19th March, 2018
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government on Monday said it had declared zero tolerance for workplace tragedies in the state.
Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Hakeem Dickson, who said this at a news conference on ‘Vision Zero’ in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, said in recent time, there had been series of incidences, such as the LPG gas explosions, fire incidences, building collapse, workplace incidences, among others.
“It is in view of this that the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Safety Commission, deemed it urgent to declare Zero Tolerance for workplace incidents through various strategies one of which is ‘Lagos Vision Zero’ with the theme: “A Mindset Change towards Zero Harm,” he said.
Dickson said the Lagos Vision Zero was a transformational approach to prevention that interpreted the Tripod stand of Safety, Health, and Wellbeing at all levels at work, saying it was borne out of the need to reduce to the barest minimum, hazards, and risks in the workplace and ensure zero injury, accident, death and promote wellbeing and health.
“Vision zero was launched globally at the XXI (21st) World Safety Congress held in Singapore 2017 and it focuses on building capacities and raising awareness at all levels of work to cultivate a Positive Change Mindset that all injuries and ill health caused are preventable and a belief that Zero Harm is possible. Vision Zero will not be a destination but an on-going journey.
“Vision Zero is not about showmanship, marksmanship and definitely not about censorship but about leadership, ownership and partnership with all the stakeholders in Lagos State,” he said.
Dickson said the proposed conference was a three-day programme scheduled to hold between 26 and 28 June, 2018 at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, disclosing that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was expected to declare it open and sign a Safety Policy Document on safety at the workplace.
“Several Plenary sessions will hold with speakers presenting papers on various issues. At the end of the programme, it is expected that a workplace safety template will be developed for the State and by extension guarantee the wellbeing of all workers in Lagos State,” he said.
The DG added that the Commission had set up Committees to work on the seven golden rules approach to realize the zero harm in workplaces, which included leadership commitment, identifying hazards and creating mitigative measures, setting health and safety goals, ensuring a safety and health system, using safe and healthy technology, improving qualification and competence and invest in people.
“This is a clarion call for everybody to come on board and support Lagos State Government by keying into the vision so that we can reduce unsafe acts and promote wellbeing in the workplace,” he said.