1st October, 2015
The Lagos State Safety Commission has put stop-work-order on Hongxing Steel Company Limited to stop its operations over safety violations.
The order, according to a statement by Lola Jagunmolu, head of press/public relations unit of the commission, was placed on Wednesday, 30th September, 2015, when Director General, LSSC, Fouad Oki, and his team went on a fact finding tour following the recent report in The Punch newspapers about the death of Emeka Umoh a casual worker of the Company.
Speaking at the company’s premises in Amuwo Odofin, where a safety audit was conducted, Oki described the working conditions of the workers as deplorable, harsh and totally unacceptable, adding that there was very little safety measure put in place.
On his part Uche Eke, Public Relations Manager of the company said the seal order will serve as a wake up call to the management of in the area of putting proper safety measures in place while Jim, the Company’s Safety Officer, promised to step up in the area of Safety.
A member of staff who preferred to remain anonymous lamented that though the conditions are harsh, they subject themselves to the terrible conditions because they have no alternative job.
Emeka Umoh was killed by liquefied iron which spilled on his body in the company, sparking outrage after the report was published in the newspaper.