The National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria, has called on the federal government and organisations to prioritise the safety of Nigerian workers by putting in place policies that support safety and health at work places.

The Council asked the federal government to prioritise the industrial safety of Nigerian workers, as safety is not just a responsibility of a few, but a collective duty that falls upon every individual, every organisation and every sector.

Its plea became imperative as part of prevention and regulations of industrial accidents, hazards and the promotion of occupational health and welfare in industrial establishments across all sectors in Nigeria.

According to its National President, Festus Daniel, the government should take pro-active steps towards achieving a safer and healthier working environment in Nigeria, through National programs, legislations, legislative reviews and collective agreements on Occupational Safety and Health.

In his words, the validation and subsequent implementation of the regulations, occupational accidents would be reduced to the barest minimum thereby making the work environment safer for all categories of workers.

Regulations, Daniel added would serve as a benchmark for organisations in both formal and informal sectors of the economy, saying the council provide Operational safety mandates in occupational safety and health protection of workers, in the development and delivery of occupational safety and health to the national work force.

Daniel said joining forces with the federal government can pave the way for a safer Nigeria, where lives are protected, risks are mitigated and sustainable development thrives.

He stressed that the Council was working assiduously to harmonise the operations and regulations of industrial health and safety in the country.

“Following the confusion in the operation and regulation of industrial health and safety in Nigeria, the Council has reached out to international bodies to help harmonise the operations and regulations of industrial health and safety in Nigeria.

“The result of this effort is the accreditation of the Council by the American Council of training and development (ACTD) and GreenSafe Singapore.

“The ACTD is one of the best known American accreditation bodies that deliver a wide range of accreditation services for institutions, trainers, and all education and training service providers,” he said.

He noted that the benefits of the accreditation were numerous, adding that it would help build capacity for effective delivery of the NISCN’s mandate.

He explained that the accreditation had accorded NISCN the credibility to attract other international partners such as GreenSafe International Singapore.

“GreenSafe International Singapore is a consulting, training, auditing, and outsourcing organisation committed to building capacity that will enhance the designing of framework for development of standards in the industry.

“Further to this, the outcome of this collaboration shall be amongst others, developing capacity for development of industry standards as well as Technical operational support, to mention a few,” he said.

Daniel said this at the end of a three-day 2023 Nigeria Safety Conference and Workshop in Lagos themed “Artificial Intelligence a Modern Tool for Tracking Health and Safety Culture in Workplaces”.

He said the conference focused on the application of modern tools for workplace health and safety, strategic approach at national and enterprise levels with an in-depth guide on the operation and regulation of industrial health and safety.

Council National Officer, Lagos and Southwest, Mogbojuri Taiwo attributed most of the petroleum products tanker road mishap and building collapse to professional neglect and dearth of regulatory and enforcement policy.

Taiwo said safeguarding and promoting the Safety, health and wellbeing of workers in their various workplaces, with a view to preventing the occurrence of work-related illnesses, injuries and/or death and the reduction of damage to property, thereby improving.

Some of the partners and sponsors of the conference include; Qantum Computing, Malaysia, Sam Smart Maintenance, 360°Qantum, Nestle, Zenith, Hi Tech Construction, AIPEC Oil and Gas and Energy Equity Resources.

Others are; Emsee Shipping, Omoshola Samuel, ETPM Energy Nig. Ltd, Nestle Nig. Plc, Swift Oil & Gas, Greensafe international Pte Ltd Singapore.