UCH Inaugurates Occupational Health Dept to Boost Workplace Safety, Specialist Training

Funmi Ogundare

The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, yesterday, inaugurated its Department of Occupational Health and Safety, in an effort aimed at improving workplace safety, preventing work-related illnesses, and strengthening specialist training in Nigeria’s health sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Head of Department, Occupational Health and Safety, Prof. Folasade Omokhodion, noted the establishment of the department was aimed at promoting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers while safeguarding them from hazards associated with their occupations.

She noted that although the department was approved by the hospital’s Board of Management in October 2018, infrastructure challenges delayed its full take-off until now.

She explained the initiative was conceived following a 2016 presentation by the Occupational Health Unit in the Department of Community Medicine, which highlighted widespread health and safety risks within the hospital environment and the need for preventive measures.

According to her, the new department would provide occupational health services across hospital units, extend support to workers in the informal sector, and train doctors in the subspecialty of occupational health.

“Occupational Health and Safety is the interaction between work and health. It is a discipline that promotes the highest level of physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations and safeguards them from adverse effects of work exposures,” she said.

She observed that while multinational corporations, particularly in the oil and gas sector, maintain strong occupational health programmes, many public sector institutions lack structured systems to protect workers, often relying only on staff clinics after illnesses occur.

The HOD stressed the need for occupational health services became more evident during the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics, which exposed healthcare workers to significant risks, underscoring the importance of preventive strategies.

She further noted that workplace accidents such as fires, falls and machinery-related incidents continue to contribute to disability among workers, particularly in factories and poorly regulated workplaces.

Stressing the department’s capabilities, she said it had acquired equipment to measure workplace hazards such as noise, dust, and heat, enabling environmental audits and occupational risk assessments.

She added: The department had previously trained departmental safety representatives across the hospital in 2018 and collaborated with the COVID-19 task force to develop risk management plans that helped mitigate infection transmission.”

Omokhodion disclosed the department had received accreditation from the National Postgraduate Medical College to train resident doctors in occupational health, making UCH the first centre in Nigeria to commence such subspecialty training.

She expressed optimism that the inauguration would encourage other institutions to establish similar programmes and ultimately improve occupational health services nationwide.

The don commended the support of stakeholders, including the Society of Occupational and Environmental Health Physicians of Nigeria (SOEHPON) and the medical department of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, which contributed funds for equipment procurement that facilitated accreditation.

In his remarks, President of SOEHPON, Dr. Musa Shaibu, pledged its support for the department, describing it as a game changer for specialist training and workplace safety in Nigeria.

He noted the department would strengthen in-country capacity for training occupational health professionals and advance safety practices across sectors.

He said the establishment of the department, marked a major milestone in the development of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) practice in Nigeria, adding that it would provide holistic training for specialists and enhance service delivery within and beyond the hospital.

“The practice of Occupational Health and Safety must be prioritised in all workplaces, not only in hospitals”, the president said, adding that effective OHS systems reduce workplace incidents, lower morbidity and mortality, improve staff morale and enhance organisational productivity.

According to him, for hospitals in particular, effective occupational health and safety remains a core component of clinical governance and quality healthcare delivery.

Shaibu explained that SOEHPON, the umbrella professional body for occupational health practitioners in Nigeria and the diaspora, welcomed the initiative because it aligns with its mission to advance the development and practice of occupational and environmental health nationwide.

He noted that one of the longstanding challenges facing the profession had been inadequate local capacity for training specialists, a gap he noted, the UCH initiative would help close.

“The inauguration of this department, the first of its type in any Nigerian teaching hospital, will change the narrative for good,” he said.

The president also disclosed that the society would revive plans to endow a professorial chair in Occupational Health at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, a project first initiated in 1992 but stalled due to funding constraints.

He said the society would reopen discussions and mobilise stakeholders to ensure the establishment of the professorial chair in the shortest possible time.

Shaibu commended UCH for taking the lead in promoting occupational health practice and called on industry leaders and organisations across sectors to emulate the initiative by prioritising occupational health and safety in their workplaces.

The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, has said the new department will serve as a hub for safeguarding healthcare workers and strengthening preventive health services across sectors.

He described the initiative as a major milestone in the hospital’s commitment to workplace safety, occupational disease prevention, and improved well-being of workers.

He noted that workplaces remain central to national productivity but also expose workers to physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial hazards when adequate safeguards are not in place.

According to him, the establishment of the department reflects UCH’s proactive vision to promote safer work environments for healthcare professionals and other workers.

“With the commissioning of this department, UCH is reaffirming its leadership role not only in clinical care but also in workplace health promotion, occupational disease prevention, safety training, risk assessment and research in occupational medicine,” he said.

The CMD emphasised that healthcare workers face multiple occupational risks, including infectious diseases, exposure to hazardous materials, workplace injuries, and stress-related conditions, making structured occupational health systems imperative.

He explained the new department would function as a multidisciplinary platform bringing together physicians, nurses, safety experts, environmental health specialists, and other professionals to strengthen surveillance of workplace hazards and improve compliance with safety standards.

Otegbayo added: “The department would also provide expert guidance to industries, institutions and government agencies on occupational health practices.”

He reiterated that the department would strengthen workplace hazard surveillance, improve safety compliance, and support preventive health initiatives, noting that UCH already maintains a safety desk within its Human Resources Department.

Otegbayo further expressed optimism that the commissioning would enhance collaboration between healthcare institutions and other sectors, ultimately improving worker protection and productivity nationwide.

Also speaking, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, emphasised that a nation’s wealth is largely determined by how well it protects the health and safety of its workforce.

She called for stronger workplace health systems and increased awareness across institutions.

The lawmaker noted that workforce wellbeing remains central to productivity, stressing that organisations must prioritise occupational health and safety to improve service delivery and reduce preventable health challenges.

She commended the vision behind the new department, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening health services, training and overall wellbeing beyond hospital-based care.

“The initiative demonstrates that health services should extend to workplaces, educational institutions and other environments where people spend most of their time”, Banigo stated.

The chairman emphasised the need to raise awareness on workplace safety, noting that many people still lack adequate understanding of occupational health risks.

“Sustained education and advocacy would help reduce workplace-related illnesses and mortality,” she added

She also pointed out that the functionality of health facilities is more important than their physical size, stressing that digital integration and efficient service delivery should be prioritised to ensure desirable outcomes for workers and the wider community.

The lawmaker called for collaboration among professionals, institutions and stakeholders to support the initiative, urging industry players to contribute to the development of occupational health systems in Nigeria.