Lagos agency: We sealed Monaplex factory over safety infractions, zero staff training

The Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) says it sealed off the Monaplex plastic factory over safety infractions. 

The commission is reacting to TheCable’s two-part investigation which exposed the poor working conditions of factory workers in the state.

On Monday, TheCable published the first of a two-part report that investigated the condition of Matthew Eworo, the 29-year-old worker whose hand was stuck in the base of an active mixer while on a night shift at the Monaplex plastic factory on August 31.

The report also exposed the poor working conditions at Monaplex and the factory’s failure to provide protective and safety measures for its workers.

On Tuesday, officials of the commission visited the factory located in the Ojota area of the state for inspection and subsequently sealed off the facility.

In a statement on Wednesday, the commission said preliminary investigations showed that there was zero employee training, zero health and safety policy in the company.

The agency added that the investigation showed the factory did not provide personal protective equipment for workers, saying the staff welfare was also poor.

The LSSC said there was poor emergency response following the accident Matthew had in the factory, adding that a further investigation is ongoing.

“The particular incident that caused the seal action was due to an unreported accident involving a recently employed 29-year-old identified as Mathew Eworo whose arms got mangled in a mixer while on night duty,” the statement reads.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that there was zero employee training, very poor housekeeping, no health and safety policy or safety management system, unavailability of personal protective equipment for workers and poor welfare for staff.”