Setting the tone for this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work, safety professionals in Lagos are raising concerns beyond physical workplace hazards, drawing attention to the growing mental and environmental pressures facing workers.
At a news conference, the Lagos State Chairman of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, Mr. Olusola Ogunleye, warned that this year’s theme: “Fostering a Healthy Psychosocial Work Environment in a Challenging Mega City: Tackling Stress, Pollution and Insecurity in Lagos highlights a deepening crisis in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
In Lagos, where long commutes, erratic power supply and rising living costs are part of daily life, many workers begin their day already fatigued.
Hours lost in traffic, combined with the struggle to stay productive amid power outages and expensive data, are driving stress levels higher and increasing cases of burnout.
Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, ISPON says the consequences go far beyond discomfort.
Lagos state chairman of ISPON, Mr. Olusola Ogunleye says, globally, poor psychosocial working conditions are linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, as well as major economic losses.
“Globally, psychosocial risk factors, including job strain, effort-reward imbalance, and workplace bullying are responsible for more than 840,000 deaths annually”.
According to him, here in Lagos, the problem is intensified by constant noise from traffic and generators, poor air quality and growing insecurity, factors that affect workers’ mental health, focus and overall productivity.
“Lagos has become synonymous with stress”.
Vice Chairman, ISPON, Mrs. Kate Eke, said, Economic realities are also worsening the situation, as many workers feel underpaid, while a significant number are actively seeking new jobs, leading to low morale and weak engagement across workplaces.
Governing board member of ISPON, Dr. Monica Nwosu called for a shift in approach, insisting that workplace safety must extend beyond physical protection to include mental wellbeing, fair conditions and supportive leadership.
“I call on all stakeholders that all hands must be on deck”.
The institute is urging employers and government to adopt flexible work structures, enforce environmental standards and tackle insecurity around workspaces, while also extending protections to the informal sector.
For safety experts, improving the psychosocial work environment is no longer optional, it is essential for productivity, public health and the future of Lagos.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen