NATIONAL HSSE SUMMIT 2022: Conference Excites Stakeholders, Task Organizers on Regular Safety Programmes.

Participants at the National Safety Communication Conference 3.0, organized by the Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR), which took place at LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Ikeja, on December 3, 2022 are clamouring for more HSSE Summit to hold regularly for Nigerians to inculcate safety consciousness and compliance into their daily lives.
Bar. Alexander Ogedengbe in his remark at the Summit, expressed joy and satisfaction but, called on the organizers – Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR), to “design such safety programmes specifically targeted at the youths and students for proper safety education.”

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Amao’s, representative – Group Captain F.O Bassey, after delivering his lecture also charged the initiators and promoters of the Safety Communication Summit, to expand their sphere of influence and ‘reach out to private sector organizations for broader participation.”
He called for proper articulation of the Safety issues raised at conference to “draw up a standard communique” as prerequisite for Safety Communication policy.

While speaking on the theme: “Safety Data Management: Harnessing the value chain for economic development and national cohesion” Coach Daniel Thomas, a respected board member of Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), harped on the importance of understanding the science of Data gathering, verification, storage and management for easy planning and safe running of our daily lives, as a family unit, corporate organizations and government bodies.

The Conference moderator and ISPON spokesperson, Engr. Timothy Iwuagwu in his classic analysis coordinated the Summit with practical safety life experiences and admonished journalists and communicators to “avail themselves with the opportunity the Chartered Safety Management body- ISPON has put in place to partner with Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR) in training and certifying Safety Communicators to carry out their duty as Certified Safety Reporters in more professional manner with ethical knowledge and principles of HSSE Reporting.”

The Federal Fire Chief in charge of Southwest ACGF C.E. Njoku, also commended the organizers in his speech and enjoined Nigerians to always utilize the opportunity as offered by this HSSE Summit to educate themselves on basic safety procedures.
He admonished everyone on precautionary measures on fire safety to prevent incidences of fire out break during this dry/harmattan season coupled with the lingering fuel crisis in the country.
In his submission, Engr. Tukur Lawal, the BUA Group, head of Safety and Community Affairs stated, that “Safety Communication should made simple for easier understanding by everyone”.
He also encouraged the organizers not to relent in their effort towards ensuring effective Safety Communication procedure.

Also, speaking at conference, a member of the Board of MCSR, Barr. Chris Owuamanam lamented the multiple data collating bodies in Nigeria and wondered why Nigeria cannot harmonize her numerous Data collecting units into a central processing unit for easier and safer management.
He posited that such “unified Data Management System will stimulate economic development” and also help security agencies in investigation and prosecution.

The Summit also witnessed unique presentation on Food Safety by Sona Agro Allied Foods Limited.

The Conference Convener and Lead Reporter, Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR), John Thompson, earlier in his welcome address submitted that;
“Without communication, safety is blind.
Therefore, vivid Communication of Safety is paramount for sound health, safer society and sustainable environment”.
The vibrant Certified Safety Reporter said, “Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR), evolved to deepen the conversation about HSSE by putting spotlight on routine safety analysis, hazard identification, risk assessment and abatement.”

Thompson also stated, that “the 2022 National HSSE Summit on Communication, was deliberately adopted by the Members and Board to focus on Safety Data. As part of our objectives, MCSR is open to robust engagement with relevant organizations, stakeholders and non stakeholders towards mining, collating verifiable survey and data on general safety.

He affirmed that “We believe that the quest for Sustainable national development will be a mirage, if accurate and reliable safety data are not available. The local content development must be all encompassing for proper planning and higher productivity.”

As the part of their efforts aimed at promoting Safety standards, Thompson who is the President of the Safety Communication Centre disclosed, “In our efforts to contribute in HSSE compliance for enhancement of industrial productivity and national development, Media Centre for Safety Reporting, launched Safety DataBase Portal, geared towards aggregating, verifying and communicating reliable periodic HSSE reports on various sectors of our economy.
Our pioneer online Safety Radio has since commenced broadcasting and the listening App of Safety Africa Radio is downloadable at google playstore.”

“We also understand the complexity of safety Communication procedure and the need for cooperation and collaboration with critical stakeholders in general Health, Safety, Security and Environment to have access to the Portal for quick verification and prompt response to reports…the certified ISPON member said.

Thompson assured that “it is also our conviction that this summit will foster better understanding, when leveraging the benefits of effective Data Management in Safety communication.

In line with the 2022 HSS Summit theme, National Safety Communication Conference 2022 has commenced the process of domesticating global practical safety policy frameworks for auditing, investigating and incidents reporting in Nigeria”.

The conference attendees, including practicing journalists and bloggers, expressed their readiness to be part of the future HSSE Communication Summit, which they unanimously admitted to be highly knowledgeable, practical and rich in content.

The conference also witnessed the HSSE CERTIFICATION awards, presented to selected organizations and individuals, the organizers called “Safety Champions” for distinguishing themselves in general safety procedure and promotion.