OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The overall objective of the consultancy is to improve workplace health and safety in the five (5) National Teachers’ Colleges (NTC)of Uganda which include; Kabala, Kaliro, Mubende, Muni, and Unyama.
The project is targeting NTC Leadership and top management, academic staff, students representative, and non-academic staff, support staff i.e. cooks, cleaners, security guards, NTC OSH committees, construction contractors and other vendors e.g. fire extinguishers, Local authorities.
Local leadership and authorities, neighboring community, public and private facilities in host area i.e. hospitals, police station, clinics, hostels, schools.
Environmental auditing is very important to establish compliance in work place operations with environmental laws and regulations coupled with OSH at workplaces. The activity done included;
- Carrying out Environmental Impact Audit for their assembling plant in Ntinda Industrial area for NISH Automobile Ltd.
- Carrying out Environmental Impact Audit for NAKUMAT new ware house in Komamboga- Kampala.
Training improves OSH situation as it positively influence safety and health behavior patterns of employers and employee. OSHEIA developed a tailor-made curriculum, resource materials and learners books for trainees in different sectors to meet their specific needs. Some of the trainings done by OSHEIA include;
- Training of twenty Kampala Pharmaceuticals Industries safety supervisors in electrical hazards, power tool safety, machine tag-out/block out and forklift safety.
- Training of thirty one GENTEX Enterprise Ltd machine operators and supervisors in Basic Occupational Safety and Health
- Training of 34 maintenance staff and operator of Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. The training modules involved introduction and the key terms used in LOTO, the importance of LOTO and the impact of non-compliance, scope and application, energy control program, energy control procedure, energy isolating devices, requirements for LOTO devices, periodic inspection and application/removal of controls and LOTO devices.
- Training of 34 maintenance staff and operator of Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries in energy control procedures, energy isolation devices, requirements for LOTO devices, periodic inspection and application/removal of controls and the impact of non-compliance, scope and application, energy control program.
- Training of 26 production staff of Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries in electrical safety, identifying electrical hazards, control and mitigation measures that are used for managing electrical hazards, applicable laws and regulations in Uganda and First Aid.
- Transport safety and journey management safety training for Patience Events Ltd.
Workplace inspection is a critical component to any preventative strategy that seeks to proactively address any occupational hazards which may exist and thereby avoid occupational accidents or the development of any occupational diseases.
It is a thorough and critical examination of the workplace for the purpose of identifying & recording hazards and implementing corrective actions. OSHEIA team has considerable experience in OSH inspection in different types of sectors especially in Africa.
The inspection checklist benchmarks minimum standards for our clients to follow so as to comply with national OSH standards. The checklist covers safety (fire, transport, and mechanical, civil, chemical), plants, equipment and tools, accessibility, emergency preparedness, training needs, hygiene, gender and occupational health. The most recent OSH inspections we have carried out include;
- OSH inspection for Kampala Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd (KPI) on invitation to establish general OSH compliance. OSHEIA also carried out OSH Training Needs Assessment of managers, supervisors and workers.
- OSH inspection of TUF Foam Industries Ltd which included collection of information about OSH compliance in relation to OSH Act, No 9, 2006 requirements. Using the Government OSH Inspection Checklist, OSHEIA accomplished the tasks and made recommendations to management for action.
- Assessment and inspection of GENTEX Industries Uganda Ltd with an aim to better understand the operations of the client so as to improve the Client’s compliance to OSH laws, Standards and Good Practice.
- Inspection of NTAKE Confectionary Industries in Nalukolongo industrial area and recommendations were made to management for action.
Occupational Safety and Health Survey.
URRENO carried out safety and health survey at workplaces in Uganda is to establish the level of compliance at workplaces construction, manufacturing, agriculture and service sector.
Training Needs Assessment for KACITA Uganda members.
URRENO and OSHEIA was contracted by KACITA Uganda to undertake a Training Needs Assessment exercise for her members in the Agriculture, Manufacturing and Construction sectors in March 2017. The study among others assessed the importance of general OHS training needs.