According to WHO figures, road traffic injuries account for 1.2 million deaths each year, and every fifteen seconds a worker dies somewhere in the world from a work related accident. A disproportionate number of these casualties occur in the developing world.

Recently, MRC (UK) The Gambia held a week-long programme of events to remind us that accidents – at work, on the roads and in the home - are preventable and that in the words of the International Labour Organisation, ‘health and life at work’ are ‘a basic human right’.

Asked to comment on the MRC’s programme, Mr Edward Demba, Health & Safety Adviser at MRC (UK) The Gambia said ‘following on from the success of our one day events in recent years, this year we decided to incorporate the commemoration of the World Day for Occupational Health & Safety and World Road Safety Week. This gave us the opportunity to address issues ranging from good driving practice to staying safe and well at home and in the workplace over a relatively short but sustained period of time.’

Projections indicate that world wide casualties on the roads will increase by about 65% over the next 20 years unless there are new commitments to prevention. In addition to the enormous economic and social costs to individuals, families and communities, road traffic injuries place a heavy burden on national health services, particularly those in the developing world. According to a report in The Gambia’s Observer newspaper (29th April 2008), fatal road accidents have been on the increase in recent years despite official efforts to reverse the trend. Gambia Police statistics indicated that there were 3,372 accident cases recorded from 2003 to 2007. Of this number, 280 were fatal and 737 were serious accidents resulting in major injuries.

However, thanks to the various training initiatives and interventions coordinated by the MRC’s Health & Safety and Transport Departments, MRC has seen a steady decline in the number of road accidents and incidents involving its vehicles. Professor Tumani Corrah, MRC (UK) The Gambia’s Unit Director in his address to staff said ‘As an institution we can be proud of our record of improved road safety. Quite apart from the devastating personal consequences of traffic accidents, their prevention has no doubt contributed to our continued productivity and sustainability. However, this does not mean that we can afford to be complacent: road accidents still occur, albeit minor ones. And as individuals working for an institution that places such a great emphasis on road awareness we have an obligation to sensitise our friends, neighbours and loved ones so that they can also stay safe on the road.’

The MRC’s Health and Safety Week programme combined a variety of activities including seminars, hands-on exercises and demonstrations to attract the broadest possible audience. As Paul Knight, Head of Health, Safety & the Environment at MRC (UK) The Gambia observed ‘We chose to spread the programme over one week as we wanted more time to get the serious messages across and get our staff’s attention. We used the programme as a platform, not only to promote safe working practices, but also to raise awareness of health and lifestyle issues.’

The events certainly proved popular with staff. As Paul Knight remarked ‘The session on awareness of snakes and reptiles of The Gambia was phenomenally well attended. And getting people from the Gambia Government, the Police Force and the Fire Service was very important; they came over with a similar message but from a different direction, more from the ‘public’ perspective. We also had fire exercises with the Fire Service where we went through the actual mechanisms of what happens and doesn’t happen and then we went out and did it ‘live’. This was an excellent opportunity for our people who are trained in these areas to show their worth and to practice what they are trained to do.’

MRC’s health and safety policies strive to comply with regulations laid down by MRC UK and the systems in place are comparable with many large organizations anywhere in the world. However the Health & Safety Department is the first to admit that there is no room for complacency. Asked to comment on what he considered to be the MRC’s most significant safety risk area, Edward Demba replied ‘Road safety. We have a big fleet of Land Rovers and motorcycles plying the roads the length and breadth of the country. It’s reasonable to assume that they will have accidents, particularly during the rains. Certainly if you compare our road accident rates to the national incidence, ours are significantly lower which implies that our health and safety policies and practices have had an impact, but there is always room for improvement.’

Health and safety awareness should encompass everyone – whether at home, in the workplace or on the road. As Paul Knight concluded ‘we can talk, instruct, train, do drop-in sessions and keep on going forever but essentially it’s still with the people out there – they are our eyes and ears. We need to be told when things go wrong: that’s how we can plan. And we need to know when things go right so that we can say ‘let’s do that again’.

The message is clear: Health and Safety is Everybody’s Business.

communications@mrc.gm