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Wincanton Provides Health & Safety Training and Support in Zambia
In this article Lisa McGrevy describes what happened when she and Garry Spicer,
Divisional SHEQ Managers at Wincanton, visited Zambia to support the work of Transaid.
We went to run a five day Health & Safety Training course at the International Training
Centre (ITC) as part of Wincanton’s ongoing partnership with Transaid. The ITC is a
governmental organisation in Lusaka that delivers professional driver training and City
and Guilds courses in automotive, mechanical and electrical engineering amongst others.
It also operates automotive and mechanical engineering workshops.
We initially worked with the Transaid team in Zambia in 2008 when our objective was to
assist them in understanding where the ITC was in relation to basic safety standards and
to facilitate some practical changes. This first visit was as much a learning exercise for
us as it was for the team at the ITC. You have to place everything into context, so
understanding that the life expectancy of an adult male is only 38 to 40 years is a starting
point and with 15% of the adult population (aged 15 to 49) HIV positive, long term safety
issues fade into insignificance. This was brought home to us when we were discussing
asbestos-related illnesses (they still sell asbestos-containing materials in Zambia).
Telling 30 year-olds that they may suffer in 15 years has little meaning.
During that first visit we introduced them to concepts such as pedestrian and vehicle
segregation in the yard. We highlighted the importance of training vehicles being in good
repair to set and show students the standard that should be expected. Broken
windscreens and rags in fuel tanks had been the norm (spare parts can be difficult and
expensive to obtain). We worked with the ITC staff auditing and advising on health and
safety matters, basic manual handling training and facilitating some simple safety
improvements. The culmination of the visit was the introduction and implementation of a
set of minimum safety standards that they could continue to work towards.
Two months after our return to the UK, we were delighted to receive a photo from
Caroline Barber (Transaid Project Manager), showing us the signage and line marking in
the yard as part of the pedestrian/vehicle segregation.
In 2011, we were thrilled to be asked to return with a specific brief to deliver a safety
course to lecturers, managers and staff at the ITC that could be incorporated into their
own courses and perpetuate improved safety standards within the centre. From our
relationships with other volunteers and the Transaid Project Manager, we knew that the
team at the ITC would want a bespoke course that was much more than just classroom
training. As a result, we developed a training course that was based around the Zambian
Factories Act which included both theory and practical sessions.
We arrived on Saturday morning after a night flight and set to work immediately. We met
with two of the senior lecturers, who also run the safety committee, to discuss our plans
for the week and we set about taking some photographs to highlight points within the
course. They were concerned whether we had enough content in the slides to cover 5
days of classroom training; little did they know how hard we were going to work them!
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They were keen to show us some of the improvements that they had made since our last
visit and for us to review their audit.
We had a diverse class on Monday morning with representation from each department
including Mr. Kachingwe (Caretaker/General Assistant) and Mr. Mbasela (the Training
Manager). It became apparent why they had included a representative from purchasing
as the course went on; some of the issues we face as safety professionals are the same
the world over!
We based each day around a theory session in the morning. We used the Zambian
Factories Act as a reference document and encouraged them to familiarise themselves
with the contents by feeding back some practical applications. We didn’t want to run a
legislative course but we wanted to encourage them to understand that this legislation
exists in Zambia as there has been little enforcement. This led to some hilarity. In the
local news, the new government minister responsible for safety was threatening to close
down all the street bars. Why? They had the reasons at their finger tips ……no sanitary
facilities! Each day someone would come in with a query; the local market had burnt
down and the police were seeking to prosecute the owners……out would come their copy
of the Factories Act, they would find the answer and then associate it with the ITC. If they
had a fire could they be prosecuted? What equipment and checks did they need to put in
place? The local media couldn’t have helped more if they’d tried. No “elf and safety”
stories here!
Later each day we would spend some time on a practical session to understand where
the learnings applied in the Centre. We got the delegates to develop a checklist, to be
used as part of their management system, that they could use after we were back in the
UK.
When we asked the delegates what health and safety meant to them it was clear that it
has a different meaning in Zambia. For instance Mr. Kachingwe told us that, to him, it
meant ensuring that none of his colleagues contracted cholera; a stark reminder of the
privileged circumstances we live in. It was humbling to find delegates in the classroom
early each morning working on the homework questions; they couldn’t always complete
them at home due to the night time power outages that can last many hours.
The course, as we had intended, was very interactive and encouraged people to work in
teams that they wouldn’t usually be in. The culture in Zambia is hierarchical so it can be
difficult to challenge or question anybody senior. We had to make the environment a
“safe” place to do so in a way that would not be disrespectful or discourteous. The late
afternoon feedback sessions were great to facilitate as the delegates absorbed so much
which led to debate, challenges and agreements (and disagreements!) on the way certain
activities should be managed in future.
As you would expect there were exams at the end of the course, which included both
practical and theory tests. The delegates were alarmed to find no multiple choice
questions, but despite this, they all achieved marks of more than 75%. For the practical
element of the exam Garry set up some hazards in the workshop before the exam
started. However he was rumbled by Mr. Kachingwe who spotted them and made them
safe, demonstrating what he had learnt during the course. Even though he had spoiled
one element of the exam we had to congratulate him!
The final part of the course was for everyone to present their individual targets and
objectives to the group. They had worked as teams all week but it was important for them
to have a clear understanding of their individual contributions that could and would make
a difference. Mr. Kamanga the ITC Director was to be present for this session so,
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considering their hierarchical culture, you can imagine the importance of this. He fed back
to each of the delegates, helping to confirm that they could indeed move forward with
their own targets and objectives. He also asked some of the senior staff to consider how
the programme could be rolled out to all staff to ensure the success of the safety
management programme. Finally each delegate was presented with a certificate.
As safety professionals we often become caught up in the “noise” and politics within our
own organisations and may forget our true purpose, the reasons we started out in the
safety arena. Garry describes the opportunity of working with Transaid as “resetting my
key health and safety related core values”.
I can remember a presentation early in my career where I boldly stated “Lisa McGrevy
will make a difference”. It is sometimes difficult to pinpoint those times when you have
specifically made a difference. We can all recall projects or post accident work but they
often fall under the heading of “the day job”. The work with Transaid and the ITC in
Zambia is one of those projects that clearly stands out for me as making a difference. It
doesn’t end when you return home; I try and keep in touch via Transaid, receiving
updates and supplying information etc..
The work is challenging. It's certainly no holiday and you have to think differently as the
culture and priorities in life in other countries are very different, however it’s rewarding
beyond belief. If you’re a safety professional who is looking to challenge yourself and
make a difference then organisations such as Transaid are grateful for volunteers.
Lisa McGrevy pictured with members of ITC who successfully passed the 5 day health
and safety course