NORCAT delivers training to Kenya.

• Author: Campbell, Heather
• Position: HEALTH & SAFETY

The Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) is sharing its expertise in health and safety training with Base Titanium Limited for a new open pit titanium mine under construction in Kenya.

The mine's Kenyan workforce will be trained to Canadian standards for health and safety.

NORCAT CEO Don Duval said the partnership was formed after they met at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference earlier this year. "We really wanted to demonstrate to the international markets what we do so well. There was some very strong interest from Mexico and South America, as well as from some properties in Africa. Base Titanium, recognizing our history and capabilities, saw a good fit."

Duval describes the new partnership as "unbelievably exciting," not only for NORCAT, but also for Sudbury and Canada. "We are eminent in the field of mining and now is the time to export this expertise," he said.

Duval realizes that health and safety training is not a one-size fits-all operation. "Every site, every country, every region of the world, especially outside of Canada, has different nuances that we're really learning to understand," he said. "Health and safety is about ensuring productivity while protecting the worker."

The training is being developed by a host of professionals and experts in the fields of mining health and safety, along with script writers and graphic designers, to deliver a unique elearning platform. The training is also designed to reflect the cultural uniqueness of the region the mine is operating in, as well as deliver a level of technology appropriate to the area.

Training materials are being delivered in English and translated into Swahili. "We see more and more these days that there's a cultural component to the health and safety training," said Jason Bubba, director of training and development at NORCAT. "Whether we are in northern parts of Canada or in Africa, mining companies are becoming more aware of cultural sensitivities, and that's not only for the workers, but also contractors who might not be from the area. Mining companies realize that somebody from outside that geographical area needs to be sensitive to those who live in and around the area."

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The fully narrated orientation package is downloaded onsite and takes about one hour. Some locations are more capable of handling the technology, whereas...