SIFAX workers raise alarm over exposure to dangers - lament inadequate safety apparels

ABIOLA Seun |

Some of the operations staff of SIFAX Stevedoring Company have raised alarm over exposure of their lives to danger due to inadequate provision of safety kits by the management of the conglomerate.

The labour workers are those engaged by Ports and Cargo Handling Service terminal as well as the off dock facility at Trinity along the Apapa – Oshodi expressway.

Some of the staff dissatisfied with the development spoke with newsmen over alleged non availability of overall, boots and helmets, saying that what they were given as safety apparatus to enhance productivity can be described as outdated apparels.

They complained that their safety kits were inadequate while some have worn out but there has been no replacement hence posing dangers to their lives during operations.

Some of the labour workers who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity pleaded with the management not to expose their lives to dangers because without the safety kits, they are liable to sustaining injuries.

A unit officer from the dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), name withheld, explained that the issue has been on for a while but officials of the conglomerate have failed to respond to their yearnings.

Meanwhile, the organisation has debunked the claims of the labour, saying that all staff of the organisation are provided with safety kits including workers of the organisation.

Muyiwa Akande, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of SIFAX, maintained that the claims by the dock workers was nothing to write home about, adding that if those in the office could be given kits, the people on the field could not be exempted.

The kits include; helmets, reflective jackets, boots, hand gloves, nose muff, and safety goggles, among others.

Akande said, “There is provision for those of us in the office let alone those who are actually on the field.

“I am just talking hypothetically, if you are expected to be given one or two in a year and before the end of the year you misplace yours, definitely you may not be bold enough to come and ask for another one.

“I am not saying that is the case but I am just painting an hypothetical case.

“Ideally if we have complaints like this, we receive the complaint and the company is responsible enough to attend to their needs because we know there are safety standards in the industry that we must not breach because we cannot endanger the lives of our workers .If anything goes wrong starting from the image problem, the lives that could be lost.

“We have a whole lot to lose by not doing the right thing. I know we make provisions for the kits because I am also involved in the branding of all the kits when they are purchased,” he concluded.