Mr. Adeyinka Adebiyi, a graduate of Industrial Technical Education from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka moved by passion for safety of human lives became a technical instructor in one of the Lagos State owned Technical Colleges, as a Technical teacher for 25 years before he was head hunted to head Safety Skills Development at Lagos State Safety Commission in 2013.

His service at the Lagos State Safety Commission for 10 years before his statutory retirement this year was outstanding, and at a time he was redeployed to Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, LASTVEB. While he was at the Lagos State Safety Commission, he headed three directorates.

In this interview with Nosike Moses, he reveals the importance of imbibing the culture of safety in our every day living, home, workplaces, roads, events, etc and how we can attain national development if we imbibe safety culture. Excerpts:

Kindly tell us some of those achievements made during your service at Lagos State Safety Commission?

First, what actually brought me to work with safety commission is the passion for safety. Any career you choose, without passion, you may not succeed, therefore I have passion for the job. As a graduate of Industrial Technical Education, we had a course on Industrial Safety in the University, and in my final year, my project was on Safety where I explored on factors affecting the industrial safety of workers in the manufacturing industries. That was my research. I discovered that quiet a number of workplaces do not have Health and Safety department and no Safety Officers in place. The Security personnel and perhaps Fire Officers serve the purpose, Lagos State has been first when it comes to issue of safety outfit, Lagos State Safety Commission was established by law in July 27, 2011, and I joined in January 2013. Safety awareness was low at establishment of the Commission, today I can say with all emphases that safety awareness in Lagos State has risen to about 60%. All households, workplaces, event centres, malls, know Lagos Safety Safety Commission because as a regulatory agency, workplaces and other sectors of Lagos economy see the presence of safety commission. The Commission has actually achieved a lot because of continuous sensitization in all the nooks and crannies of the state. All the 5 divisions were toured for safety awareness. Workplaces are visited and inspected for safety standards, safety audits and risk assessment were also being carried out from time to time in workplaces to ensure total compliance with the Laws. Improvement and abatement notices are issued as and when necessary. This has drastically reduced incidents in workplaces in the state. The management of workplaces are now taking the bull by the horns by leading the employees to conforming with the safety standards as stipulated by the law of Lagos state Safety Commission. And I give kudos to the Director General/CEO, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola who leads by example to ensuring total compliance in all sectors of the economy. He gives no chance for rest, all staff are engaged. There is this saying ‘SAFETY DOES NOT GO ON HOLIDAY’. Once safety is on holiday, accidents persist in workplaces, roads, etc. Again, safety training is another major area of interest by the commission, various safety training programmes have been carried out and still on going. So the culture of safety is in all the sectors of the Lagos economy, be it supermarkets, SPARS, beauty centres, factories, schools, name them, the commission is there.

From what you have said so far, we have seen that safety is everybody’s concern, don’t you think this awareness should be pushed to our tertiary institutions to become part of their curriculum?

It is a very good idea. Let me start by saying that safety modules were drafted for technical colleges across the state, this is so because of the peculiarity of such institution using handtools, heavy equipment, machineries with inherent hazards. Don’t also forget that these colleges train hands in manipulative skills, electrical installation, carpentry, mechanical mason etc. There is absolute need therefore to inculcate the culture of safety in all the trainees in preparation for the world of work. Not only that, our tertiary institutions should also inculcate and provide safety modules, this is essential. For every course to be accredited in our tertiary institutions, the accreditation team should include safety professionals to carry our risk assessment in the workshops, laboratories classrooms, lecture theatres, etc.

Moreso, National University Commission and NBTE should engage Safety experts in there accreditation team to evaluate the extent of safety compliance in these institutions before courses are approved. Similarly, all tertiary institutions must ensure that they put in place all safety management system, this will ensure that students, teachers, visitors and other stakeholders shall be safety savvy and compliant hence reducing accidents and injury in our campuses across the nation. Science laboratories, engineering workshops, etc.

Standards safety committee should be put in place in our schools, responsible only to the head of the school i. e. Vice-Chancellor, Rector or Provost. A qualified safety, health and environment officer should be engaged to chair the safety committee and heads the safety unit in the institution. Safety courses have to be either as an elective or compulsory course for all students in the University. By so doing, all students would have been equipped well enough for the world of work. That culture of safety should be embedded in them before entering into the workplace.

Lagos State University, Ojo had engaged Lagos State Safety Commission in carrying out risk assessment and safety audit of their buildings and campus environment after which the institution is working towards safety compliance. Staff trained to identify hazards and control them, other tertiary institutions should emulate this gesture to ensure safety of lives and property in their campuses. All safety recommendations are being implemented gradually, and of course there would be an improvement notice. Important contribution contributed so far in the service of Lagos state public service and particularly Lagos State Safety Commission is the textbook I wrote with the title, “Essentials of Safety and Health”. The book deals entirely with public safety. Safety is everybody’s business, whether you are employed or jobless, the book lays emphasis on safety at home, roads, in-land waterways transportation, commuter safety, introduction of first aids, rainy and harmattan safety. It also deals with health and wellbeing, work-life balance, fire prevention and fire management both at home and workplace. Safe use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG at home? Types of fire extinguisher and classes of fire. Use of electricity correctly at home, correct sitting and sleeping posture, lifting of loads, school health and safety, health, safety at event places etc.

These are major safety concerns in our society. Apart from public safety, I am co-authoring another book, this is ‘WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH’ with the DG/CEO, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola. Here, we shall explore deeply into Safety Management Systems, Safety policies, machines, equipment, chemical handling, and so on. Other areas will include safety engineering, safety training, construction safety.

Were there awards won during your stewardship in Safety Commission?

In the year 2018, I was awarded, the Outstanding Public servant of the year, Lagos state; In 2022, I received an award by AfriSAFE, Merit award for EXEMPLARY contributions towards the Improvement of Health, Safety and Environment and Wellbeing in Africa; similarly I was a three time recipient of Best Head of Department (Electrical/Electronics) Government Technical College, Ikorodu (1997,2004 and 2016).

Do you have any plan to spread this awareness beyond Lagos state?

Yes! If I am invited by organisations, state or a body, sure, I’ll be ready at all times, don’t forget, it is a passion.

What solution would you proffer in view of trucks, tankers causing accidents here and there which is resulting lost of lives?

This is an unfortunate situation. The Lagos State Safety Commission, Ministry of Transportation through its agency, Vehicle Inspection Service VIS, the Federal Road Safety Commission are collaborating to ensure this is nip in the board. However, there is need to conduct risk assessment of these trucks before loading, checking tyres, breaking systems, in fact the drivers. Are the drivers under the influence of alcohol or dangerous subtances before engaging the steering wheel? Is the driver under age? What are the speed limit on build-up areas, highways and expressways? Do these drivers know? Have they gone for defensive driving lately? Can they recognise road traffic signs and meanings? Are the containers bolted? All these and more needed to be addressed. Then the state of our roads.