Lagos state government has sealed off a Chinese firm, Mingy Trading Company Ltd., over the death of a 17-year-old employee on his first day at work.
Director General, Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, led the commission’s team that sealed the firm on Thursday in Lagos.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to the safety of its citizens’ lives and property, which led to another shutting down of the company at 11, Ila Orangun Street, Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town.
Mojola revealed that the action was taken following a report in ThePunch newspaper on May 20 tagged, “Lagos teenage factory worker killed in industrial accident on resumption day.”
He said the fatality occurred due to violation of safety precautionary measures, and that the 17-year-old victim named Babatunde AbdulRahmon was employed on the said day.
Mojola stated;
The 17-year-old was immediately exposed to a mechanical and electrical manufacturing equipment without training and provision for personal protective equipment. In the process of operating the equipment, he lost his life.
There was also very clear evidence of poor housekeeping, lack of safety signage, poor factory layout for emergency management, very poor recruitment process with no documented training records, poorly installed electric cables and poor record keeping.
Mojola added;
On no account should any company employ an underage person to operate a mixer or grinding machine without proper training and use of personal protective equipment.
He reiterated the importance of having a tested electrical wiring system, appropriate safety signage, good housekeeping and a clean environment devoid of infractions and hazards to lives of its workers.
Mojola implored organisations to value lives above monetary gains, adopt best practice, adding that a culture of safety first should be individual and collective responsibility.
The Lagos safety boss declared zero tolerance for safety violations and warned that punitive measures would be taken against organisations found culpable.
Mojola urged members of the public to report incidents and infractions regularly to Lagos State Safety Commission in a bid to have a safer Lagos for the citizenry.
According to the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, the step followed a publication in the Punch newspaper of Thursday, May 20, 2021 tagged “Lagos teenage factory worker killed in industrial accident on resumption day”.#LASG #ForAGreaterLagos
— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) May 27, 2021
