Practicing vulcanizers in Edo State have been urged to maintain utmost cleanliness of their work environment and always dress well to earn the respect of their customers.
The managing director of Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA), Mr. Dennis Oloriegbe, gave the advice at a seminar for the vulcanizers.
The seminar was held at the EDSTMA Training Academy in Benin City, Edo State.
While noting that being a vulcanizer does not imply that one should not dress well, the EDSTMA boss stressed that they must learn to present themselves as responsible people, as they would be addressed the way they dressed.
Mr. Oloriegbe equally urged the vulcanizers to make their safety a priority.
‘Don’t work close to the road. Your communication with your customers is part of your responsibility; learn to speak politely to your customers.
“‘Sorry’ and ‘thank you’ are two great communication words you should learn to use in the course of your duty,” Mr. Oloriegbe stated.
He also encouraged the vulcanizers to abide by the constitution of Nigeria and other laws at the seminar, which has as its theme ‘Ensuring Road Transport Safety in Compliance to Safety Standard on Tyre Usage , Repairs, and Maintenance in Accordance to National and International Best Practices.’
Speaking on the theme of the seminar, Engineer Emeana Uche of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) advised the workshop participants on the need to always adhere to industry specifications on the usage of tires.
According to her, the vulcanizers should keep to gauging tires according to industry specifications so as to avoid overinflation and underinflation of tires.
‘Make sure you put the required gauge and pressure so as to protect people’s lives,’ she stated.
While speaking on tire types and usages, the lecture presenter identified good thread, lock proof, and casing as some qualities of a tire.
Engineer Uche equally revealed to the vulcanizers how to identify an expired tire and some basic safety tips to adhere to in order to make a tire last.
In another presentation, Doctor Amadasun Lovington of Uselu Psychiatric enlightened the vulcanizers on how to know the state of their mental health as well as how to improve on it.
The president of the National Vulcanizers Association of Nigeria (NAPVON), Edo State chapter, Comrade Uyi Guobadia, stated that the essence of the seminar is to reawaken the consciousness of members on tire usage, repairs, and maintenance in accordance with national and international best practices.
He gave an assurance that there would be subsequent editions and more organized seminars for members of the association as a way of improving their performance and keeping them abreast of the latest trends in the vulcanizing trade.
The seminar equally provided an opportunity for the seminar’s attendees to have staff of the Edo Health Insurance Scheme speak to them on the importance of the health scheme and how to be enlisted in the scheme.
