The 6-second video clip that accompanied this post speaks volumes about the misuse of ceramic tiles that often results in life threatening injuries, and in worse cases, untimely death.
Ceramic tiles in these instances become as dangerous as missiles.
If the woman in the video clip is lucky, she would escape with minor injuries. If not, she could end up with broken bones or worse still, serious spinal cord or brain injury.
What happened in this particular case as in countless others, is that people in developing countries (including Nigeria), out of ignorance or to pinch pennies, put ceramic wall tiles on the floor.
This should never happen. Ceramic wall tiles are often thinner, glazed, beautifully decorated (especially those meant for countertops) and also cheaper. But when placed on the floor (instead of the thicker, stronger and less slippery floor tiles that can withstand heavy duty foot traffic), they now pose serious danger upon contact with water or other fluids.
In 2019, a young lady visiting the sister in Lagos from the east, died a few days after arriving in Lagos. After using the restroom upon arriving in Lagos, she slipped and hit her head hard on the wet ceramic floor and suffered irreversible brain damage. She died a few days later.
My personal experience occurred in 2017 while attending an event in a hotel in Owerri. I slipped and came very close to falling on the fleshly mopped ceramic floor.
On close examination, I noticed that highly glazed and beautiful ceramics wall tiles have been laid on the floor throughout the hotel.
When I complained to the hotel staff at the reception desk, I was told that an elderly gentleman actually slipped and fell the week before and sustained serious injuries for which the family threatened to sue the hotel.
In the absence of building codes in countries like Nigeria (or monumental failure to enforce the existing ones), the least we can do to minimise these freak accidents is to be properly educated.
First, the laying of ceramic wall tiles on the floor should be discouraged regardless of how beautifully decorated, glazed or cheap they may be.
Second, anybody walking into a house or building in Nigeria and other developing countries should be cautious because of the danger of slipping, falling and sustaining serious injuries as a result of misuse of ceramic tiles.
Throwing caution to the wind and walking carelessly can be disastrous.
In advanced societies like the United States, new houses are inspected before the owners move in, and all defective construction work must be corrected.
Public buildings are routinely inspected to ensure that they are safe and meet all building codes and regulations.
Video: (viewer discretion adviced)
Courtesy: Dr. Ekejiuba R. Njoku
(Secretary, Oaikhinan Ceramics Foundation)