Professional Bodies Partner OYRTMA on World Day For Safety & Health at Workplace, Calls For Establishment of Oyo State Safety Commission
The Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE) has marked in grand style the 2023 World Day for Safety and Health at Workplace in conjunction with the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority.
The event, which was held at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan was aimed at sensitizing relevant stakeholders particularly the government, employers, employees and the general public on the crucial need to bring afore issues of safety at workplace in a bid to preventing workplace injuries, illnesses, deaths as well as suffering and financial hardship these events might cause a worker in the course of executing his responsibilities.
Speaking during a symposium organized to mark the 2023 edition of the globally recognized event which had the theme: “A Safe and Healthy Working Environment as a fundamental Principle and Right at Work”, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers, Oyo State Chapter, Engr. Oladayo Olufemi Awodele MNSE, harped on the need for relevant stakeholders to enhance safety practices at their respective places of work. According to him, “the theme for this year’s event encourages and places a legal duty on employers to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employess and to ensure that employees and others are kept safe at all times”, Engr. Awodele said.
Speaking further, the Engr. Awodele called on the Oyo State Government to create the Oyo State Safety Commission in order to have an organized arm of the Government directly responsibility for general safety related issues among employees, organizations and even within government MDAs. In his words, “Establishement of the Oyo State Safety Commission is needed to build a society that values life through a change in unsafe behavioural attitude, increase life expectancy, national productivity and ultimately improve quality of life, reduce poverty, accidents and injuries, illnesses and disease, enhance conducive environment for investment and business continuity”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi Ph.D whilst delivering the keynote address at the event reemphasized the need for employers of labour as well as the employees to imbibe good safety culture and practices at all times, noting that it is a sure way to enhancing productivity, profit and national development. Speaking on behalf of the Executive Chairman, the General Manager OYRTMA, Mr. Adeoye K. Ayoade pointed out the essence of good organizational safety culture in tandem with recommendations of the United Nations through the International Labour Organization that prioritized values that are vital to persons’ social and economic lives.
