Amid the growing concern over the rise in incidences of death by electrocution and other forms of electrical accident across the country, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has stressed the need for full compliance with the health, safety and environment code by electricity users and the service providers.
The Team Leader (Media and Community Relations) of the Company, Idris Muhammad made the call in a Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC) audience participation programme, Kasar mu a Yau monitored in Kaduna.
The electricity worker disclosed that most of the electrical accident and electrocution recorded in the country in recent past were attributed to negligence, non observance of the necessary safety measures by electricity users and unauthorized tampering with power supply facilities by untrained persons.
He revealed that even though Kaduna Electric has recorded the least number of accident associated with electricity in the last two years, the Company nonetheless attaches high premium to safety of lives and public as well as private assets. “It is one of the mandatory operational requirement of our Company that all necessary safety measures must be observed before, during and after every operation, maintenance or construction work and the HSE unit must certify every work safe before it is carried-out”, he contended.
Muhammad further charged all actors in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to promote “the culture of safe working environment and safe working attitude” among its personnel, calling for appropriate sanction for contravention of any aspect of the safety code.
He also appealed to “urban development authorities and environmental regulatory agencies to always ensure that the appropriate safe distance otherwise known as right of way are maintained to prevent people from erecting structures under power lines and infractions to the safety code should be penalized”.
He also called on relevant government agencies to ensure that all electrical equipment produced in, or imported into the country meets the required standard before they are allowed into the market. “Another way of reducing electrical accidents is that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria in particular must ensure that all electrical equipment produced within the country or imported pass the needed quality assurance tests”, he added.
