2 Million People Die From Occupational Hazards Yearly — Health Expert

Started by emezico, Nov 22, 2012, 09:16 PM

emezico

An Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) expert with the International Organisation of Employers in Geneva, Janet Asherson, has said that not less than two million people lose their lives annually from accidents occurring in workplaces around the world.

She disclosed this in her keynote address titled "Towards an Accident-free Workplace" at a national workplace safety awareness programme organised by NECA in Lagos.

Asherson traced most workplace accidents to organisational, technological and mechanical faults, ignorance and negligence and pointed out that such accidents could be prevented or reduced to the minimum if precautions and safety measures were put in place thereby reducing huge annual losses to national economy.

In a related development, The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) awarded employers who are Occupational Health and Safety compliant with ambulances and other safety materials.

The companies who received ambulances for exceptional safety culture were Guinness Nigeria Plc, Nestle, Unilever and Nigeria Breweries Plc.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of NECA, Chief Richard Uche, explained that 30 companies in Lagos and Ogun States were invited to participate in the pilot OSH compliance audit among which few were chosen.

"We encourage and reward compliance with safety standards at the workplace with ambulances, infrastructure to enhance safety compliance in companies that fell short of the mark", he said.