ABUJA, Nigeria – Mediaage NG News – The regional president of the Occupational Safety and Health Association, Nigeria, Dr. Amb. Olusegun Aderemi on Thursday in Abuja, said leadership commitment is vital in driving a culture of safety in organizations.
At the event themed ‘Accelerating Safety and Health Management System To Improve Productivity In Workplaces‘, he also said employee engagement is crucial to the success of any safety and health management system.
“Leaders must lead by example and demonstrate unwavering commitment to safety and health. They must allocate the necessary resources, establish clear policies and provide adequate training and support to their employees. It is through their commitment and actions that a safety conscious culture can be fostered, he said at the 13th International Safety Conference and Awards, 2023.
“Workers must be actively involved in identifying hazards, suggesting improvements and participating in safety programs.
“Their inputs and feedbacks are invaluable in developing effective policies and procedures. When employees feel valued and empowered, they become proactive safety ambassadors, creating a safer working environment for everyone”, the royal chief added.
Dr. Aliyu, the Country, Regional Administrator of OSHA said the association is an international organisation registered in England and Wales, dedicated to ensuring safety and health in the land, sea, air and the general environment.
Representing the Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Adeleke, Ijeoma Idika, APD, said adhering to safety and health procedures is highly relevant in today’s world. He said mining poses risks to workers, therefore, it is imperative to ensure that workers’ safety is paramount.
“It’s my responsibility to ensure that mineral resources are extracted safely. Feeling safe ensures that workers work well and efficiently because they are certain that their safety is ensured.
“Technology is not enough, all stakeholders must work together to ensure safety across all working environments, ensuring that workers are protected”, he said.
Els Willems from the OSHAssociation UK while speaking virtually, said applying patterns of improving safety to enhance productivity cannot be underestimated. She described it as “a goal”. She added that to get to a goal, steps need to be mapped out and to ensure safety systems are accelerated, there must be a nicer environment to stimulate greater productivity at workplaces.
Habiba Abdulrahman, representing the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, said progress comes with responsibility to ensure safety across workplaces and when workers feel safe, it engineers commitment and trust.
“It involves promoting a mindset that prioritizes safety of people and the environment. A safe and healthy environment improves workers’ morale. Organisations must organise workshops for safety of employees, matched with Best International Standards”, he said.
The Minister of Sports, John Enoh, represented by his Special Assistant on Policy Matters, Kabiru Yusuf said it’s a positive thought to create awareness of safety needs of sports athletes, therefore, more efforts are to employed by utilising technology that can aid in minimising risks and improving safety at sports places.
“Many sports associations have established medical committees to ensure safety of athletes, workers and officials. It’s a commitment to ensure safety”, he stated.
Dr. Dalhatu Ahmed, the Chairman, Occupational Safety and Health Association’s Council of Fellows, said significance of safety aims to make an impact on “our consciousness of safety to improve lives”.
“If you are not safe, you have nothing to talk about”, he added.
Amb. Zaccheus from the FCT Fire Service revealed that employees and employers have roles to playing accelerating safety at workplaces for productivity. While revealing that event was a deliberate and strategic investment in ensuring safety, he said commitment to it is a fundamental aspect that propels the way forward where employees can work confidently. He gave an emergency number for the FCT Fire Service as 092906118.