WHWB-UK Projects and Funding for Kenya Project

WHWB-UK Projects and Funding for Kenya Project and Other Developing Countries Please sponsor our Projects in Africa and other Countries to reduce informal sector workers’ health risks and other Workplace Health Without Borders UK (WHWB-UK) Projects.

Workplace Health Without Borders (WHWB) mission is to engage Occupational Hygiene, Health and Safety Professionals in ensuring that workers and employers worldwide have the expertise, knowledge and means to prevent work-related disease. Our vision is a world where workers, their families and communities do not get ill because of their work.

The work-related disease kills 2 million people worldwide, more than other well-recognised global health and safety challenges like HIV/AIDS, armed conflict, and automobile crashes. Another 160 million people worldwide get ill every year from Occupational Health hazards. Not only adults are affected: 168 million children worldwide are child labourers, half of whom work in hazardous conditions. For more details, please refer to: https://www.whwb.org

There is recognition that more significant challenges exist in parts of the world where perhaps, historically, less import has been placed upon individuals' occupational health and Safety (OHS). The challenge is being accepted by many countries where increasing practitioners promote an understanding and appreciation of good OHS practices.

WHWB-UK Branch is progressing with several projects to tackle OHS issues worldwide for which funding will be needed.

Examples are:

- Silica e-Learning Program to promote awareness of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust hazards and help develop workplace control methods. We hope to develop this into other languages. https://whwb.org/about-whwb/national-branches/

- Development of worker silica RCS awareness in Nigerian stone quarries.

- Orofacial Clefts Awareness Campaign to educate pregnant workers on the health hazards to the unborn and how to avoid exposure to prevent cleft palate.

- Development of online courses and exams, in conjunction with OHTA, to facilitate distance learning and qualifications in occupational hygiene.

In addition to the above projects, our colleague, and fellow Trustee Bayo Awosanya, initiated a project proposal to investigate the health hazards of the informal sector workers, the Jua Kali of Mombasa, Kenya. Working through OSHPro and the Workplace Safety Professionals Association of Kenya (WSPAK), the aim was to identify work-related health risks and improve working practices to reduce the health risks. The first project was on the Noise and Hearing Conservation of metal workers, for which noise levels as high as 96 to 110dB(A) have been recorded. Initial audiometric testing on a few workers showed that 9 out of 12 workers were advised to have hearing aids. Hearing protection was provided with training, and long-term noise control solutions will be sought. This campaign will be extended to more metal workers, for which funding will be required.

By supporting our mission, you have an opportunity to help these worthy causes toward better workplace health. Please help this appeal by donating what you can afford. If this funding campaign is successful, any monies raised over our new target of £600 will be used to help our future endeavours and keep people healthy and safe. We thank you for your support.