The Lagos State Government has sealed off IMPCO Company Limited where a 21-year-old machine operator, Happiness Okon, was killed by a plastic moulding machine on January 23.
The government said the failure of the firm to fully adhere to standard safety laws led to Okon’s death.
Metro had on Tuesday reported the story of Okon, who was killed barely five days after she was employed in the company.
Okon’s death has led to a dispute between the family and the company with the family members insisting that the latter was economical with the truth about the real cause of the girl’s death.
Following PUNCH Metro’s report, the Lagos Safety Commission paid an unscheduled visit to the company on Wednesday and sealed it off.
The commission, it was learnt, found out that there were evidence to show that the company’s safety policy had been compromised.
The Director-General of the commission, Mrs. Odebunmi Dominga, who led a team of experts and professionals to the factory on Wednesday, noted that the premises were not properly ventilated.
She also said protective equipment such as masks and boots were grossly inadequate.
“Investigation also revealed that the death of Miss Happiness Okon could have been avoided if the blow moulding machine was guarded and factory workers given better orientation,” she added.
Dominga, who decried the spate of avoidable accidents in the country, however reiterated the state government’s resolve to punish all those found wanting in order to reduce the incidence to barest minimum.
The director-general called on health and safety environmental management departments of all organisations operating in the state to register with the commission.
The measure, she said, would go a long in reducing the incidence of avoidable accidents in factories and workplaces.
An IMPCO source, who craved anonymity, said some officials of the state government were at the company on Wednesday.
He said when the officials came they checked the factory and other places and thereafter ordered that the factory be sealed off.
“Maybe they came because of Happiness (Okon) death. She was killed by a machine recently. When they came, they went round the company. By the time they finished, they sealed off the factory and said the management should see them within 48 hours,” the source said.
When our correspondent visited the company on Thursday, it was observed that the workers of the company did not come to work.
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