ISPON president urges organisations to priotise safety at workplace

Timothy Iwuagwu
The President of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Timothy Iwuagwu, an engineer, has urged employers of labour in the country to prioritise safety in the workplace, adding that a significant number of organisations do not have dedicated safety officers.

Speaking at the Institute’s headquarters in Lagos, Iwuagwu expressed worries that this lack of attention to safety oversight could lead to an increase in workplace accidents and injuries, which could have been prevented with proper safety measures.

He said a robust safety system should be a priority for all organisations, particularly those in high-risk industries.

Iwuagwu stated that part of the reason for the media briefing was to enlighten the public on what was going on and what the Institute was doing to check the activities of fraudsters.

“The institute is having a running battle with some criminal elements. We are here to tell the public the consequences and the negative effects of those practices quacks engage in.

“Some expelled members are still parading themselves as members of ISPON in disobedience to court judgments that specifically mentioned their names and asked them to desist, but they have continued parading themselves.

He said: “ISPON is Nigeria’s focal point for safety standards and regulations. It is the only organisation recognised by the laws of the country to regulate the practice of the safety profession, as empowered by the ISPON Act 2014.

“The mandates of the Institute, among other things, include regulating the practice of safety management, setting relevant safety standards, registering persons and organisations that wish to practice safety professionals and maintaining the Register of safety professionals in the country.”

The ISPON President also issued a strong warning to the public regarding the growing activities of suspected criminal elements, who use the Institute’s name and logo to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

He said: “The Institute is meant to collaborate with relevant agencies of government to regulate safety management in Nigeria. So many companies in Nigeria do not have safety officers. So many companies in Nigeria do not have safety departments.

“So many individuals in Nigeria do not even understand that it is compulsory by the provisions of the law that somebody who must work in a safety department of a company must be registered as a safety professional by the ISPON.

“These are legal issues. Now some persons have tried to get jobs as safety professionals by forging safety certificates and presenting them to employers. We have been in the public media space sensitising Nigerians, warning organisations, advising groups, and telling them to always verify any certificate that comes to them bearing our name.”

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