Labour minister seeks safety of construction workers
NAN-H-91
Employee
By Bukola Adewumi
Abuja, Oct. 12, 2017(NAN) Prof Stephen Ocheni, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment has called for good industrial relations and robust employees welfare to ensure safety of construction workers in the country.
The minister, who was represented by Mr Babatunde Ogunmoko, Deputy Director, Occupational Safety Health, made the call at the dialogue on occupational safety and health in the construction sector on Thursday in Abuja.
The event was organised by the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) with the theme: “Staying safe in the construction industry in Nigeria.”
He called on stakeholders to bring into focus the importance of good industrial relations and robust employees welfare for the development of occupational safety in the sector.
He said that the construction industry was acclaimed to be one of the most hazardous sector of any economy, with numerous labour intensive activities carried out under varied environmental condition.
“The risks are high and so also fatality rate, staying safe in construction requires the commitment of all stakeholders,” he said.
He said that the need for specific regulations to guide easy compliance and provide access to best practice for high occupation safety and health performance is very urgent.
This, he added, was in view of the failures and accidents recorded in the construction sector in the recent past.
Mr Danis Zuru, Country Director, International Labour Organisation (ILO), said that the protection of construction workers was imperative to the existence of ILO.
He said that construction industry remained a sector that must be given due attention if the country must mitigate accidents in the sector.
According to him, over the years, the ILO in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment has been working towards the promotion of safe work environment in Nigeria through various initiative.
He said that preventing accidents and diseases and harmful effects on the health of workers arising from employment in construction was at the heart of ILO decent work agenda.
Mrs Joanna Maduka, President , Nigerians Academy of Engendering, Chairman of the occasion, who was represented by Mr Emeka Eze decried the rate of accidents at construction sites in the country.
She said that some engineers were suspended under her leadership for engaging in sharp practices.
She warned those in the habit of wearing sleepers to construction sites, adding that many accident had been recorded at construction sites as a result of wrong acts and sharp practices.(NAN)
BOL/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide