Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) Friday observed the World Day for Health and Safety at Work in all districts of the province.

The main purpose of marking the day was to highlight the critical need for Pakistan to utilise reliable occupational safety and health (OSH) data for establishment of safer communities in the country.

In this regard, seminars, walks and rallies were conducted in different districts of the Punjab to make public aware of importance of the workers’ safety at work.

In his remarks, Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer said, The World Day for Health and Safety at Work promotes prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.” He said that Rescue 1122 was already working on different sustainable development goals, including good health and wellbeing, clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, climate action and life on land. “Our purpose is to promote and create safe and healthy culture to reduce the number of work related deaths and injuries,” he said.

He said that the Rescue 1122 had rescued 4.7 million emergency victims since its inception, while responding to 1,531,281 road traffic accidents, 1,980,505 medical emergencies, 92,019 fire emergencies, and saved losses worth over Rs. 200 million.

He said that there was a dire need to work on this aspect and it must be the major concern of all stakeholders to ensure safety and care of labourers. He said that the increasing number of emergencies could be prevented through effective planning and community involvement, particularly emergencies at workplace could be reduced through coordinated efforts amongst industrial units and organisations concerned.

The Rescue 1122 director general advised rescuers to take stringent steps to ensure their personal safety like wearing of safety helmets, gloves, masks, safety shoes and fire turnout gears during rescue operations. He said that workers’ safety was every one’s responsibility. Personal protection equipment not only provides protection but also enhances working capacity of rescuers, he added.

He that Rescue 1122 believes in saving lives and promoting safety by providing emergency care and through coordination with organizations working on similar objectives. He expressed his commitment to work for development of safer communities through active community participation.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It is observed on April 28 every year and is being observed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) since 2003.