A global power management company, Eaton, says it has held the 2021 edition of its ‘Eaton Safety Roundtable Session’ in Lagos as part of efforts to enhance electrical safety in buildings.

According to a statement, the annual event is a conduit for experts, regulators, MEP consultants, contractors and other stakeholders to discuss safety in buildings and sustainable ways to curb the incessant electrical fire outbreaks in buildings across the country.

It said in line with Eaton’s mandate to improve people’s lives with power management technologies, the firm had designed products to reduce the risk of harmful and costly arc flash incidents that could result in injury or death of personnel and damage to property.

The Regional Manager, Eaton Nigeria, Charles Iyo, while speaking at the event, said the existence of counterfeit products continued to threaten safety in buildings.

He said the firm would continue to collaborate with the government agencies and relevant stakeholders to eradicate the existence of such products in the Nigerian market.

“We will continue to advocate for knowledge sharing sessions such as this to bring all relevant stakeholders together, ensuring that the tough conversations are had while also providing access to members of the public to ask and receive answers to pertinent questions,” he added.

The Assistant General Manager, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, Usman Momoh, was quoted as saying that collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure standardisation in the industry would go a long way in enhancing safety in both residential and commercial properties.

He said the role of the regulators as a watchdog to enforce safety codes and standards could not be overstated.

“Prevention is better and cheaper than cure. Safety in buildings should precede the design of buildings. Regulation is the foundation on which safety in buildings depends upon. However, ignorance and lack of awareness on the regulatory requirements often lead to loss of not just properties but lives,” he said.

The Assistant Director, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Achema Alewu, said SON would continue to ramp up measures to stem the wide circulation of substandard products imported or locally manufactured.

“However, only through increased awareness and continuous collaboration between all stakeholders will we effectively reduce to the barest minimum the cases of electrical fires in buildings,” he added.