Safety, Key to Tackling Emerging Global Threats – OSHAssociation

-By Kenny Folarin

The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHAssociation) has reiterated the need for qualitative safety measures in combating emerging global threats in Nigeria.

The Regional President of the Association, UK-Nigeria Region, Dr. Dalhatu Mohammed while speaking at the 9th International Safety Conference and Awards 2019 in Abuja over the weekend stated that technological advancement has its advantages and disadvantages in view of the impact of globalization.

According to Dr. Mohammed, global threats abound such as climate change, technological advancement, hence an urgent need for safety measures towards ensuring safety at homes and workplaces.

Dr. Mohammed however decried the rate of safety consciousness of Nigerians which is abysmally low.

“To be candid, the safety consciousness of our people is very low but with the coming of experts and professionals we have embarked on safety awareness to widen the scope of Nigerians and the need for safety always, which is aimed at reducing the rate of accidents and hazards in our environment,” he stressed further.

He pointed out that there is need for a holistic approach to tackle some of the challenges, adding that “it is very important that we increasingly become more aware as Nigerians through the activities of safety outfit like ours.”

Also speaking, the President, OSHA-Ghana Region, Mr. Thomas Agunate said a lot of people are dying because of safety carelessness, not going according to safety regulations.

Mr. Thomas added that in Africa today, the rate of crashes are very high and people die daily due to carelessness and lip service to safety measures.

While speaking on oil and gas exploration at the event, Prof. Rabiu Magaji of the Department of Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria noted that one of the problems of occupational safety is lack of existing policies and enforcement.

He lamented that after oil exploration, the environment should be brought back to its former state but such is lacking in Nigeria.

He thereby called for incorporation of professionals whenever the government wants to formulate policies and also ensure that such policies and laws are enforced.