By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Worried by increasing cases of industrial accidents at workplaces in the country, the Federal Government has stepped up efforts at preventing and minimizing industrial accidents, towards ensuring safety of workers.

As part of the efforts, through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, FMLP, the government has begun organising training, revalidation and certification of authorised inspectors for inspection of steam boilers nationwide.

Speaking at a four-day training and certification exercise for authorised inspector and approved person for pressure vessel, held at the Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Lagos, Director of Factories, FMLP, Mrs. Nofisat Abiola Arogundade said “Safety and health at work is synonymous with productivity quest. Every effort must be made to ensure safety and health centre on plant and process integrity, which is the main requirement for efficient production. Equally, production done with minimum loss due to damage sickness, injuries, absenteeism and compensation, signals improved productivity. Well maintained and examined pressure vessels perform optimally and pose less risk to the investment.

“The objectives of this training and certification exercise, set in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government in the Labour Sector include; to improve and strengthen the preventive safety culture in the operation of pressure vessels in Nigeria, to update the knowledge base of Authorised Inspectors and Approved Persons on the examination and testing of Boiler and Pressure Vessels in line with global best practices and standards, to conduct written and practical examinations for the revalidation of existing Certificates and issuance of fresh Certificate to successful candidates, and to review and publish the Register of Authorised Inspectors and Approved Persons in line with the provisions of the Factories Act, 2004.”

According to her, “this four-day programme comprises 2-day training and 2-day assessment exercise to be conducted in collaboration with the Guild of Authorised Boiler Inspector Association and National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria with Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, International Labour Organisation, ILO and IOCs as observers. It is my hope that at the end of this exercise, these objectives would be achieved and qualified Authorised Inspectors and Approved Persons would emerge woth due certification by the Ministry according to the Factories Act, 2004.

“This reform is certainly going to be sustained as the Ministry is determined to continue to collaborate with the local stakeholders and international organisations, particularly the International Labour Organisation, ILO, for an improved regulatory framework. Our Inspection System shall reflect global standard and best practise for an assurance of safe use of the plants at all times. The Ministry is working closely with these willing partners as well as our traditional social partners; the employer’s and the employees’ associations.”