The Federal Ministry of Steel Development through the Metallurgical Inspectorate and Raw Materials Development (MI&RMD) has organized a Safety Workshop for steel producers, fabricators, metal industry operation, corrugator and artisans in the steel and other metal sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministries of Steel and Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe ably represented by Director Human Resources Management, Mohammed Suleiman Kabir, declared the Workshop open on Wednesday in Abuja with it theme: “Industrial Health and Safety Concerns in the Steel and Other Metals Sector in Nigeria’’.
Ogbe who emphasized that the workshop is the first in the series of engagements with industry operators following the creation of the Ministry of Steel Development, said the theme is timely as it is in tandem with the Ministry’s mandate to ensure optimum safety and zero harm in the metals sector.
She added that the objective of the workshop geared towards promoting safety awareness and compliance with safety guidelines in the metal sector of the country
According to her, safety is an essential aspect of our daily lives, thus safety and good health is paramount in the metals and steel sector else the enormous prospects in the sector would not be achieved.
While admonishing participants to adhere to critical principle of “Safety First, Safety Always”, the PS harped on the importance of industrial safety, stating that accidents and injuries do not only harm people but also disrupt business operations, leading to financial losses and causing many families to suffer.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s head of press and public relations, Tine-Iulun M.A, Ogbe however expressed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring zero accidents, zero near misses, zero first aid incidents, zero hazards, zero unsafe acts, zero unsafe conditions, and ultimately zero harm is achieved.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Ibrahim Yusufu Idris ably represented by Deputy Director, Environmental Assessment Department, Shittu Hussain, commented the Ministry of Steel Development for organising the Safety Workshop, adding that it is the Environment Ministry’s mandate to protect Nigerian environment by ensuring that operations are carried out with regard to keeping the environment protected.
Meanwhile, the Director, Metallurgical Inspectorate and Raw Materials Development (MI&RMD) Department, Engr. Frederick Ewa, said in order to achieve Mr President’s renewed hope agenda in the Steel Sector, safe working procedures must be guaranteed. He implored employers to make the health and safety of their employees top priority in the steel and metals industry.
There were also goodwill messages from the Director-General/CEO, National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, (NSRMEA), Kaduna, Kolawole Ogunbiyi as well as the President, Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye represented by Lekan Edunjobi, also spoke on the significance of the workshop to operators in the industry.