Operational accident: Ogun govt halts work at steel company

The Ogun State Government has issued a stop-work order to the management of a steel company located in Sagamu over an operational accident.

This was contained in a statement signed on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Kafayat Lawal, following the death of one of the company’s staff members.

She stated that the government took the decision after personnel from the Safety Office of the ministry conducted an on-site assessment and preliminary investigations into the death of the worker, identified as Abdulfatai Nuru, in an operational accident within the facility hours earlier.

The statement reads: “Preliminary findings has indicated potential lapses in workplace safety within the facility.However a comprehensive investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances that led to the death of the worker.

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“As a precautionary measure,the state government through the Ministry of Environment has therefore directed the facility to stop operation with immediate effect pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives.”

The Permanent Secretary used the opportunity to extend condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased, assuring the general public that the unfortunate incident would be thoroughly investigated, with appropriate regulatory action taken based on the findings.

She also reiterated the commitment of the state government to enforcing workplace safety standards across the state, emphasizing that workers’ lives are non-negotiable. She reminded industries of their obligations to implement effective safety measures and ensure strict compliance with applicable regulations in order to prevent avoidable workplace incidents.