Lagos State Government is set to partner the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the United Kingdom on workplace safety.

Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Hakeem Dickson said this at a 2-day training on ‘Knowledge Transfer and Workplace Safety’ organised by the Commission for members of staff at Alausa, Ikeja.

Dickson said the institute was partnering with government to train five hundred thousand people on safety and health in the workplace, saying safety measures must be put in place by organisations and failure to comply would attract sanctions.

He said his intention was to leave a sustainable legacy, to promote positive enlightenment and capacity to ensure right competency to push health and safety to where we want it to be within the State.

According to him, “Our aim is to develop safety consciousness in all sector to save lives and properties; while our intention is moving the agency from its embryonic level to a more matured level. Hence, we are collaborating with IOSH to bridge the gap ”.

Head of Global Engagement and Partnership, Alan Stevens remarked that Lagos partnership with IOSH was the largest body on Health and Safety in the world that has a clear strategy through 2022 and beyond, which is focused on collaboration to enhance and influence professionals globally.

“We are keen to share best practice so everyone goes home safely. We are here also because we respect and admire the vision and determination of Hon. Hakeem Dickson and the Lagos State Safety Commission and we are determined to support in every way possible to ensure that the vision becomes reality”, he said.

Head of Service, spoke through Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Samson Ajibade, while welcoming the IOSH delegates, stated that safety is a global phenomenon that should be taken seriously and also decried the rate at which industries neglect safety in the workplace which often leads to loss of lives or permanent disability.

He urged IOSH to extend the training beyond Lagos and across sectors, adding that safety and security of lives and properties is one of the mandates of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.