Pass Occupational Health, Safety Bill Into Law, 10th NASS Tasked

The Society of Occupational and Environmental Health Physicians of Nigeria (SOEHPON) has tasked the in-coming 10th National Assembly to urgently pass the Occupational Health and Safety Bill into an Act, for the benefits of every Nigerian workers.

In 2022, the over 3.3 billion persons in employment contributed an estimated 2.1 per cent of all global deaths and 2.7 per cent of global disease burden as a result of risks in the workplace. Sadly, a significant portion of deaths and disabilities from the workplace affect workers in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria.

The president, SOEHPON, Dr Musa Shaibu, who made the call, during a road walk, organized by the Society, to commemorates the 2023 Workers‘ Day and World Day for Safety and Health at Work, said studies have shown that unsafe and unhealthy work environment, characterized by non-existent or poorly defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), poor workstation, long working hours, high work burden and work stresses are associated with high prevalence of accidents and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Obesity, among others.

Shaibu said the Bill is one of the appropriate laws that support and facilitate delivery of occupational health and safety, which is the right of all workers, while drawing the attention of the in-coming 10th National Assembly to take a look at the bill which needs to be passed into an Act of the National Assembly for the benefits of every Nigerian.

Established in 1978,  the president averred that SOEHPON has been in the forefront of advocacy for the health and safety of Nigerian workers through various enlightenment programmes, in-country capacity building among young practitioners, conferences, walk-through survey visits to workplaces and road walk. 

“We therefore, strongly recommend to the leadership of all organisations, to emplace adequate systems, supported with unequivocal management commitment to promote and protect the health and safety of their workers. Any declaration of commitment without these systems in place can only be described as lip service. Workers‘ Unions should enlighten and re-align their membership to fully exploit occupational health programmes and facilities in their various work locations for the sake of their own safety, health and well-being.

“As for workers, they should realize that only personal total compliance with corporate occupational health and safety procedures guidelines will ensure their safety and health at Work. I also appeal to the executive arm of governments at various levels to ensure strict application of relevant laws on workers health and safety. Regulators of such laws must be properly trained and empowered to ensue effectiveness,“ he advised.

In her remarks, the director, corporate services, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Juliet okoro, reiterated that safety should come first at the workplace, hence the reason the oil and gas industry has prioritized the safety of their workers by putting all the necessary structures and equipment in place. „I am using this medium to appeal to organizations to ensure that their workplace is safe for their staff, as it is a sure way to boosting productivity,“ she appealed.