Tina Amanda
Electricity Workers Union has called on Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, to observe the proper safety measures in the electricity sector, as it is a delicate environment for its workers.
Assistant General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies South-South Zone, Comrade Innocent Lord-Douglas, who made the call in an interview with our correspondent Tina Amanda, following the recent death of a union member that fell from an electric pole, said the safety of PHED workers is a management’s responsibility.
According to him, there is need for PHED to conduct regular maintenance and replace expired network materials, as well as ensure that standard poles are in use.
“I can attest for sure that PHEDC has Safety Department and I have also seen in some instances where they distributed Personal Protective Equipment PPEs. What I can not say is how regular their equipment are being changed or enhanced.
“There is an issue that happened recently where one of my members died in the cause of active service, he fell from an electric pole. These are the areas that the Safety Department in PHEDC supposed to put more measures to see how they will upgrade on all the areas having deficiency”
He, however, urged electricity workers to be safety conscious in the discharge of their duties, stressing that the union has been engaging its members on the importance of safety.
“Personal safety is one’s responsibility and we have gone on with that crusade in all our areas of operation, educating our members to go the extra mile from what the management has provided because no management can provide enough especially when it has to do with a private Organisation.
“Workers should not allow themselves to be endangered all they need do is to provide what will protect them at work for their own safety, that is personal safety measures.
“I want to tell electricity workers if they see Pole’s that is not in good standing, the staff should report to the Safety Department. We will also engage PHEDC to know how regular they have been attending to issues like this”
He said the union will investigate into the matter to ascertain the cause of death of the union member who died in active service, whether the incidence is as a result of negligence from PHEDC.
