ACT TOGETHER TO BUILD A POSITIVE SAFETY AND HEALTH CULTURE

-As LNRCS calls for stronger investment in workplace first aid to reduce deaths and juries at work

Marking World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) has sent out a passionate call for action for all employers to adequately invest in workplace first aid as a first step to ensure employees safety. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022 is being commemorated today 28 April 2022 to explore the topic of participation and social dialogue in creating a positive safety and health culture.

The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on the magnitude of the problem and on how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.

“We must act together to build a positive safety and health culture and the Liberian Red Cross remains committed to working in this direction” the LNRCS Secretary General pointed out. Mr. Gregory T. Blamoh emphasized “We want stronger investment in workplace first aid”. The LNRCS through itsWorkplace First Aid Business has completed training for over 380 persons in emergency lifesaving First aid for over 60-institutions and has further deployed more than 1500-kits.  “The Red Cross is here, prepared and ready to deliver more trainings and kits to improve safety at the workplace”, Mr. Blamoh assured employers.

As Liberia joins this year’s celebration of World Day for Safety and Health at work, the LNRCS is also pleased to emphasize that the right to a safe and healthy working environment be valued and promoted by everyone.  According to the Red Cross Secretary General, this will make workers feel comfortable raising concerns about possible risks or hazards in the workplace and enable management to be proactive in collaborating with workers to find appropriate, effective, and sustainable solutions.

In commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the Liberia National Red Cross Society is holding a series of activities through its Workplace First Aid Business Unit with an emphasis on creating a safe workplace in Liberia. The Red Cross is using this event as an opportunity to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue on the importance of creating and investing in Workplace First Aid in order to mitigate and prevent deaths, and injuries and avoid the spread of COVID-19 at the workplace.

As part of the April 28 activities, the Liberian Red Cross has organized an exhibition on Workplace First Aid training and safety Awareness at the Ministry of Public Works as well as Conex Petroleum with over 50 staff expected to participate. The Red Cross Workplace First Aid Business will also raise public awareness in populated streets and communities on how to make the workplace safe and healthy for all.

While the International Labor Organization Global Launch of the World Day focuses on “Building a preventative safety and health culture through effective social dialogue”, the Red Cross wishes to call on employers to ensure that the working environment is safe and healthy for all employees.

The Red Cross also wants employees to work safely to protect themselves and not endanger others. “We must continue to move toward building a strong safety and health culture at all levels”, Mr. Blamoh said. 

“There are emerging risks at work and each of us must do all we can to stop injuries and deaths on the job”, he added. We encourage employers to build resilience at the workplace to effectively and swiftly respond and mitigate the impact of accidents by investing in Workplace First Aid.  

The World Day emphasizes safety protocols and measures that need to be adhered to, to avoid any type of workplace accident. The ultimate objective of the day is to commit employees and the general public to work safely by adhering to all safety guidelines.

“The celebrations of this day will be incomplete if we do not make a commitment to ourselves that we are going to stay safe”.   

Safety is one of the most important issues which are often ignored the most. “Our safety is in our own hands and we must do everything we can in order to stay safe”, Mr. Blamoh emphasized.  “Let us celebrate the occasion of World Safety Day with everyone around us by reminding them to never compromise or ignore safety”, he said in his statement.

The Workplace first aid underscored the need for an immediate response to injuries sustained in emergencies. The different trainings offer by the LNRCS Workplace First Aid Business provide new skills and increase the confidence of staff to act and prevent or manage life-saving emergencies.

“First aid is particularly important as an initial response in providing effective and swift care that can reduce the impact of injury and improve chances of survival,” said Mr. Blamoh. “The LNRCS’ aim is to assist employees in strengthening their ability to provide emergency assistance.”