NSITF applauds ILO’s recognition of safe, healthy work environment

In commemoration of this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for acknowledging the right to a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.

With the theme, ‘A Safe and Health Working Environment, a Fundament Right’, the Fund said it was a facelift that has tremendous benefit for the millions of workers, who face dangerous and unhealthy working conditions.

NSITF Branch Manager, Mainland, Omotosho Eyitayo, said this when members of the Fund embarked on a roadshow to sensitise and educate the general public on the need to ensure safety in their workplaces, in commemoration of the World Day of Safety and Health at Workplace, marked every on April 28.

While re-affirming workers’ human right to a safe and healthy workplace, she stressed the need to further strengthen the ability of civil society organisations and government institutions to ensure they operate a safe and healthy work environment.

According to her, a safe and healthy workplace protects workers from injury and illness, as well as raises employees’ morale and increase productivity and quality.

Quoting ILO estimate that globally, over 2.3 million men and women die yearly due to work-related accidents and diseases, while tens of millions more experience injury or illness on the job, Eyitayo, said no worker should ever risk their safety and health for a pay check.

“Most organisations are too careless when it comes to safety, it is only when things happen we begin to run helter-skelter. Let it be part of our policy and culture to put necessary measures in place.

“Today’s awareness campaign is to avoid hazards at the workplace. Employers should put it as part of their work environment culture. It is better to prevent rather than come for compensation. We aim to achieve zero accidents at the workplace,” she said.