Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) said it has embarked on nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety, with stakeholder engagements currently taking place in Bauchi, Jos and Kaduna.
The programme, tagged “Programme on Safety Regulations, Policies and Standards,” is being organised by the Fund’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Department to raise awareness among employers on the importance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and strengthen capacity for safer workplaces across the country.
It said the engagements which is expected to end on today was designed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of OSH frameworks, challenges and opportunities in Nigeria, while promoting the integration of workplace safety into national development and organisational strategies.
According to a statement from NSITF signed by Head of Corporate Affairs, Alexandra Mede, the programme also seeks to build participants’ capacity to develop and implement effective OSH policies, encourage collaboration among stakeholders, expose employers to emerging safety technologies and innovations, and strengthen practical skills in risk prevention, incident investigation and safety leadership.
The statement said 85 employers were invited to each of the three locations, but attendance have surpassed expectations. It added that during the first phase of the campaign, held in Owerri, Port Harcourt and Lagos from August 11 to 14, more than 100 employers participated in each of the sessions.
The Fund said the initiative is aimed at shifting OSH from a mere compliance requirement to a core component of business strategy, while equipping employers with modern tools and technologies for preventing workplace incidents.
NSITF noted that the rise in workplace incidents and compensation claims in some sectors underscores the need to strengthen employers’ safety leadership, risk management and incident investigation capabilities.