Occupational Health and Safety Management, Emergency Services Training( FIRE FIGHTING, FIRST AI Background:
Opportunities for specialist tradesmen training such as Heavy Duty Operator are very limited in Ghana and it has been limited to informal training through apprenticeship with experienced operators. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) tests and license heavy duty operators in the country but this have been limited to mechanical operation of the equipment. The MRH and other Infrastructure ministries such as MWH, MoT and the mining sector agencies are the beneficiaries of the final product of these heavy duty operator’s services. The lack of training opportunities has led to a situation where the available pool of heavy duty operators lack an in-depth understanding of task they are expected to undertake beyond the mechanical operation of the machine. A typical example is where a motor grader operator does not appreciate the fact that the gravel being spread is part of a pavement and each layer has to be of a minimum thickness to be properly compacted resulting in the situation where about 30% of the gravel to be spread as the sub base layer ends up in the drainage channel. The impact of this apparent deficiency is mostly felt by the MRH, therefore it is the desire of the KTC to initiate steps to train, equip and regulate these services as a measure in addressing this gap including other vital skills and knowledge in the ff fields:
• First Aid Training - Levels 1-3
• Fire Training – Basic and Advances Fire Fighting
• Occupational Health and Safety Management Training
• Basic Ambulance Training
There are a number of identified stakeholders interested in the equipment operation and regulation industry namely; the contractor associations (ASROC & PROCA), the equipment dealers (MANTRAC & SMICE) amongst others, the equipment hire industry, the mining sector and the district assemblies in whose jurisdictions the work is carried out. The KTC which is the centre of excellence of the MRH seeks to address this deficiency in collaboration with other stakeholders to upgrade the skills and knowledge of the operators and promote the regulation of the industry. KTC shall in collaboration with the major stakeholders ascertain their competences and certify them accordingly thus recognizing their skills and competences. Way forward
Due to some challenges with public sector agencies financing operations such as these activities, the KTC is partnering some interested private sector agencies to undertake the training of interested persons in the operation of heavy duty machines, certify the competencies of new and existing operators and also regulate the industry. There shall be distinct roles for each party to play towards the achievement of these goals. There are seven thematic areas that need to be developed further and each party has a specific role either alone or in collaboration with the other party. The thematic areas are;
A. Establishment of Relationships and Agreements
B. Course Content and Curriculum Development
C. Regulation of the Industry
D. Collaboration with other Institutions
E. Resources for Training
F. Marketing & Communication
G. Training Infrastructure
Role of the KTC
As a government agency the KTC shall be responsible for following;
A. Establishment of Relationships of the Collaborative Effort
The KTC shall prepare a Memorandum of Understanding with all the parties involved detailing the roles and responsibilities of each party in the establishment of the heavy duty operator school
The KTC shall develop the certification process and liaise with the MRH to incorporate the use of certified operators as part of the qualification criteria in tendering process
B. Course & Curriculum Development
The KTC shall develop the curriculum for training of the various kinds of heavy duty machinery in collaboration with the private sector
C. Regulatory of the Industry
The KTC shall develop the procedure in establishing a regulatory process for heavy duty operators used in Ghana
D. Collaboration with other institutions
The KTC shall ensure that the necessary conditions for the accreditation of the courses developed by COTVET are known and met
The KTC shall develop a relationship with all the polytechnics in Ghana to establish a training collaboration with them in particular the use of their premises in all the regional capitals
The KTC shall develop a relationship with some internationally recognized heavy duty equipment training institutions. E. Resources for Training
The KTC shall liaise with the private sector to ensure that the required resources are available before the start of the programme
F. Marketing & Communication
The KTC shall liaise with the private sector to develop a communication plan for the programme to ensure that all the various stakeholders are aware of the training opportunity
The KTC shall ensure that the communication plan is adhered to and monitored to ensure that it is effective
G. Training Infrastructure
The KTC shall liaise with all the Road Agencies in the regions and districts where training is to take place and ensure that road infrastructure for practical training is available
The KTC shall liaise with all the Contractor Associations in the regions and districts where training is to take place and ensure that site camps for practical training are available upon request
Role of the Private Sector
The private sector agencies collaborating with the KTC shall be responsible for the following;
A. Establishment of Relationships of the Collaborative Effort
The Private Sector Agencies shall sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the KTC which shall detail the roles and responsibilities of each party in the establishment of the heavy duty operator school
B. Course & Curriculum Development
The Private Sector Agencies shall assist the KTC to develop industry driven curriculum for the training in the use of various kinds of heavy duty machinery
C. Regulatory of the Industry
D. Collaboration with other institutions
The Private Sector Agencies shall assist the KTC to develop a relationship with some internationally recognized heavy duty equipment training institutions. Resources for Training
The Private Sector Agencies shall collaborate with interested heavy duty equipment vendors to partner us with their resources
The Private Sector Agencies shall collaborate with interested private contractors and contractor associations to partner us with their resources
F. Marketing & Communication
The Private Sector Agencies shall finance the development of a communication plan for the program which shall ensure that all the various stakeholders are aware of the training opportunity
G. Training Infrastructure
The Private Sector Agencies shall finance the setting up a central administration for the running of the program and shall resource it fully.
