By Joan Nwagwu
The Federal Government said it was imperative to develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks and protect workers in the face of global warming.
Mrs Lauretta Adogu, Director Occupational Safety and Health Department, Ministry of Labour and Employment said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a symposium to commemorate the 2024 World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
The symposium was themed ”Impact of Climate Change on Workers’ Health.
According to her, the event is to create awareness and sensitisation on the need for safe and healthy working environment.
“This is in order to promote the safety, health and well-being of workers, as well as prevent work-related accidents, injuries, diseases, dangerous occurrences and deaths.
“The theme is a fallout from the global changes in weather conditions and the totality of the systemic environmental changes on the atmospheric conditions of the working environment, and the effects on health and safety at work.
“It is imperative to acknowledge the devastating impacts of climate change on workers’ safety, health and well-being.
“This which is driven by human activities, and has reshaped the ecosystem and weather patterns at an unprecedented rate,”she said.
Adogu noted that these ecological shifts have over the years impacted adversely on the safety, health, and well-being of workers, as well as create unsafe working conditions globally.
She added that the impact of climate change on the world of work cannot be overemphasised but thoroughly scrutinised as one of the Emerging Occupational Safety and Health Issues in the world.
“This underscores the urgent need to address the complex interplay between environmental sustainability and workplace safety.
“It serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges we face and the imperative to develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks and protect workers in the face of ‘global warming,”she said.
She said that the Ministry of Labour and Employment recognises the critical need to address these issues by providing workplace intervention towards Emerging Occupational Safety and Health Issues.
“Therefore, the objective of this event is to create awareness and sensitization on the impacts of climate change on workers’ health and safety.
“Also to dentify measures to mitigate the effects of workplace changes due towww.nannews.ng ecological shifts in Nigeria,”she said.
Speaking, Ms Vanessa Phala, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Country Director to Nigeria said the agency was committed to advancing workplace safety, through both technical and financial contributions.
“Today, as we observe the World Day for Safety and Health at Work under the poignant theme.
“We are reminded of the critical intersections between our environment, our health, and our work.
“This annual commemoration, supported by ILO, underscores a global commitment to fostering safe and healthy working conditions —an endeavor at the heart of the ILO’s decent work mission since its inception,”she added.
Also, Mr Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment said that the theme was apt.
Abubakar said that the ministry was fully committed to leading the charge in this endeavor.
“We are actively engaged in formulating policies and guidelines that integrates climate resilience into Occupational Safety and Health practices.
“It is through targeted intervention and Stakeholders’ engagement, that we aim to foster a preventative culture of safety that protects the rights and well-being of all workers.
“The cardinal objectives of this sympossium include to identify, analyze and evaluate the impact of climate change in the workplace;
“To identify workplace intervention to the adverse effects of climate change to workers’ health and safety, among others,”he said.