Lagos Re-Opens Factory Where Machine Killed Worker

pmnews-placeholder

The Lagos State Safety Commission has re-opened the Industrial Metalizing and Packaging Company Limited, IMPCO, where plastic moulding machine killed a 21-year-old operator, Happiness Okon.

The state government shut down the company on 8, Fatai Atere Way, Mushin, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, on Tuesday, 7 February, 2012 for failing to meet the state safety standards and regulations.

The company was reopened after several inspection visits by the commission’s team led by its Director General, Mrs. Odebunmi Dominga, to the factory to ascertain the level of the company’s compliance with safety standards.

In one of the meetings, the DG reiterated that the lives of all workers were important as everybody benefited from good jobs.

The company was considered for re-opening after it was ascertained that there was a considerable improvement in the level of compliance to safety measures.

However, the commission warned that IMPCO must provide all relevant safety gadgets and equipment within a time frame as the inspection of companies by the commission would be continuous and unannounced.

The company was, however, fined accordingly and made to sign an undertaking to always abide by safety rules and regulations.

The re-opening of the company was applauded by the factory workers who expressed appreciation for the commission’s effort in making the factory a safe place to work in.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Chalfoun Ziad, promised that the company would be committed to safety policies and regulations, saying that “the closure of the company has made us lose the credibility of our customers, suppliers and our bankers.”

He advised “manufacturing companies to strengthen their safety standards, otherwise, the law would catch up with them.”

Load more