BY VICTOR     AHIUMA-YOUNG
LAGOS — INTERNATIONAL Labour Organisation, ILO, has said  that an estimated 337 million workplace accidents and 2.3 million deaths occur every year, making it 6,300 deaths per day, across the globe, including Nigeria, as  the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated today.

This year’s event is coming amid renewed efforts by ILO  to emphasise the value of occupational safety and health management systems for preventing and controlling risks at work.

In a new report issued for today’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work entitled “OSH (Occupational Safety and Healthy) Management System: A tool for Continual Improvement,” the ILO outlined a step-by-step approach to be taken in applying OSH

Management Systems, OSHMS, and, more concretely, how the system can be used at the national and enterprise levels.
The report also highlights how to apply OSH Management Systems in particularly high risk sectors.

“Implementation of OSH management systems is critical in helping to reduce occupational accidents, diseases and deaths,” the report said.

In Lagos, National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria, NISCN, Lagos State Chapter, said the today’s event is being celebrated with specific activities that will help stress the importance of working in a healthy and safe environment as a strategy to achieve optimal productivity and sustainability of employment.

A statement by Mr. Ajayi S . O,  Secretary, NISCN Lagos State, said: “In line with the principle, the National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria is organising a programme of activities starting on Thursday, April 28, 2011 (today), with the theme: ‘OSH Management System: A tool for continual improvement.’

“The programme will involve message from the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the Directorate of Inspectorate, the Controllers of Labour in the states, paper presentation, exhibitions film shows and other entertainments etc. This advocacy is aimed of creating awareness on occupational safety and health issues at workplace.”

The first Kazakh International Conference and exhibition on occupational safety and health will take place in Astana from 28-29 April.

In  a statement in Lagos,  by Mr. S. Ajayi, Secretary, National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria, NISCN, he said,  “in line with the principle, the NISCN is organising a programme of activities starting from today. This advocacy is the aimed at creating awareness on occupational safety and health issues at workplace.”

The first Kazakh International Conference and exhibition on occupational safety and health will take place in Astana from April 28-29.

Also on 28 April, a Conference entitled “World Day for a good working environment _ for those who are concerned about how you feel on the job” will take place in Oslo, Norway, where the country’s tripartite social partners will be represented by the National Institute of Occupational Health, the Petroleum Safety Authority, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. Research institutions will also be present.