The Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, has reiterated that the commissions policies aim to protect workers and drive sustainable development goals.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday for the upcoming Lagos Sustainability Summit, Mojola highlighted the Commission’s ongoing efforts to protect lives and properties, aligning with global safety standards and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Sustainability also includes creating a safe and healthy workplace,” Mojola stated. “Our promise is that every worker that leaves their house can go back safely without the fear of injuries, diseases, and death. Our mandate at the Safety Commission is to ensure the protection of lives and properties.”
Mojola emphasised that the Commission’s efforts are guided by three specific SDGs. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
To achieve these objectives, the Commission uses a comprehensive framework called the 4Es; Evaluation, Education, Engagement, and Enforcement.
He explained, “Evaluation involves assessing risks, identifying potential dangers, and nipping them in the bud before they become hazardous.
“ Education and training are essential, and we offer two key programs: ‘Working Safely,’ which is targeted at operational staff, and ‘Managing Safely,’ which speaks to management. Every single establishment needs to have a safe system of working, properly documented with a safety policy to ensure that they can imbibe the culture of safety and reduce accidents as much as possible.”
Mojola also discussed the importance of engagement in promoting workplace safety, noting that the Commission adopts a bottom-up approach. “We carry out engagement at all levels, from the bottom to top. We start our engagement at the community level, the informal level, where we talk to market women, bus drivers, artisans on construction sites, and those in the food safety and event sectors.”
However, he acknowledged that not everyone readily accepts these safety measures, making enforcement a crucial component of the Commission’s strategy. “Enforcement is important because despite all the warnings and training, there are some who do not want to change their attitudes. These are some of the things we do at the Lagos Safety Commission to ensure that Lagos is in line with other big cities.”
Lagos, according to Mojola, is leading the way in safety within sub-Saharan Africa, having been the first state in the region to establish a safety commission in order to protect lives.
He further elaborated on the Commission’s collaboration with various agencies such as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to enhance community-level safety. “ Our initiative goes beyond the Safety Commission, involving agencies like LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, and others. They have a team of people in every community that, every time an emergency occurs, are out there to support the emergency responders.”
Mojola concluded by highlighting the training programs provided to these community safety responders, emphasising their importance in emergency management. “From the Safety Commission, a number of these community safety responders have been trained in CPR and emergency management. This is what we are doing at the moment, and we will continue to build on it to ensure that Lagos remains a safe place for all.”
NANCY MBAMALU
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