Occupational, Health Safety Bill Ready for Presidential Assent

Senate President, Senator David Mark

By Dele Ogbodo

The Senate President, Senator David Mark, Thursday assured Nigerians on the passage of the bill on Occupational Safety and Health.

Mark said the senate thoroughly debated the report which sought some amendments to the Act establishing it.

Speaking after the bill was unanimously passed into law, Mark said since the lower legislative chamber had equally passed the bill,  a conference committee would soon be inaugurated to harmonise the bill after which it would be sent for the  President’s  assent.

While presenting the  report of the Joint Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Health Establishment and Public Service,  Senator Chris Anyanwu, representing Imo East Senatorial District, also sought to make comprehensive provisions for securing the safety, health and welfare of persons at work and also to protect persons against risks to safety.

She also sought for the establishment of a national council for occupational safety to repeal and re-enact the Factory Act 2004.

The bill states: “That any employer who fails to ensure safety and health of all employees at workplace commits an and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than N500,000 or both imprisonment and fine in the case of an individual and a fine of less than N2 million for both body corporate.

“And in addition each director, manager or officer of the body corporate shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than one year or to a fine of not less than N500,000.”

It added:  “An employer shall after being notified by a female employee that she is pregnant, adopt the working conditions of the female employee in such manner as to prevent occupational exposure to ensure that the embryo or the foetus is afforded the same broad level of protection as required for members of the public and the employer shall not consider the notification of pregnancy as a reason to exclude the female employee from work.”

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