By JOHN MUBAMBE
The industrial hygiene partnership between FQM-Kansanshi Mining Plc and Copperstone University will be effective in controlling health hazards among workers and citizens in the community.
Luanshya Mayor Charles Mulenga is happy that Kansanshi Mine and Copperstone University have taken sides with his local authority to jointly ensure safety, health, and welfare at homes and at places of work.
He said this when FQM-Kansanshi Mining Plc management handed over assorted equipment to the Industrial Hygiene Laboratory of Copperstone University’s Baluba Campus on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriage way last weekend.
“As a Council we are set to make sure that people’s lives are safeguarded at work and that is why we are excited when we hear Kansanshi Mine and Copperstone University are joining hands to use combined efforts to prevent injuries and hazards in all work environments,” said Councillor Mulenga who was Guest of Honour.
The donated equipment included air sampling instruments, noise monitoring instruments, toxic gas analyzers, and semi micro weigh balance and various other instruments. The equipment would help the university train students in the control of environmental factors or stresses arising from the workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being or significant discomfort among workers or members of the public.
Councilor Mulenga said the Luanshya Municipal Council was committed to collaborating with both Copperstone University and Kansanshi Mining Plc because of their interest in promoting all aspects of physical, mental and social health and safety in workplaces.
He called for a change in safety culture in all companies in Luanshya to facilitate the uplifting of standards and appealed to the private sector to emulate the gesture of Kansanshi Mining Plc, a subsidiary of FQM based in Solwezi.
“As a former employee of the FQM-Kalumbila Safety Department, I feel even more excited to see the company that I worked for making a huge donation to Copperstone University on the Copperbelt, particularly in Luanshya,” said Councillor Mulenga.
Copperstone University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sitwala Mundia, said the donation of industrial hygiene equipment was a seal of an important partnership which symbolized a momentous development in the history of the institution.
“This donation will go a long way to strengthen our resolve to enhance quality, efficiency and impact in Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) programmes offered by the university,” he said.
Under the School of Health Sciences, with the departments of Environmental Health Sciences and of Occupational Safety and Health Environment, the university offers degree and diploma courses in fire safety engineering, occupational safety health and environment, environmental health science, and public health.
Besides the Environmental Health, Occupational safety Health and Environment, the 17-year-old university counts on 10, 000 graduates trained in education, business studies, social sciences, forensics, mechanical engineering and computer science.
Professor Mundia disclosed that Coppertone University was currently the leading provider in the area of occupational safety health environment (OSHE) in Zambia and the SADC Region.
“The University will soon be launching a symposium on best techniques and skills in the area of Industrial Hygiene, whose objectives are to enhance the protection of lives and property in the Industry and domestic environments,” he said.
Professor Mundia thanked Kansanshi Mine for the donation which would empower the university to equip safety graduates with the latest skills to improve public health and safety based on improved research methodologies and techniques.
“It is our hope that this gesture of good will be supplemented and complimented by other sectors. Otherwise, we are so thankful for the job well done and may the Almighty God continue to strengthen us and lead us into stronger partnerships and friendships for years to come,” said Professor Mundia.
In a vote of thanks, Professor Stanley Hanseele was delighted that FQM-Kansanshi Mining Plc had provided resources to equip Copperstone University laboratory.
“I am proud to note that this contribution will help to improve accurate and speedy analytical techniques during laboratory practical assignments and a wide range of research,” noted Professor Hanseele, the Director of OSHE.
Professor Hanseele disclosed that the programme of improvements and accreditation of laboratories was critically required in all training institutions at the time when Zambia and the world were battling the common threat and challenge of public health and accidents.
The cooperation among training institutions, industry and the Government’s Mine Safety Department would enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development needed.
“This is the moment and time to salute Kansanshi Mine and Mine Safety Department efforts towards education activities regarding behavioural change, detection and psychological follow-up in schools,” said Professor Hanseele.
Eric Cousins, FQML Group Industrial Hygiene Coordinator, explained that FQM-Kansanshi Mine prided themselves in having one of the best occupational hygiene programmes in Zambia.
He said keeping employees safe and healthy in a working environment required knowledge of industrial hygiene for the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, communication and control of environmental stressors in the workplace.
“There is great need to protect workers’ safety from health hazards and risks during their working life duration which will facilitate good health when going out of employment on pension,” said Cousins.
Cousins disclosed that his company would promote training of trainers from Copperstone University at Kansanshi Mining Plc to pave the way for the understanding of safety and health in the mining situation.
He added that further training could include students as part of an internship for work as part of their practical training assignments.
Cousins advised students to have and maintain the passion for their studies and future work in the field of occupational hygiene, for they are the future and custodians of the profession that aims at the protection of all employees in the workplace environment.
