Enhancing Safety Practices in the Nigerian Film Industry: A Critical Necessity
The tragic incident involving a film crew on a speedboat enroute to a location in Nigeria, resulting in the drowning of several members including the notable actor Junior Pope, has cast a spotlight on the paramount importance of safety practices within the film and production industry. The live recording shared by Pope himself, humorously yet poignantly highlighted the risks taken by film crews to entertain the public, while also showcasing a glaring oversight - the absence of life jackets and, fundamentally, a lack of a comprehensive safety strategy.
The call for the use of life jackets following the accident, while valuable, addresses the symptom rather than the root cause. It underscores a reactive approach to safety, rather than a proactive one that could significantly mitigate risks associated with film production activities across various environments - be it land, sea, or air.
COVID-19: WORKPLACE SAFETY
Following the unconventional coronavirus 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has put in some measures, to fight the spread of the disease. The labor force worldwide is severely affected in the course of this disaster, therefore, all sections of society – businesses, employers, and social partners – need to play a role in order to protect employees, their families, and society at large. The COVID-19 pandemic is putting pressure on employers and employees, whether they needed to enforce new processes and practices in a completely brief time or to suspend their work and business activities. Appropriate preventive measures will help to achieve a safe and healthy return to work following relaxation of physical distancing measures, and also contribute to suppressing transmission of COVID-19.
The implementation of safe work practices to limit exposure to COVID-19 at work is essential. This means putting in place control measures to first eliminate the risk and if this is not possible, minimize worker exposure. Start first with collective measures and if necessary supplement them with individual measures, such as personal protective equipment (PPE).
THE ROLE OF PPE FOR SAFETY IN THE WORK PLACE
You won’t climb up an electric pole to fix connections without safety equipment’s now, would you? So why go to work without wearing the right PPE for whatever job you do. Now, what is PPE?
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) is clothing or equipment designed to protect workers from physical hazards when on a worksite. This includes things like safety helmets, safety goggles, ear protection, safety gloves, high visibility vests, work boots, fall protection and more.
THE 12 GOLDEN RULES OF SAFETY
Safety rules set the context within which you may work there form the framework in which all work activity should be carried out either for maximum productivity, efficiency, or safety of staff during work hours. Failure to pay attention to them or wilful disregard for them could lead to suspension, termination of your employment, in some cases severe injuries and sometimes death. That is why it is always important to pay attention to these strict work rules because these associated risk never goes on vacation.
So here are 12 Golden rules of safety
SAFETY SIGNS AND WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT
Think of it this way, you are walking into an engineering workshop and as you enter, you step on a slippery floor of oil leaks from machines that are worked on and you lose your balance, slip, and fall. You certainly will feel bad and what will come to mind will be “Why didn’t anyone say the floor was slippery or at least put up a sign” that’s how difficult and frustrating things get without proper information and the lack of safety signs.
Let’s start with a question. What ARE SAFETY SIGNS?
