Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) said it has conducted 5,592 occupational safety and health activities at various workplaces nationwide in the last one year.
The move according to the agency was geared towards worker safety as it emphasised the urgency of safety.
At the 2024 World Day for Safety and Health at Work yesterday in Abuja, NSITF’s managing-director, Maureen Allagoa, disclosed that from May 2023 to April 2024, the fund carried out 3,234 health and safety audits, 1,614 awareness campaigns, and 744 follow-ups on workplace cases which she said that the agency aims to double these efforts by next year while leveraging its extensive network of regional and branch offices.
She stressed the importance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programmes in preventing workplace accidents, saying it was a key focus of the fund’s mandate.
Speaking further on this year’s theme, “The Impact of Climate Change on OSH,” Allagoa pointed out the multifaceted challenges it presents, including extreme heat, weather events, and increased disease risks.
These environmental changes, according to her, threaten not only the physical health of workers but also their mental well-being and productivity.
She however said that NSITF has taken a proactive stance with the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach that marries environmental sustainability with OSH practices.
Through its OSH officers, she added, the fund has been actively educating and training workers, raising awareness of climate-related hazards and promoting the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Specific initiatives include sensitising workers about climate change impacts, training in first aid and emergency response, investigating workplace accidents to prevent recurrence, and advocating for tree planting to combat greenhouse effects.
Allagoa called on employers to invest in resilient infrastructure and protective gear to counteract the effects of climate change which includes robust emergency plans and durable workplace designs.
According to her, notable companies benefitting from NSITF’s OSH activities include Schulmberger in Port Harcourt, Julius Berger Construction Company in Abuja, Dangote Cement in Kogi State, Shellberge Manufacturing in Lagos, and Federal Palace Hotel in Ikoyi, among others.
The event culminated in a tree planting ceremony at the NSITF premises, led by the managing-director and supported by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, followed by a roadshow in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).