30 August 2013, Abuja – The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has recorded 59 deaths and 64 injured electricity workers in the second quarter of the year.
The Commissioner, Engineering, Standards and Safety, Engr. Mary Awolokun disclosed this at the second quarterly meeting of Electricity Industry Health and Safety Managers, EIHSM, and the Engineering, Standards and Safety Division, ESS, of NERC to review their performance with regard to safety issues.
Engr. Awolokun attributed the deaths and injuries of electricity workers recorded in the period under review to lack of attention to safety, adding that, “the deaths could have been avoided if the standards had been adhered to.”
Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi explained that the health and safety indicators showed only 88% compliance, whereas international standard stipulates 100% compliance.
He encouraged the managers to work at a zero level occurrence.
Dr. Amadi empathized with them on the challenges they may be experiencing, but stressed on the value in safety. “Safety is not all cost, it has value. It saves lives, it saves the network,” he said.
Awolokun however enjoined electricity workers to take their position as one that needs a reliable and safe environment and not as routine.
“It does not augur well for the industry, take safety serious,” Awolokun appealed.
– Simon Echewofun Sunday, Daily Trust
