By Peter Emmanuel |
The Lagos State Safety Commission has commenced mandatory safety training for dredging operators and sand haulage operators across the state, urging stakeholders to prioritise safety in all dredging and sand haulage activities.
The one-day training, held at the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Town Hall, Lekki Town, Siriwon, Oke Ogun, Epe, was organised under the theme, “Navigating Safety in Dredging: Building Lagos on Solid Ground.”
The training was declared mandatory for dredgers operating within Lagos State as part of efforts to improve safety awareness and reduce incidents associated with dredging and sand haulage operations.
The Director-General of the Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, represented by the Head of Safety Audit II, Engr. Festus Todowede, stressed the need for strict compliance with established safety regulations and standards at dredging sites.
Mojola said dredging is a high-risk operation involving heavy equipment deployed in challenging environments to extract and pump sand for construction purposes.
Commission Flags Risks Linked to Dredging Operations
According to Mojola, dredging activities that are not properly managed can expose workers, members of the public, equipment and the environment to various health and safety hazards.
He said the Commission regularly receives incident reports from workers and members of the public concerning dredging and sand mining activities across Lagos State.
Mojola said the reports had raised concerns about the need for stronger safety measures and greater compliance with regulations among operators in the sector.
He explained that the Commission had responded to the concerns by directing a comprehensive safety audit of dredging sites across the state.
The audit was aimed at identifying safety gaps and areas requiring intervention to prevent incidents and improve the protection of workers and other people who may be affected by dredging operations.
Mojola said the safety training for dredgers and sand haulage operators was one of the recommendations arising from the audit conducted by the Commission.
Lagos Orders Stronger Safety Measures at Dredging Sites
The Safety Commission urged operators and other stakeholders in the dredging and sand haulage sector to take the training seriously and ensure that safety requirements are followed during their daily operations.
Mojola called on stakeholders to adopt stronger safety precautionary measures at dredging sites to reduce the risks associated with the use of heavy machinery and equipment.
He stressed that compliance with safety standards should remain a priority throughout the different stages of dredging and sand haulage operations.
The Commission’s intervention is also aimed at promoting greater awareness among operators about the potential consequences of unsafe practices at dredging sites.
Mojola said the ultimate objective was to ensure that workers are protected and able to return safely to their homes at the end of each workday.
He therefore urged all dredgers and sand haulage operators across the state to cooperate with the Commission and comply with safety regulations designed to protect workers, the public, equipment and the environment.
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