Membership | Occupational Safety & Health Association

5Dec2022

STAKEHOLDERS SET TO PARTNER TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT WORKPLACES DURING THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL SAFETY CONFERENCE

Stakeholders from diverse sectors including the public and private sectors have expressed their concern about the safety of lives at workplaces and have resolved to establish partnerships to improve the safety of lives at work.

The stakeholders resolved to among others establish potent partnerships to stunt the astronomic rate of fatalities, accidents, and incidents, especially in the nation’s workplaces which according to them is a key strategy to revamp the nation and its economy as far as health and safety are concerned.

The Stakeholders rolled out this resolution during the 12th International Safety Conference and awards which was held recently at the Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mabushi, Abuja.

Declaring the Event open, the Conference Committee Chairman Engr, Christian Oyinbo FOSHA noted that Security, Saving lives, and promoting safety everywhere is everybody’s business.

“In Health and Safety, the slogan safety is the responsibility of all, simply means that we are all parties working together for mutual benefits and it can only be if every one of us plays his/her role then we can generate health and safety and make the partnership to work,” he said.

Similarly, The Minister of State for Works Housing, Hon. Umar I. El-Yakub speaking on the theme of the event: “A Partnership that Works: The Role of Stakeholders Towards Safety of Lives at Work” emphasized that everyone must get involved to promulgate safety across the board.

Expressing his delight with the advocacy strides of the Occupational Safety and Health Association, The Works Minister noted that Nigeria has significantly improved in terms of Health and Safety Compliance because of the Unrelenting and ever-flaming drive of the OSHAssociation towards its mandate of stunting fatalities, acceding and incident across the board and called on stakeholders to key into the safety drive and salvage the country from the narrative of being among the least in terms of health and safety compliance.

The Regional President of OSHAssociation Nigeria Region, HRH, Dr Amb, Olusegun Aderemi, FOSHA, implored everyone to remain steadfast because “it is our prime responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety around you and your environment; in order words, the role of stakeholders towards the safety of lives at work or home should be a shared responsibility, where we all need to cooperate to advance our mutual interests.”

“This shared responsibility that I mentioned earlier implies that the issue of safety should be a pre-condition and take dominance in the course of designing every policy, and operational procedure at workplaces. If we all play our roles responsibly with passion and commitment the theme of this 12th International Safety Conference would have achieved a very positive outcome.

In a lecture at the event, Prof George A Genyi , FOSHA, averred that safety is a matter of life and death revealing that many deaths recorded in Nigeria occur as a result of negligence to safety tenets in his paper titled: The Need for Partnership for All.

Also unveiled at the event was the OSHAssociation UK Safety Anthem which was composed and Sung by Dr A C Madu FOSHA, The Imo State Chapter Chairman of the Association. Kids Safety Presentation and Unveiling of Amanda the Smart Safety Girl by Zara Uwalaka was yet another exciting moment at the conference as everyone was thrilled and mesmerized by the presentation of the lad.

The high point of the event was the investiture of some key stakeholders as Fellows of the OSHA-UK – Nigeria (FOSHA) and the induction of scores as members (MOSHA) all of whom have distinguished themselves by being safety ambassadors across their respective areas of influence

Similarly, the event was used to decorate some notable individuals with a merit Award of safety excellence on the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Hon. Umar I. El-Yakub, the Honourable Minister of Environment, Barr. Abdullahi Mohammed, Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi rtd. as well as the Honourable Minister of State for FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijani Aliyu.

Meanwhile, the Etsu Nupe. His Royal Majesty Dr Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar GCFR was decorated with the star award of Grand Patron of the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), United Kingdom, Nigeria Region. The chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers joins the league of eminent but few Nigerians to be so decorated in that cadre, among who is the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Saad Abubakar, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, among others.

OSHAssociation has never relented in advocating for safety best practices in the nation, to this effect, Association has rolled out several campaign programs such as Conferences, workshops, and training programs among others across the nation through its chapters all in a bid to consciencetize the citizenry on the need and benefits of safety compliance in workplaces as well as across the board.

– Alanza Giwa
Safety View Media, Abuja.

17Nov2022

oshanigeria Membership, News Leave a comment

“WE ARE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING SAFETY STANDARDS AT THE AIRPORTS” SAYS FAAN MD AS HE BAGS OSHAssociation UK FELLOWSHIP

The Managing Director/CEO, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu FOSHA has expressed his delight in the strides archived by FAAN, particularly in terms of Health and Safety best practices, and has declared the Authority’s intent to constantly review and upgrade its safety protocols to ensure that Nigerian airports are safe for flights operation and safe for passengers.

The FAAN Boss stated this in Abuja, during his conferment of OSHAssociation UK fellowship and Inauguration of the Authority as Cooperate Member of OSHAssociation where he attested that FAAN is working in line with the Mandate recently rolled out by the Federal Government to not just Improve the Safety Standards for flights operation but also to make Nigerian Airports safe for passengers as well as airport officials.

Expressing his delight for the honour bestowed on him by the Association, Capt. Yadudu FOSHA expressed his excitement on the fellowship conferment alongside the Cooperate Membership Inauguration adding that is not just an addition of yet another feather to his hat and that of the Authority, but a crystal indication that FAAN is indeed improving and growing across the board as the Authority’s strides is being recognized internationally.

“ I must confess that this is not just an honour to FAAN and Me, but a crystal indication that the unrelenting passion and drive of this Agency to see that Nigerian Airports are not just standardized but also improved with the view of ensuring safe operations as well as the safety of the lives of Passengers and officers.
“This recognition by OSHAssociation UK speaks volumes of our strides and proves beyond doubt h that we are forward and onward” he noted

Capt. Yadudu further explained that the fellowship and Corporate Membership will spur FAAN to do more in safety. “We want to assure you that we are committed to safety” the FAAN MD told the Association. I was also a safety officer and safety manager so I have been a safety person. Our industry is entirely about safety. Every day, there are over 10, 000 flights all over the world, but we go on for months without crashes. This speaks to the safety protocols of the industry. There is a lot that goes into making an aircraft fly safely” he explained.

“If we don’t pay attention to safety, we can’t survive in this industry. But we will keep on making more efforts to operate more safely” he noted.

He also promised the Association that FAAN will review the safety recommendations

“We will review your safety recommendations with our regulations and implement them based on our regulatory parameters,” he told the association.

Also speaking at the event, Regional President, Occupational Safety and Health UK, Nigeria. HRH, Dr. Olusegun Aderemi, while decorating the FAAN MD disclosed the intent of the Association to take the partnership to the next level given the critical role of FAAN in providing safe and essential services to aviation operators and users.

He also requested to help FAAN achieve its safety mandate by providing safety awareness, safety signages, safety trainings for various departments of FAAN, and more as this will go a long way in not just ensuring that passengers and officers are safe in Nigerian Airports but that the Narrative of Nigeria being one of the least in terms of Health and Safety compliance, especially in workplaces is reversed.

The FAAN inauguration and Fellowship conferment which had the theme: “Aviation Safety: Key for Development and Sustainability” is one of the Association’s unrelenting resolutions to see that the gospel of safety is spread across the board. At the same time, OSHAssociation understands and is working acidulously to get all stakeholders Captains of Industries, Heads of Departments, and the like get involved in the issues of OSH as this will ensure that they are not just Safety aware but are passionately driven towards changing the current narrative through proper policy formations and deliberations for the betterment of officers within their jurisdiction as the Nation at large.

12Oct2022

oshanigeria Chapters, Education, Inductees, Membership, News Leave a comment

IMO: THE RECTOR FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE DECORATED AS OSHAssociation GRAND PATRON, PLEDGES TO ENFORCE QHSE IN CURRICULAR

The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, has expressed concerned over the employability of its students in terms of basic Occupational Safety and Health Knowledge and has directed all Departments within the institution to enforce Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) training in their curricular.

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Engr. Dr. Michael Arimanwa FNSE, FOSHA, JP, gave the directive during the 2022 Imo State Specialised Health, Safety and Environment Programme held recently at the 1000 Capacity Auditorium, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri.

The event with the theme: “The Roles of Educational Institutions in Building Quality Safety Education in Nigeria” is hosted by the Occupational Safety and Health Association in conjunction with the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State and is specifically aimed at containing domestic and workplace fatalities and at the same time premiering the safety revamp project of the institution in conjunction with the Association to see that the students are equipped with the fundamentals of Safety best practices required in industries.

Welcoming delegates at the event, the Rector, Engr. Dr. Michael Arimanwa FNSE, JP, who is also a distinguished Fellow of OSHAssociation UK, expressed his excitement at the launch of the program. He attested to the delegates that the Federal Polytechnic Nekede was once again setting the pace as the first to start the HSE Training Programme in the entire Southeast. He reaffirmed the status of his institution as the best-performing Polytechnic in Nigeria, as well as a Centre of Excellence on ICT.

The Rector also expressed optimism that the HSE program would create a new wave of consciousness in the mind of the citizenry as far as health, safety, and the environment is concerned.

“We believe this program would help to awaken safety awareness among people, especially now that people even slump while working. It is also our hope that in no distant time, the membership of OSHA in Federal Polytechnic Nekede and the Southeast would expand significantly” He explained.

Declaring the event open, the President, OSHAssociation Nigeria Region, HRH, Dr. Amb Olusegun Aderemi declared that TVET remains the solution to provide jobs for the teaming unemployed youth in the country adding that Safety and Health Knowledge remains relevant as it will safeguard the lives of the workforce, especially the young ones who are 100% of the nation’s future.

Represented by the Rivers State Chairman, Dr. Chris Mitchell FOSHA, the OSHAssociation’s President reiterated that the inculcation of Health and Safety training in TVET will go a long way to not just revitalize the sector, but ensure that accidents, incidents, and fatalities are being stunted to the barest minimum.

“With the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in conjunction with the OSHAssociation critically driving safety best practice across the board, polytechnics remain relevant in this journey that is set to bring out a revamp in the nation as far as Health and Safety is concerned” He declared.

Also speaking at the event, the Ag. Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Sqd. Ldr. Chima Idika Chima (RtD) thanked the Rector and his Management team for the feat of establishing a HSE Training Centre in the institution, pledging the support of the council members to the program.

In a keynote address, the Chairman of Imo State Chapter of OSHA UK – Nigeria and Coordinator Poly-OSHA Programme, Dr. Austin Madu, thanked the Rector for the unflinching support he granted the OSHA team which facilitated the inauguration of a HSE International Certification center at the Federal Polytechnic Chapter. He described safety and health as “constituents of welfare because health is wealth.”

According to Dr. Madu, “In her bid to complement the efforts of trade unions, therefore, OSHA has offered a lucid operational framework that provides the right impetus to workers all over the world at least to keep the zest of trade unions fighting the increasing rate of work-related diseases, accidents, and fatalities afloat.”

In a lecture at the event, The Regional Administrator of OSHAssociation Nigerian region, Engr. Emmanuel Uwalaka averred that safety is a matter of life and death revealing that many deaths recorded in Nigeria occurs as a result of negligence to safety tenets.

The speaker further described safety skills as “a soft skill” that can earn anyone a place in multinational organizations. He lauded the Rector for championing the establishment of the HSE Training Centre in Federal Polytechnic Nekede, adding that the institution is at the vantage of servicing the rest of the Southeast in HSE training and certification.

The high point of the event was the investiture of sixteen individuals as Fellows of the OSHA-UK – Nigeria (FOSHA) and the induction of over forty-one people as members (MOSHA). Some of the individuals that received the OSHA Fellowship investiture were the Deputy Rector (Academic), C.C. Onyemenonu, ASUP President, Mr. Anderson Ezeibe, Dr. Basilia Igbokwe, Comr. Oliver Uchenna Enete, Engr. Dr. Moses Owolabi, among others.

Similarly, the event was used to decorate some notable individuals as Patrons of OSHA-UK, among who was the Ag. Chairman of the 14th Governing Council, Sqd. Ldr. Chima, I. Chima, Chairman/CEO Fratelo Group of Companies, Evang. Berthran Uzodinma, HRH Eze Godwin Merenini, and HRH Eze Augustine Iwuoha.

Meanwhile, the Rector, Engr. Dr. M.C. Arimanwa FNSE, JP, was decorated with the star award of Grand Patron of the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), United Kingdom, Nigeria Region.

The award-winning Polytechnic boss joins the league of eminent but few Nigerians to be so decorated in that cadre, among who is the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Saad Abubakar, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, among others.

19Aug2022

oshanigeria Health care, Membership, News, NSAP, Skills Leave a comment

OSH NATIONAL WORKSHOP: FG DECLARES ITS COMMITMENT TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

Understanding the need to enforce Occupational Health and Safety best practices across all sectors of the economy, the Federal Government recently directed MDAs to establish desk offices to attend to such issues.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (CSF), Folasade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this on Thursday during the OSH National Workshop which was held at the conference Hall of the Raw Material Research and Development Council, Maitama, Abuja.

The Workshop with the theme “Safety and Security Knowledge: The Key to Saving Lives, assembles critical stakeholders from both the Public and the Concerned Private Sector.Yemi-Esan, who was represented by the Director, of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department, Dr Comfort Adeosun, noted that safety was becoming an emergency issue.

While disclosing that a circular was issued to MDAs mandating them to establish desk offices and officers to man them, adding that the desk officers would be trained to know the roles they ought to play in their organisations, Yemi-Esan explained that “the head of the service is concerned about improving the welfare of civil servants and we expect that the private sector will also come on board to ensure that workers are safe. She nonetheless assured the citizenry of her office’s resolve to concretise its partnership with OSHAssociation to secure a healthy working environment for civil servants.

Declaring the event open, the Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauli Talen FOSHA noted that safety is paramount as its implementation will go a long way in preventing and addressing violence against women and girls which according to her should be a key part of the national response plan to nation’s unity.
Represented by Ms Gloria Ekanem, the women’s Minister noted that Safety Knowledge aligns with fundamental human rights and remains key to understanding interpersonal relationships. how to treat others.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Rabiu Magaji, the Chairman of the National Safety Advocacy Programme (NSAP) in his presentation titled “Best Practices for the Establishment of OSH in the Public Sector: Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward.

He asserted that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says more than 6,500 people around the world die every day of work-related illnesses and over 1,000 people a day from occupational accidents.
According to him, these accidents result in financial losses such as direct and indirect costs of reconstruction, recovery and reconversion of industrial sites; production interruptions; lost working time; workers’ compensation payments, among others. He added that “apart from these economic costs, there are intangible costs arising from immense human emotional and physical suffering and work-related stress for individual workers and their families.
“The environmental impacts of industrial hazards do not recognise borders, and their repercussions spread from local to national, regional and international levels. “Occupational accidents and diseases cause dreadful human pain and suffering, as well as important economic losses, yet awareness of the problem is still too low”, he said.

The Delegate was also enlightened on diverse Health and Safety Issues including Safety and Security Knowledge in the workplace, Professional Financial Safety intelligence, Crime factors, and Prevention and Control Strategies.
Topping the event was the conferment of Fellowship to 15 prominent individuals in recognition of their immense contribution towards the implementation of Safety best practices in their different areas of influence alongside the induction of 5 organisations as corporate members of the Association. A total of 26 individuals were also inducted as Members of the association in different categories.

OSHAssociation has since its inception remained resolute to the mandate of stunting Fatalities, Accidents and Incidence across all sectors of the economy through its diverse advocacy campaigns such as workshops, and training programs among others all to see that the level of Safety Consciousness of Nigerians improves across the board.

25Oct2021

oshanigeria Inductees, Membership, News Leave a comment

Rivers State Chapter of OSHAssociation Held Safety Workshop to emphasise the Role of Government and Corporate Organisations in Creating a Sustainable Environment.

Rivers State Chapter of OSHAssociation Held Safety Workshop to emphasise the Role of Government and Corporate Organisations in Creating a Sustainable Environment.

The need for collaboration towards revitalizing our environment and also ensuring safety measures in all sectors of the economy was the focus of the 2021 Rivers OSH Workshop, held recently at La Kings Hotel, Port Harcourt.

The workshop with the theme: Creating a Sustainable Environment; “The role of corporate Organisations and the Government”, brought together delegates from both the government and private sectors, alongside safety professionals to deliberate on challenging safety issues and proffer solutions towards creating a sustainable environment.

Speaking at the event, The Chairman of the Cross-River Chapter of OSHAssociation UK, Nigeria Region, Sir Alfred A. Mboto elaborated on the roles of the Government in ensuring public safety. According to him, safety is a paramount responsibility of the government towards the general public and it can only be achieved through proper restructuring and the enactment of policies that would drive the safety of all.

Similarly, the President of OSHAssociation UK – Nigeria Region, HRH Dr Amb. Aderemi Olusegun, in his opening speech, noted that government and corporate organisations have roles to play towards ‘Creating a Sustainable Environment’ because Rivers State is a frontline oil producing environment battling with so many negative consequences of environmental degradation viz; oil pollution of the environment, gas flaring, alongside air pollution.

The Regional President, represented by the Regional Administrator, Engr. Emmanuel Uwalaka explained that the Government at all levels, alongside corporate organisations, have a great obligation towards the public by entrenching safety, health and a conducive environment in their affairs and daily operations. According to him, good governance will foster sustainability values that “will, in turn, assist corporate bodies and businesses to thrive and ensure employees safety”.

As part of the mandate of OSHAssociation towards building a strong network of safety advocates and raising safety Ambassadors from various sectors, the event featured the induction of new members and Fellowship Investiture of top executives as members of the Association, including the induction of corporate membership of the Center for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (COHSE), UNIPORT.

OSHAssociation is constantly thriving towards safety awareness and Advocacy in all sectors, especially considering the swelling number of industrial hazards encountered in workplaces. Working diligently to its mandate by increasing safety education among Nigerians, OSHAssociation is steadfast in collaborating with relevant institutions and private organisations towards the pursuit of a safe, healthy and secured environment for all through a preventive awareness approach.

Given the above development, OSHAssociation is committed to spreading safety awareness education to the entire states in Nigeria, partnering with government and private institutions to drive the mission in the region.

For more information and partnership, kindly contact the Nigeria Regional Office via nigeria@oshassociation.org and visit www.nigeria.oshassociation.org

The meeting came to conclusion with networking and photography of delegates; while the next meeting will be scheduled as the need arises.

For more information, visit www.nigeria.oshassociation.org or email: nigeria@oshassociation.org

*Media Team*
OSHAssociation Nigeria

OSHAssociation (Nigeria)

Category Archives: Membership

STAKEHOLDERS SET TO PARTNER TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT WORKPLACES DURING THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL SAFETY CONFERENCE

“WE ARE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING SAFETY STANDARDS AT THE AIRPORTS” SAYS FAAN MD AS HE BAGS OSHAssociation UK FELLOWSHIP

IMO: THE RECTOR FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE DECORATED AS OSHAssociation GRAND PATRON, PLEDGES TO ENFORCE QHSE IN CURRICULAR

IMO: THE RECTOR FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE DECORATED AS OSHAssociation GRAND PATRON, PLEDGES TO ENFORCE QHSE IN CURRICULAR

OSH NATIONAL WORKSHOP: FG DECLARES ITS COMMITMENT TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

Rivers State Chapter of OSHAssociation Held Safety Workshop to emphasise the Role of Government and Corporate Organisations in Creating a Sustainable Environment.