AIHA’s International Affiliate Program Bridges the Gap in Kenya

By Colleen Morrison

When he launched the AIHA list for Africa in June 2005, Andrew Cutz, CIH, did not know  what to expect. He anticipated an exciting dialogue among colleagues, but he didn’t realize that in a short time he’d be chatting with 650 active subscribers. Through all the back and forth, one colleague in particular stood out to him: Jackline Achieng of Kenya. 

Since their first online conversations, Cutz and Achieng have become regular correspondents, never having met in person but keeping in touch through e-mail and the YahooGroup chat option, where they “talk” in real-time. In exchanges, Jackline had indicated that she wanted to continue her studies but mentioned that she is limited by the lack of resources in Kenya—both in terms of the programs available and financial restrictions. 

Think Globally, Act Locally

So, when AIHA voted in March to establish a membership type for those in developing countries, there became a direct way for Cutz to help. With a mantra of “think globally, act locally,” Cutz decided to sponsor Achieng to become an AIHA International Affiliate member. 

“As a past chair of the AIHA International Affairs Committee, it was important for me to start the ball rolling,” Cutz points out. “For the last decade the committee has debated options of mentoring colleagues overseas. Now we have a way to do it on a personal, one-on-one level.”

When Cutz contacted Achieng with his sponsorship plans, she was enthusiastic about the new doors her membership would open. “Educational prospects for OHS professionals in Kenya are too limited. The AIHA membership could create opportunities for me to advance my expertise.”

Still Evolving

In Kenya, the OHS profession is an evolving one. In 1951, the country’s government began regulating worker health and safety with the introduction of The Factories and Other Places of Work Act. Overseen by the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety Services within the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Development, the act established legal safeguards to protect employees in their workplaces. While new acts have been introduced since then, those in the field point out that as a whole, the laws are outdated. 

“The labor department ought to revise its laws to reflect the changing times—most of the laws were enacted during colonial days and have never been revised to date. This greatly hampers the spread of OHS ‘gospel’ and creates a loophole for employers to take advantage of the workforce,” says Achieng. 

While there is government regulation in Kenya, many companies do not comply with legal requirements, and the number of government inspectors is too slight to keep up with the growing industrial activity. The DOHSS has authorized approximately 150 OHS engineers and hygienists to monitor every workplace in the country. Of that number, only about one-quarter of the positions have been filled, leaving too few scientists to monitor more than 2,000 work environments. 

Striving for Compliance

These logistical challenges pose significant concerns for Kenya’s occupational health and safety environment, but the documented corruption of inspectors may be a more pressing issue. A 2006 report from the International Labor Organization indicates that out of 2,382 workplaces inspected in Kenya, only one prohibition notice was issued, 41 improvement notices were served and 30 were subject to legal proceedings. Yet, over the same period, 1,387 occupational accidents were reported, including 95 fatal accidents. 

“The aspect of corruption among the inspectors who are empowered to ensure that these laws are followed negatively impacts the enforcement of the law,” states Achieng. “Most of them are very corrupt and this has undermined safety performance in many companies for a long time.”

Inspector corruption and availability notwithstanding, businesses bring their own set of challenges for the OHS professional in Kenya. Though all workplaces in the country are required by law to register with the government, only an estimated 40 percent have complied. Similarly, the law requires companies to file reports of all occupational accidents, but experts say that is rarely done and many employers report such incidents only for the purpose of workers’ compensation. Recent developments show a propensity for employers to challenge inspectors as well. Increasingly, companies are contesting the conclusions made by the OHS professional, requiring inspectors to support their opinions with more and more scientific data. 

Achieng feels that in Kenya, more often than not, businesses react this way because they see health, safety and environmental changes to be excessive, and most importantly, a deduction from their bottom line. “In Kenya today, the attitude of most top management hasn’t changed towards safety. Despite the obvious benefits accruing from OHSE activities, this process is still being regarded as a ‘Cinderella’ activity by most organizations. Business leaders believe OHSE is a not an investment and thus is a waste of money. Its fruits are not visible in the short term.”

Solving One Problem at a Time

The country is tackling these issues one at a time. The goal is to expand the expertise of professionals working in OHSE in Kenya, including government inspectors, and also to explain the benefits of workplace safety to the companies who need to implement safeguards. Having access to the latest published research and a network of colleagues will help professionals in Kenya to further their mission. 

Cutz says this is where AIHA comes in and why the International Affiliate membership is an important milestone. “Many western governments continue to make promises of aid to the ‘Forgotten Continent.’ As a professional society, AIHA is doing something. The International Affiliate membership is a first step in the right direction in promoting occupational hygiene practice in developing countries.”   

Cutz, a CIH, is past chair of the AIHA International Affairs Committee and a manager of occupational hygiene at T. Harris Environmental Management Inc., Toronto, Canada. He can be reached at (416) 679-8194 ext. 236 or andrewcutz@hotmail.com. 

Achieng is a deputy manager of health, safety and environment for Alpha Group (Southern Engineering Company Ltd.), Mombas, Kenya. She can be reached at jaqxaa@gmail.com. 

Morrison is a freelance writer in Chantilly, Va.  

Becoming an AIHA International Affiliate Member 

An International Affiliate member is defined as an individual who resides in, and is a citizen of, a country classified by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle-income or upper-middle-income economy and who is practicing occupational and environmental health and safety. 

Any qualified individual may become an AIHA International Affiliate member by completing the online form at www.aiha.org.  

Sponsoring an AIHA International Affiliate Member

Any AIHA member in good standing may sponsor an International Affiliate member, covering costs for that individual to join the association.  The following guidelines apply:  

• The sponsor will forward to AIHA, via mail, fax, or e-mail, the application for the International Affiliate member being sponsored. The sponsored member cannot apply online as the payment needs to be entered to complete the application process. 
• The sponsor must identify a specific person to sponsor. AIHA is unable to process applications that are not earmarked for a specific individual.  

For more information, contact Vicky Yobp, AIHA’s director of member services, at vyobp@aiha.org.