TANKER/TRUCK OWNERS: THE NEW TERRORIST.
Don’t be surprised that I called the taker owners in Nigeria terrorist. Going by the statistics since May this year, they actually have been terrorizing the people. Taking unsuspecting lives, making children……..orphans, wives…… widow and families…… helpless. If you will remember just this year alone there have been more than twenty tanker/truck accidents in the country taking over 120lives. The first of the series of the incidents occurred on June 2nd at Iyana Ipaja, in Lagos. This incident was said to have been caused by bad road. Then another at Onitsha slaying over 50 people who were peacefully asleep in their bed. This has been the trend in Nigeria since the time I can’t remember. I can re-call an incident on Lagos-Ibadan express way when a taker in traffic with other Nigerian road users catch fire killing more than 200 people. The content of the tanker spilled to the neighboring village to continue the havoc. Going by these trends one would have expected that the government find a lasting solution to this Monster.
On the 1st of September, a heavy duty truck fell from Ojuelegba bridge killing four people while they were waiting to be passed by the traffic. Like that is not enough, two days after another two incidents occurred again in Lagos and a state in the eastern part of the country. Is it not time the government do something? Who do we blame for this negligence? We all need to be concerned: as we are all vulnerable.
The united nation through the International Labor Organization: in her Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires that you must have a safety policy to govern your operations if you have more than 5 workers {excluding domestic workers}. Nigeria ratified this act by developing the factory act. The factory act requires that all employers must be responsible for the safety of all employers and the safety of those affected by their acts and omissions. Today, the factory act is displayed in most work place for decorative purposes and its content is broadly ignored. Health and safety is practiced for three reasons: legal, economic and moral. If you ignore the legal and economic reason, why ignore the moral? It is the moral that brings out the humanity in us, it is what teaches us that we should not cause harm to others. Statutorily we have a third party insurance policy for our vehicles because of moral reason.
It is the responsibility of the government to make legislations so that employers can priorities health and safety just as they care about marketing, sales, accounting, purchasing, production and so on. It will amaze you that the required laws for health and safety management in Nigeria are in existence but what is lacking in enforcement and implementation. Which governmental agency is responsible for ensuring that these tankers/trucks are inspected and certified road worthy before they leave the port or the tank farm as the case may be? Do they carry out these checks? What is the competency level of the inspection officers? How do they document records? What happens if there is a breach, do we fine, impound or correct them?
It high time the government took both punitive and non-punitive measures against companies that are not abiding by the laws. Government must begin to punish drivers, jail their managers, directors and owners of companies whose truck/ tankers is involved in act of negligence. Their company operational license should also be withdrawn or suspended. The options of fine, cooperate liability, training/ audit order and others should also be explored.
Activities of companies that deal with the truck/ tankers should also be regulated. All tankers before going into a depot are given a safety check so that hazards are spotted, evaluated and controlled before they are granted access. This same check should be given to them before they leave the depot but this time they will check for more than fire hazards. An evidence of check should be signed by the officer doing the check in duplicates and a copy carried on the truck throughout the journey.
The capacity of the road safety officers and VIO should be boosted beyond checking vehicle papers. They should be able to check that the container on the truck is safely positioned and fixed to the truck; they should be able to do an on the spot safety assessment of truck carrying PMS and other flammable and highly inflammable substances. They should ask for safety pass given to the driver from the port or depot to show that a designated/competent safety officer from the company has passed the truck before hitting the road.
All trucks must be force to carry their maintenance/ repair record on board and government should certify the maintenance company. The drivers should show record of competency and medical fitness. The inspecting officer should be equipped enough to check that the gauge on all the tires are regular, they should be able to carry out on the spot drug and alcoholic test on drivers and if they fail the test as required by existing law they should be stopped from driving and jailed.
The government must show serious commitment to stopping the incessant murder of Nigerians by tanker/ truck owners.

Usman Hammed {GIFireE, ANISP}
Health and safety expert! Fire safety instructor! First Aider
sheconcept@gmail.com
08028558872, 08098558872.