Today is World Day for Safety and Health at Work, an annual international campaign to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is held every year on 28th April, and has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003. It is an awareness raising campaign on the adoption of safe practices in workplaces and the role that occupational safety and health services play in reducing the number of work-related deaths and injuries.
The world is currently battling with the second and third waves of the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed over 3 million lives with over one hundred and forty-eight million cases in about 210 countries and territories around the world.
Since emerging as a global crisis in early 2020, COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts everywhere. The pandemic has touched nearly every aspect of the world of work; from the risk of transmission of the virus in workplaces, to occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Shifts to new forms of working arrangements, such as the widespread reliance on teleworking, have presented many opportunities for workers but also potential OSH risks.
The theme for this years’ World Safety Day at Work is: “Anticipate, Prepare and Respond to Crises – Invest Now in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Systems”. It focuses on strategies to strengthen occupational safety and health systems to build resilience, in order to face crises now and in future.
In the light of this, the Nigeria Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE), Anambra state chapter, a division of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), expresses its profound gratitude to the Governor of Anambra state, Chief. Dr. Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano (Akpokuodike global) for creating and investing in resilient occupational safety and health systems in Anambra state.
This, he did, by providing health and safety public enlightenment campaign, world class preventive care centres, personal protection equipment (PPE), sanitizers etcetera to health workers and the public in mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
NISafetyE, Anambra state chapter, joins hands with Anambra state government in championing resilient occupational safety and health systems at workplaces, both in the public and private sectors, to safeguard lives and livelihoods. NISafetyE advocates adherence to the Anambra state government health and safety measures in the fight against COVID-19, which include:- washing hands frequently with soap and running water; observing physical distancing; practicing and maintaining proper hygiene
People should equally avoid contact salutation. They must ensure proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE) for those still on essential work as well as wearing of mask, and obeying government’s directives.
Safety still remains the bedrock of engineering.
Long live NISafetyE Anambra state chapter
Long live Anambra state government.
Long live Nigeria.
WRITTEN BY ENGR. OBUM EZEANI