The Nigerian Ports
Authority (NPA) has advised dockworkers to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during operations to ensure safety.
The Apapa Port Manager, Mr. Nasir Mohammed, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, on Wednesday.
Mohammed, who said the advice was an expression of NPA’s commitment to ensuring the safety of workers in the port, warned that the agency would not hesitate to sanction any terminal operator whose workers failed to adhere to the safety regulations.
“The port is (an) operational area and so for that reason, safety is always the top priority in any port of the world and in Lagos Port complex, we have given it the topmost priority.
“The terminals that operate here are aware. They must kit all their workers with adequate PPE – that is, Personal Protective Equipment.
“Any worker in a terminal, found not to be fully kitted, that terminal usually gets sanctioned.
“And because over a period of time we have insisted on that and they have also seen the need for that, they usually comply.
“Any worker in any of the terminals must be properly kitted, including identification because even wearing of ID card is a requirement.
“And then wearing overalls, safety boots, safety gears, different sorts of gear meant to enhance safety operations in the terminals, is a mandatory requirement. “
The port manager said the enforcement of the safety regulations at the port had ensured a near-zero accident record at the docks.
He said the port’s Health and Safety Department would continue to monitor the terminals closely to ensure workers’ compliance with safety guidelines.