Electrical shock hazards are a relevant threat in many places across the globe, causing thousands of workers’ deaths. With their work being essential, preventing the death of electric workers is crucial in our country.
Nearly 60% of the electrocutions were caused by direct contact with electricity. Electricity workers account for a large portion of electrical injuries in the country each year. In 2019, for example, 61% of all workplace electrocutions occurred on electric poles, but these data do not tell the whole story. There is more to be learned from the data.
Eko Electricity Distribution Company, just like other Distribution companies has experienced too many electrocution of staff members in the course of executing their official duties.
“We sympathise with the families of the deceased and are currently engaging them. The cause of the accident does not change the fact that lives were lost, and this is what we are eager to address with the safety college”, the MD/CEO, EKEDC, Dr. Tinuade Sanda said.
Recently, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed that two staff of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) were electrocuted at the Obalende area of Lagos Island.
The practically sad case was reported to the Lion Building Division of the command on Saturday at about 5:55 pm, by another member of staff of the EKEDC from Lagos Island.
He said according to the EKEDC worker, one of his colleagues simply identified as Umaru, 51 years old, allegedly got electrocuted while digging to locate a faulty transformer cable at the P&T Obalende area.
In the process, another colleague named Sunday Awaruwa, 48 years old, who tried to rescue the victim was also electrocuted.
“Based on the report, detectives visited and photographed the scene, rescued the victims and rushed them to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“Their remains were deposited at the IDH Morgue, Yaba for autopsy. Meanwhile, an investigation is in progress,” he said.
Recently EKEDC launched a safety college scheme, which aims to raise employee awareness of the safe implementation of their tasks and improve the overall safety culture within the organisation. This, many stakeholders have described as a right step.EKEDC under Dr. Tinuade Sanda revealed that the scheme was planned as training courses targeted at educating a minimum of 90 per cent of the operations team members (linesmen, lines mate, cable jointers, etc.) before the end of the year.
Over the years many have realised that the majority of accidents caused within EKEDC’S network are due to a knowledge deficiency and procedural breach in its current operations which reiterates the need for retraining of all the operational staff in batches through the initiative.
EKEDC’s 1100 personnel will be trained in Standard Protection Code, HSE, and Security Modules in 10 batches of 110 participants per batch, which would form part of personnel appraisal for the year and feed into the scorecard provision of the Human Resources department.
The programme began during the recently concluded World Day for Safety and Health at Work and would be intensified and run continuously as part of the training modules for the staff every year to highlight the importance of safe practice as well as instil and deepen HSE culture among staff members.
Dr. Sanda and her team believe the initiative would facilitate the desired level of ownership, engagement and participation that was required to reduce and eliminate accidents and sustain the HSE Management System.
Electrocution of employees is quite an unfortunate situation, but then, under the current management, the families of the deceased have been engaged and steps are being taken to provide succour to the family of the deceased.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper
