TANGAZA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

CENTRE OF LEADERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

NAME: Debrah Navajjah

REG. NUMBER: LM88/00028/2022

COURSE CODE: LMF101

COURSE TITLE: Occupational health and safety

LECTURER’S NAME: Ms Martha Mbuvi

TOPIC NAME:

The contribution of cultural week towards occupational

health and safety in Tangaza.
Table of contents.
i. Abstract
ii. Introduction
iii. The context of international student towards occupational health and safety
within universities
iv. Cultural Week of Tangaza University
v. The contributions of cultural week towards occupational health and safety
vi. Conclusion
vii. References
Abstract

Cultural week in Tangaza University provided for ample opportunities to all students
and workers of different backgrounds, cultures and races. This event has been
strategically set in place by the school not only for the appreciation of the different
cultures that make up the institute but also, to promote occupational health and safety
by creating a positive health and safety culture for both international and local
employees and students.
Introduction

According to World Health Organisation (WHO)2010, definition of Occupational

health and safety, it is one where employers and employees work together by using an
ongoing improvement process to ensure the safeguarding and promotion of health and
safety and, well-being of all who are involved in the workplace and also its upkeep
(Cieri & Lazarova, 2021). Whereas, Wikipedia defines Occupational health and safety
as the field with broad disciplines that deals with the health, safety and welfare of
people at work. Across both definitions three major words are highlighted as the
foundation of what OHS really is; health, safety and well-being or rather welfare.
These three incorporate the following: physical workplace safety (such as physical
hazards), physiological health (such as disease risk), health and safety behaviours
(such as lifestyle behaviours), psychological factors (such as mental health), and
social factors (e.g., social support and relationships) (Burton, 2010). OHS is mainly
understood as falling upon the employer’s shoulders with little to no involvement on
the part of the staff or employees and clients but it is impudent that all those involved
are to take part in decision making of a cohesive OHS policy that will help guide an
institution or organisation. Universities and colleges unlike industries main objective
is to deliver education across impressionable minds so usually the issue regarding
health and safety might become overlooked but schools have taken it upon themselves
whilst highly motivated by the positive attributes it incurs such as increased
productivity, employee and student retention. The law, the government and
International Labour Organisation’s (ILO)guidelines on occupational health and
safety has also seen that schools should equip themselves in the face of emergencies
and provide a safe environment for students to learn, employees and employers.
The context of International students towards Occupational health and safety
within Universities

But, the idea of students only being legible to attend the university in their respective
states has slowly but surely, become a thing of the past as globalisation, a term in
which refers to the process that companies or other organisations starts to operate
internationally or gain international influence, has taken root across different sectors
around the globe. A good example of a university that has adapted to said concept, is
Tangaza University. As these universities expand, they take into account that despite
all students being equal, international students come with their own set of challenges
as moving countries may be tasking upon an individual not only physically and
socially but also, mentally. Some of these challenges, according to The Clay Centre of
Young Healthy Minds, include language barriers, academic challenges, social
isolation, cultural shock and emotional difficulties, to name a few (Nadal-Vicens &
Beresin, n.d). International universities are required to take it upon themselves to step
in to curb these issues. Counselling services, English learning courses, Training on
cultural sensitivity/awareness are some of the solutions that these managements have
come up with to help promote the health and welfare of its international students. An
additional method is setting a day or a week in the year where students can indulge in
their homeland’s culture, a prime example of this is through the Cultural week of
Tangaza university.

Cultural Week in Tangaza University College

What is Cultural week? This is an event, where a school week is set aside towards the
end of the academic year to celebrate, song, traditional dances, storytelling, artefacts,
language and food of the different cultures that make up Tangaza University College
students and employees. It is a time when people from different backgrounds,
statures, races and cultures gather to appreciate and intermingle with each other with
one common goal to alleviate the school’s features of diversity. During this week, a
lot of school activities are planned meticulously by the student organising committee
that factors in the safety and well-being of the students. With the presence of myriads
of activities, the school tries its best towards catering to the students and employees
needs

The Contributions of Cultural Week towards Occupational Health and Safety.

Positive Contributions

Decrease in stress-

This week as busy as it was facilitated a carefree environment as students got

involved in each other’s cultural activities. Activities that were held were not daunting
albeit tiresome, students could freely partake in them. International students benefitted
most as they were free to be themselves (not that Tangaza does not encourage this)
and showcase their wonderful cultures. Suppression of oneself can lead to increased
psychological stress, absenteeism and poor academics but through the cultural week
people of all races and cultures get to express themselves in whichever they see fit
which proves to be a good de-stressor.

Students and workers’ involvement, promoted a safer environment-

Students were deeply involved in making the decisions that went into the cultural
week. This involvement promotes their safety when it comes to establishing policies
or rules that works for them.

Disability Awareness-

During the previous year’s cultural week, Patricia Kamene, a blind girl who is also a
disability awareness advocate, won Miss Culture of Tangaza University. This year
there were meetings that would push for guides for those who are disabled to be able
to navigate through the event and participation in the various activities throughout the
event.

Promotion of a health and safety culture within the university-

In order to a quality and successful system, there is need for the whole school’s
involvement from the employers to the employees to the students themselves, which
the cultural week made an opportunity for.

The cultural event provided for the opportune time to appreciate other cultural
practices that we may not be aware of-

Diversity, is a big theme within the context of cultural week. Its promotion was front
and centre as it can be a form of training as people come to understand other people’s
cultural norms and values vary. So, non-discriminatory practices are disregarded
which leads to improved performance on the part of the students and this also attracts
support from outside giving rise to a healthier and safer environment for all people
within Tangaza.

The social aspect-

People got to interact and form long lasting relationships as the events during the
week provided the perfect environment that supported this intermingling with one
another, nobody was barred and lots of students both local and international felt
accepted amongst each other and the school.

Negative contributions

Despite the number of positive contributions towards Occupational Health and Safety
throughout the school there were also a number of alarming negative contributions
which were overlooked and should, in everyone’s best interest, be reviewed before
next year’s cultural week.

There was lack of attention when it came to hygiene-

Lots of cultures graced our palates with their lovely cuisines and yet, there were no
provisions of plates nor spoons. Those who were out of luck retorted to eating their
meals with their bare hands, that were ‘cleaned’ with only water as there was neither
basic handwash nor soap. With the unprecedented rise of cholera within Nairobi, this
should have been the first thing to be taken care of.

There was a lack of regard as people used traditional methods of cooking without any
precaution-

The issue here was that they were a few cultures that were openly cooking while in
school premises using a jiko. This, brought out smoke which is highly dangerous
considering the amount of people that had gathered for the celebration, some of whom
are sensitive towards smoke or have respiratory illnesses, they were even children
who could have been greatly harmed.

Overcrowding-

Because of the school’s budget it was not possible to get space despite the large turn
out of people during the cultural week’s final and most highlighted day, cultural day.
People were squeezed through the halls and windows to catch a glimpse of the
performances inside and this unfortunately led to a lot of scuffle as people pushed to
get the better seat.

Lack of ventilation-

Those who were inside, despite getting seats, as the airways, windows and doors,
were being crowded there was a lack of ventilation and it was the cause of great
discomfort to most.

Conclusion

Occupational health and safety, involves everyone from the management, to the
workers to the clientele. Globalisation of institutions has brought about a new set of
rules for international employee and students alike. Tangaza’s Cultural week acts as a
solution to curb some of these negative aspects within the international circle but also
with the locals. There are a variety of both positive and negative contributions
towards Occupational Health and Safety within the school that this year’s cultural
week brought about that will be influential in next year’s planning of the event.

References

Cieri and Lazarova (2020) “Your health and safety is of utmost importance to us”: A
review of research on the occupational health and safety of international employees

Nadal-Vicens and Beresin (n.d) International College Students: Challenges and

Solutions.
https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/young-adults/international-
college-students/