The need for fire prevention and safety accreditation in Kenya

Author Reference

Benard., L., (2014): The need for fire prevention and safety training accreditation in Kenya. Intel Fire Group Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.

The need for fire prevention and safety training accreditation in Kenya

In June 25, 2014, the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) removed from the purview of the industrial training act Occupational Health and Safety courses; First Aid courses; and the Fire Prevention and Safety courses. What this meant was that NITA was no-longer accrediting these courses as offered by safety training consultants to firms and organization and subsequently no-longer reimburses for the same. This development has yielded two scenarios: one, that the training consultants will not have a standard criteria in the curriculum offered in fire prevention and safety training; and two, the employers have no motivation to train their employees as the motivating factor in reimbursement is not available anymore and in an effort to save on cost during this times of economic upsurge only means that fire prevention and safety training has a lower priority in the organization’s projects prioritization table.

This is where the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) comes in as one of its mandate stated in KICD Act 2012 states its function as to (d) develop and review, programmes, curricula and curriculum support materials for (vii) technical, industrial, vocational and entrepreneurship training; and (viii) demand-driven professional training. In Kenya currently there are so many individual and organizations consulting in fire prevention and safety training yet there is no organization that is accrediting the curriculum that these organizations and individuals are using. To professionalize the fire prevention and safety industry there is need for KICD to take into consideration developing curriculum for various levels in fire prevention and safety training which should include the primary & secondary schools, the middle level colleges and universities, and the employees and employers version; and finaly, the individual home based version.

According to community initiative action group (CIAG, 2014), KICD has the mandate to develop these curriculum and make them available to the target audience as indicated in their stated functions under the KICD Act 2012. The fact that there is no university in Kenya offering Fire prevention and safety course at undergraduate or post graduate level point to the fact that there is need for accreditation to professionalize the trainings and level the playing field for the various stakeholders in the industry. Currently the Kenyan Fire safety industry has all manner of qualifications especially from foreign countries that does not consider the local environmental needs and not tailored to local resources. Some Kenyan organizations have alluded to the fact that it is difficult to outline the qualification of a fire safety professional in Kenya and only give the required experience as the qualification. However, the Kenyan 2010 constitution outlines the key qualifications of a professional in their various fields supported by relevant act of governments. Fire safety is lagging behind as the only qualification outline in the OSHA act is for safety officers requirement for trainings.

With shrewd thinking and change of mindset, Kenya will surely develop one of the best creteria for vetting fire safety professional and establish an accreditation standard for fire prevention and safety training in the industry that is slowly but steadily growing.

Reference

NITA (2014): NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYERS AND TRAINING PROVIDERS REGISTERED UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ACT (CAP 237). Access online at www.nita.or.go on 01 Jan. 15.

 CIAG (2014): Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Act 2012. Community Initiative Action Group Website. www.ciagkenya.org. accessed on 01 Jan. 15.