “The summit provides the opportunity to re-strategise and develop fresh ideas through informative networking and defining learning experiences by industry experts, regulators, business leaders and safety advocates to present the blue print for sustainable safety policies in our societies particularly at work places and environments.

“According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), every day, people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases recorded at not less than 2.78 million deaths per year. Additionally, there are 374 million non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses each year, many of these resulting in extended absences from work.

“The human cost of this daily adversity is vast and the economic burden of poor occupational safety and health practices is estimated at 3.94 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product each year.

“Workplace safety programs evaluate and remove the risks and hazards relevant to the safety, well-being, and health of workers and other relevant individuals. Organizations should develop health and safety standards based on laws, regulatory requirements, organizational policies, and historical occurrences.”

Adebule called on various business organizations to comply with regulatory requirements and prevent high costs resulting from injuries and illnesses in order to maintain high levels of productivity and efficiency by creating a safe and healthy working environment.

She stated that the primary objective of regulators, managers and employees is to enhance and promote productivity and efficiency in all areas and functions, adding that parties cannot uphold efficiency and effectiveness in the absence of a safe workplace.

Also, the Project’s Lead, Safety Summit Lagos 2018, Fola Ademosu, said that the most essential resource in the inputs required by the economy, was at risk noting that ignorance, negligence, assumption and carelessness was resulting in human-resource fatalities and losses that had ripple effect on the economy.

She noted that the summit was aimed at bringing wholesome safety awareness and enlightenment to the spheres of workplaces and occupations. It is meant to be an avenue of learning and comparison of practices, while enabling participants to buy into regulations and policies, and if need be; re-channel these policies; to serve the people better.