On the 8th July we held an extremely interactive and practical stakeholders’ workshop in a very sunny Nigeria.
The workshop’s fundamental aim was to facilitate open communication between regulatory agencies, academia and the manufacturing organisations, especially with regards to health and safety issues. The day started with a presentation that provided an overview of the Discovering Safety initiative and explained the overall objective of its projects. Participants attended from a wide range of organisations including Federal Ministry of Mines, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Federal Ministry of Health, University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology, Federal College of Education (Technical), Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Institute for Safety Professionals, Non-Governmental organisations and various departments within the host cement plant (LafargeHolcim, AshakaCem Works). The breadth of experience and insights from such a varied group of attendees prompted detailed and insightful discussions as delegates participated in focus group sessions. These considered pertinent topics such as: the current status of health and safety data within the industry; the possible barriers to sharing of health and safety data; and how some barriers could be improved moving forward. There was a positive and collaborative atmosphere throughout the workshop which led to effective sharing. The remainder of the week spent in Nigeria was dedicated to collecting data for assessing safety climate and culture whilst evaluating the level of awareness hazards within the industry through questionnaires.
The workshop has brought stakeholders together and therefore afforded each opportunity to share experience, carried a deep-down analysis and thus appreciated the various types and impacts of occupational risks.
TUKUR MOHAMMED LAWAL, Head of Corporate Affairs (LafargeHolcim Cement PLC, AshakaCem Works) and former Senior Vice President, Health & Safety for Sub-Saharan Africa (LafargeHolcim PLC)
The workshop was well-structured and delivered in the best ever presentation I attended. It has strengthened my hope for putting more concern & effort on health & safety in Nigerian factories and I am hopeful that the most crucial aspects of the puzzle will soon be solved through practical implementation methodologies.
ALIYU ABUBAKAR, Powerhouse Engineer (LafargeHolcim Cement PLC, AshakaCem Works)
If you would like to know more about the International insights in the cement industry project, please email discoveringsafety@hse.gov.uk. For more information on the work within the Discovering Safety programme please visit the ‘Our work’ page.
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