Media Centre for Safety Reporting

19/09/2024

*DEAR MEMBERS OF THIS HONOURABLE PLATFORM. PLEASE, TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING:*

No matter the type of Code Sent to your phone, please don't Send Such Code back to anyone!
1. Code sent to your phone Could be used to hack your Facebook account.
2. Code Sent to your phone Could be used to hack your email.
3. Code Sent to your phone Could be used to hack your WhatsApp.
4. Code Sent to your phone Could be used to hack your Instagram account.
5. Code Sent to your phone Could be used to hack your Bank ATM Card and empty your bank accounts.
6. Code Sent to your phone Could be used to register you in an Organization you know nothing about.
7. Code Sent to your phone Could be used to link you up to a terrorist Organization.
8. Code Sent to your phone Could be used to hack your phone.
9. Banks don't request for any Codes.
10. Facebook or WhatsApp have no human representative that answers Call or Call you for anything.

*Don't fall Victim of Fraudsters and evil people!. Be Wise!*

20/08/2024

President of Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria with Members of the Board the 10th ISPON Special Conference Lecture @ ISPON headquarters in Lagos.

22/06/2024

CHOLERA OUTBREAK ALERT IN NIGERIA JUNE 2024
The Nigerian Government has alerted the public of the increasing trend of cholera cases across the country as the raining season intensifies. An outbreak in Lagos State has recently been reported.
From the 1st of January 2024 to the 11t h of June 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera with 30 deaths have been reported from 96 LGAs in 30 States.
The 10 states that contributed 90% to the burden of cholera are Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos States.

 RISK OF INFECTION
Cholera is primarily spread through the consumption of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Key points of transmission include:
1. Contaminated Water: Drinking or using water from sources contaminated with faces containing V. cholerae.
2. Contaminated Food: Eating food contaminated with the bacterium, often through improper handling or washing with contaminated water.
3. Poor Sanitation: Areas with inadequate sanitation infrastructure are particularly vulnerable, as open defecation and lack of clean water contribute to the spread.

 CHOLERA PREVENTION ADVICE
Preventing cholera involves a combination of measures that focus on improving water, sanitation, hygiene, and access to medical care. Here are some key strategies:
1. Safe Water
• Ensure Access to Clean Water: Provide access to safe drinking water by treating water sources, using chlorine, boiling water, or using water purification tablets.
• Protect Water Sources: Protect wells and other water sources from contamination by human and animal waste.
2. Sanitation
• Proper Waste Disposal: Improve sanitation infrastructure to ensure proper disposal of human waste. Use latrines and toilets that are well-maintained and located away from water sources.
• Sewage Treatment: Implement systems for the safe treatment and disposal of sewage.
3. Hygiene
• Handwashing: Promote regular handwashing with soap and clean water, especially after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.
4.Food Safety
• Ensure that food is properly cooked and stored. Raw fruits and vegetables, food from street vendors, and raw or undercooked food should be avoided.

23/12/2022

01/07/2022

The link between safety and sustainability

Sustainability is about more than feel-good initiatives and commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions — it keeps us safe and proactively prevents disasters from occurring in the first place.

In many ways, sustainability is a safety professional's best friend. Sustainable practices are almost always inherently safer than unsustainable ones, and approaching your day-to-day operations from the perspective of sustainability will likely help you create a safer workplace.

Even the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a strong stance on sustainability, yet some remain unconvinced — and that’s okay. So, here’s a breakdown of the reasons why safety and sustainability are closely linked.



Natural disasters

Evidence overwhelmingly supports the thesis that humans are warming the planet at an unsustainable rate. Carbon dioxide levels have skyrocketed since the industrial revolution, and the earth’s temperature has risen by 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century.

Our increased use of greenhouse gasses has put us on a collision course with natural disasters that occur more frequently and with greater intensity. Here are a few examples that will likely affect workers in the USA the most.



Fires

Wildfires have always occurred in large wooded areas, and, usually, they’re a good thing. Wildfires can rejuvenate forest floors and potentially improve biodiversity in a given area. However, we’re rapidly approaching a future where wildfires occur too frequently and occur too close to homes and workplaces.

This is happening because climate change alters the careful woodland balance of moisture, temperature, and wood density. As a result, more intense fires are building in areas where fires have not typically been a concern. This has led wildfire fire scientists to declare that we have entered a “new era of wildfire” where previous rules about fire seasons no longer apply.

As a safety professional, you must stay up to date with the latest data on fire prevention to reduce the risk of causing a wildfire. You can do this by assessing your building’s onsite materials and by making a “fire flow calculator” which predicts the spread of fires and helps you move quickly in case of an emergency.



Floods and droughts

We’ve all become familiar with the sight of flash floods tearing through cities and towns. In some cases, these floods can be accounted for and have been effectively managed. However, a significant increase in precipitation across the US means that more communities across the nation will experience flash floods.

While rainfall is expected to be more intense, some areas of the US will actually receive less total precipitation over a year — particularly in the South West. This will lead to further regulations around water usage, and will likely give safety management professionals a headache as water is essential in many safety operations.



Hurricanes and tornadoes

Several communities have been decimated by hurricanes and tornadoes in the past decade. Unfortunately, these intense weather events are becoming more frequent and more intense — models working on predictive analysis show that rising ocean temperature coincided with more frequent and intense hurricane activity.

Hurricanes are devastating to the communities they touch, and little can be done to prevent their impact on your workplace. This results in a hefty bill, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association put at an average cost of $21 billion per storm.

As a safety professional, the best thing you can do to reduce the impact of hurricanes and tornadoes is to prioritize the safety of workers at all times, and have a clear shelter-in-place plan if your community is caught unaware by a tornado or hurricane.



Hazardous materials

Many of the materials and chemicals we use at work are harmful to humans and the environment. In some cases, using these hazardous materials is essential — in others, a sustainable and safe alternative can be found.

The process of cleaning up hazardous chemicals is called “Environmental Remediation”. Environmental remediation is a multi-step process that typically requires that organizations bring in experts who understand Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laws and regulations. These experts will assess everything from current remediation methods to the local site where a business operates, and advise businesses to make appropriate changes.

As a safety professional, you can get involved in environmental remediation by organizing community clean-ups, seeking alternatives for cleaning chemicals, and advocating for the use of eco-friendly materials in place of hazardous ones. These steps won’t just help the environment: the clean-ups will make for a safer workplace, as eco-friendly materials are almost always less dangerous for humans, too.



Conclusion

There is a strong link between safety and sustainability. Many safety professionals are already having to adapt their approach by accounting for natural disasters and climate events. While safety professionals alone can’t change the course of climate change, they can still play a crucial role in protecting workers, communities, and the environment. So, the next time you’re reviewing workplace safety, be sure to consider sustainability.

21/04/2022

Child Safety. Please use Child lock to protect your kids in the car.

07/03/2022

SAFETY ISSUES

Topic of Focus:
Importance of Health and Safety Officers in the oil and Gas Industry

Safety is the MOST important Assignment or PRE-OCCUPATION for EVERY PERSON on an Oil and Gas Installation and rightly a significant core value for the oil and gas industry. One SLIP and a whole lot of investment and LIVES could be lost at great cost to the enterprise. So in an Oil and gas environment SAFETY is not what some people do, it is what EVERYBODY does. In any oil and gas environment SAFETY is a CULTURE and not an option.

It is and will always be the Industry’s primary focus, and the workers who serve on the frontlines of operations play an essential role in ensuring safe work practices and preventing workplace incidents and accidents. Each worker at a worksite has a duty to work in a safe manner and must make safety a part of each and every task.

Because it is such an important responsibility management of oil and gas enterprises ensure as a matter of TOP MANAGEMENT responsibility to recruit competent personnel as Health and Safety officers to superintend Safety. It is debatable whether the success or achievement of the business objective of an oil and gas operation itself is as important as the achievement of planned safety objectives. When the Oil and gas business objective is not met an enterprise loses money invested, but if the Safety objective is not met, irreplaceable lives could be lost in addition.

Best practice safety regimes give everybody peace of mind required to achieve the set business objectives of productivity, schedules and profits etc.

Safety Planning and implementation is a deliberate process and the safety officers are basically saddled with the primary responsibility of GUARANTEEING that all operations are carried out in such ways and manners as to prevent accidents and injuries to ALL PERSONSS and in a safe and secure environment.

Depending on the complexity of the operations some specialization is required in the different aspects of production. You could have Fire Safety, Production Safety, General Safety, Work environment Safety specializations and so on.

The Safety officers have the overall responsibility of any oil and gas operations and therefore carry a heavy burden so when Safety Officers appear intransigent and impossible to negotiate with on any issue in their work environment other employees should understand that it is because of the responsibilities they bear and we list some of them hereunder for better understanding and cooperation of all employees in order to continue to keep themselves safe. It is in enlightened self-interest to follow their directions and instructions.

Responsibilities of A Health and Safety Officer

Assurance of not only the health and safety regulations, but professional training to be given to all the employees associated with the organization: The scope of a health and safety officer varies depending on the size and complexity of the company. It can include training employees in the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), fire safety, emergency procedures, using machinery properly, handling hazardous materials, and other safety-related issues.
Assuring that inspections related to the safety and health of the organization are scheduled and take place: All equipments in use, including extinguishers, fire alarms, etc. should be properly placed and working. Safety inspections, risk assessments and lone working procedures are managed and employees are aware of their responsibilities. Proper working equipment and tools used properly will deliver the assignments safely and to the specified quality. Inspections, Maintenance and or repairs are required to be aligned with the Equipment manufacturers’ specification in order to deliver the desired results safely.
Investigating incidents in the workplace and writing-up accident reports: Another important role of the health and safety officer is the investigation of any incidents that occur in the workplace. They record and maintain an incident and accident log book, review possible causes, and recommend changes when required. Alternatively, the health and safety officer may serve the safety committee to fulfill the demands of the company’s safety program. The committee relies on the officer’s expertise and the officer reports progress on safety issues.
Providing guidance on safe equipment use, the safe installation of new machineries and review of daily operational tasks and issuing work permits for them.
Advises management on how to deal with the handling and disposal of hazardous substances as their improper handling and or disposal has direct health implications on employees. The Safety Officers always ask for Material Safety Data Sheets that stipulates how chemicals of any nature are handled, stored and disposed of. Disposal is important because if harmful chemicals or wastes from operations are carelessly disposed of in the environment, it could run into ground waters etc. and get ingested at some point.
Enforcing Health and Safety Laws and Regulations: An internal health and safety officer focuses on accident and illness prevention and implements the latest regulations and guidelines, including those of the Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Act. Health and safety is a highly specialized and regulated field and a company health and safety officer must have the expertise to do it well. A good health and safety officer looks beyond managing the basics and instead actively manages risk.
Principal Contact: Since a health and safety officer stays abreast of current regulations, they’re the logical choice to advise management and the go-to contact for workers. They are also the principal contact for safety inspectors and union representatives. The health and safety officer also address issues of concern to the public. Sound environmental and sustainability policies and procedures can improve public relations, reduce a company’s carbon footprint, and improve profitability. A knowledgeable, personable health and safety officer is the ideal candidate to interact with outside parties to ease concerns and bolster company reputation.
SECURITY- Operational locations and movements to and therefrom sometimes pose external threats to workers as happens in Nigeria. External Safety threats to employees and their installations from the larger operating environment become an added responsibility that must also be considered. Security challenges add a whole complex set of considerations and required awareness that a safety officer must become conversant with in order to not only keep his employee colleagues safe within the installations but also during travels from and to their accommodations and sometimes even during their recreational activities.
Every organization is bound to fulfill the compliance related to the health and safety of the employees and every individual associated with it. This is not specific to any particular industry, but some industries are at higher risk due to their sensitive production processes which involve risky tasks to be performed by the employees. The tasks for which a health and safety officer is associated is highly important and valued in the oil and gas industry, organizations that do not take reasonable precautions to prevent workplace injuries and illness can be found negligent and can result in costly workers’ compensation claims, higher premiums, hefty fines, a damaged reputation, and injuries, illnesses, or even death. Good health and safety saves lives and is an integral element of every business, making the role of the health and safety officer one of the most important within the workplace. In the Oil and Gas industry operational environment for instance it is doubtful if any activities could ever take place without the presence of a Safety officer.

07/03/2022

SAFETY PRACTICES EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL FORUM ( *SPEaR INT'L FORUM)*

TOPIC OF FOCUS:
Some Duties of a HSE Officer

1- The Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring and assessing hazardous and unsafe acts and situations.
2- Developing measures to assure personnel safety.
3- Correct unsafe acts or conditions through the regular line of authority.
4- May exercise emergency authority to prevent or stop unsafe acts when immediate action is required.
5- The Safety Officer maintains awareness of active and developing situations.
6- Ensures there are safety messages in each Incident Action Plan.
7- Participate in planning meetings to identify any health and safety concerns inherent in the operations daily work-plan.
8- Review the Incident Action Plan for safety implications.
9- Investigate accidents that have occurred within incident areas.
10- Ensure preparation and implementation of Site Safety and Health Plan (SSHP).
11- Inspects the site to ensure it is a hazard-free environment.
12- Conducts toolbox meetings.
13- A HSE Officer is part of the project safety council and leads all efforts to enhance safety.
14- The safety officer reviews and approves all subcontractors safety plans.
15- Verifies that injury logs and reports are completed and submitted to related government agencies.
16- Verifies that all tools and equipment are adequate and safe for use.
17- Promotes safe practices at the job site.
18- Enforces safety guidelines.
19- Trains and carries out drills and exercises on how to manage emergency situations.
20- Conducts investigations of all accidents and near-misses.
21- Reports to concerned authorities as requested or mandated by regulations.
22- Conducts job hazard analysis.
23- Establishes safety standards and policies as needed.
24- Watches out for the safety of all workers and works to protect them from entering hazardous situations.
25- Responds to employees’ safety concerns.
26- Coordinates registration and removal of hazardous waste.
27- Serves as the link between state and local agencies and contractors.
28- Receives reports from and responds to orders issued by Department of Labor.
29- Arranges for OSHA mandated testing and/or evaluations of the workplace by external agencies/consultants.
30- Support the development of OHS policies and programs.
31- Advise and instruct on various safety-related topics (noise levels, use of machinery etc.).
32- Conduct risk assessment and enforce preventative measures.
33- Review existing policies and measures and update according to legislation.
34- Initiate and organize OHS training of employees and executives.
35- Inspect premises and the work of personnel to identify issues or non-conformity (e.g. not using protective equipment)
36- Oversee installations, maintenance, disposal of substances etc.
37- Stop any unsafe acts or processes that seem dangerous or unhealthy.
38- Record and investigate incidents to determine causes and handle worker’s compensation claims
39- Prepare reports on occurrences and provide statistical information to upper management.
40- Carry out PTW Monitoring and review.

MEANINGS OF RELATED ACRONYMS:
QHSE is an acronym of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment.
HSEQ: Health, safety, environment and quality.
HSSE: health, safety, security and environment.
A QHSE Management System is a management system aimed at quality, occupational health and safety, and the environment.
Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Management (QHSE) generally refers to a management operation mode which integrates the common elements of the ISO9001, OHSAS18001 and ISO14001 standards. A narrow definition of QHSE points to the management system used by the international oil and gas industry.

11/12/2021

Download Safety Africa Radio App from your Google play store and listen to Africa's first Safety Radio. Safety first.

02/09/2021

Miss Safety Africa 2021 Registration Ongoing.....

The organizers of Miss Safety Africa 2021 Pageant, Supreme Royal Concept Communications in collaboration with Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR); under auspices of Miss Safety Africa Organization, has unveiled the Brand Face of MSA 2021 at a press briefing at their office in Ogba Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking to newsmen during the presentation on Saturday 31st July, 2021, the Founder/CEO of Miss Safety Africa Organization, Mr. John Thompson said, "what you are witnessing today is the birth of a new vista in HSE consciousness aimed at communicating safety in more friendly atmosphere".

The brand face of the pageant, Miss Cherish was delighted to emerge as the Brand Face of the pioneer HSSE pageant in Africa.

The MSA Brand Face recognized the professionalism in the process of her emergence and numerous opportunities waiting to embrace interested African young ladies, that will not hesitate to throw their hat into the contest.

On her own part, the Miss Safety Africa Organization, General Manager, Mrs Angela Nwangwa, highly experienced in pageant management with MBGN, acknowledged the novel challenges associated with a unique pageant such as MSA, but expressed optimism that going by the high level of best practice and compliance known in safety procedure,
"this pageant with the all important message of Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE), will definitely redefine the beauty pageant perception in Africa.

Earlier in his speech, Miss Safety Africa Organization founder, Thompson, a certified Safety and Security reporter, outlined twelve 'crowns' aside the MSA Crown which covers other critical areas of safety.

On the numerous categories on the list for winners, Thompson said "the Miss Safety Africa Organization Board of Governors in their wisdom, decided to identify all the critical sectors of safety by allocating unique beauty ambassadors to each segment.
Therefore, it's not a winner takes all. Aside, from the Ultimate winner of contest- MISS SAFETY AFRICA, at least 12 other finalists shall be crowned ambassadors in particular divisions of Safety with all specialized industry endorsements and prizes".
He emphasized on the need for all and sundry to embrace safety culture, while calling on individuals and corporate organizations to utilize this unique opportunity and "join this health and safety campaign for much safer and higher productivity, by sponsoring and supporting this project".

The pan African pageant has started recording endorsements from local and international Safety and Security Organisations, such as; Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), NANOE Institute for Charity, Celebrity Journal Publishers Association of Nigeria (CJPAN), International Security Organisation- Switzerland.

20/08/2021

*🔴 LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, ON MONDAY, 16TH AUGUST, 2021, PASSED A NEW BILL STOPPING THE ARREST OF PERSONS RESIDING IN LAGOS STATE, WITHOUT AN ARREST WARRANT*

Here are five major things all Lagos residents and visitors should know about the new law:

1. *No more parading of suspect by police*
Unlike the case of Chidinma Ojukwu and other suspects in the past, police will no more parade a suspect before the media as the amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state has put a stop to the act.

“As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.” The law states.

2. *Arrest without warrant*
The new law makes it mandatory for police to present an arrest warrant before arresting a suspect, and the only condition to do otherwise is when the person is reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of fi****ms or other such dangerous instruments.

In any case where the suspect does not possess weapons or fi****ms unlawfully, the police must show a warrant of arrest.

3. *No more arrest in lieu*
This means that a family member or relations of a suspect can no longer be arrested and only the alleged suspect may be arrested.

The Nigerian Police are used to arresting every person they meet at an arrest location whether the suspect is there or not, this act is no more legal and the police in Lagos can now be sued for arrested friends or family members of a suspect.

4. *No more harassments or torture*
The new law bars the police from harassing or torturing a suspect before or after arrest.

"A suspect should also be accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of person; not subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released conditionally or unconditionally.” The law states.

5. *Access to lawyer:*
The new law stipulates that a suspect has the right to a lawyer and must not be held in custody beyond the lawful day.

"A person arrested shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defense or release.” States the new bill.