Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has been commended for the adoption and implementation of safety standards in the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) in the company’s operations by the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Dauda Biu.
The commendation came during a visit by a team from the Dangote Cement Plc, Transport Division, to the FRSC office in Abuja. Mr. Biu praised the company for its efforts in reducing the number of crashes involving Dangote Transport Trucks through the implementation of minimum safety standards in the RTSSS.
The success achieved was made possible through the collaboration between Dangote and the FRSC, as well as the Technical Committee comprising the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) on speed limiting device implementation in Nigeria.
The establishment of an Outpost at Dangote Cement Plant Obajana was noted to have contributed significantly to the reduction of road traffic crashes along the ever-busy Obajana – Kabba road in Kogi State.
Other areas of collaboration between the company and the FRSC include the establishment of standard and functional driving schools, conducting professional Road Assessments (Road Safety Audit) for issues of safety concerns on the roads, and partnership on the Dangote Drivers’ Training Centre (Driving Range).
Dangote Cement Group Head, Transport, Health, Safety & Environment Nigeria & Pan Africa, Mrs. Ebere Okonkwo, highlighted several strategies adopted by the company to ensure compliance with Nigeria road safety standards.
These included improving drivers’ and journey managers’ competence in both HSE and job skills, improving maintenance management, embedding an effective journey management system with a focus on supervision, and introducing compliance monitoring and reporting such as performing check-ins on drivers while on trips, random alcohol and drugs tests, etc.
The HSE team also embarked on HSSE competence development training for all staff across categories to improve their competence on safety and their influence/supervision skills to the frontline workers (drivers).
Internal behavioral-based safety trainings, safety stand-downs to cascade learnings from internal and industry incidents, safety campaigns covering different prevailing risk areas, and pep talks by “HSE teams and transport trainers across locations were also carried out.
The FRSC carries out recertification training exercise for Dangote drivers, operations staff, and trucks in Nigeria every six months. Across Dangote’s Pan Africa locations, engagements and competence development trainings are deployed internally and externally based on risks using experienced and well-recognised internal resources and approved government resources.
Divisional Director Transport, Dangote Cement Plant, Obajana, Mr. Ajay Singh, said the collaboration between the Dangote Group and the FRSC was paying off.
He, on behalf of the company, also congratulated the Corps Marshal for his elevation and appointment. With the company’s efforts in implementing safety standards and the collaboration with the FRSC, Dangote Transport Trucks are poised to become safer on Nigerian roads.
