BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF KFMB FROM KEVET PROJECT
The project aims at increased employment opportunities for the youths and young adults in Kenya. The project has three partners including Kenya Federation of Master Builders (KFMB)-lead local partners, Kenya Association of Technical Training institutions (KATTI) and Kenya Private Sector alliance (KEPSA) and supported by German Government through Chamber of Skilled trade in Frankfurt Rhein Main.
KFMB has done mainly two major activities with the Chamber, these include training for contractors and development and piloting scaffolding curriculum. The two activities have been developed to upgrade the skills of our workers and generally quality of construction work.
1. Scaffolding
This is a new trade in Kenya and KFMB has been working with project partners to ensure a world class curriculum and training is implemented. The curriculum has been developed and the pilot is being executed. There is low knowledge of the need of quality scaffolds and qualified scaffolders and this has had an impact on the piloting of the project. The benefit to members includes:
Improved safety on site
Through improved site safety, a company can ensure that it is not worrying about regular stop of work and poor moral due to injury, but will concentrate to achieve the project with the constraints of time, quality and scope. The good project delivery helps in improving the confidence in a contractor, hence, their marketability.
Faster work delivery as scaffolds are the structure under which construction is executed.
Time translates to money and any project delays have a direct implication on the cost. A well erected scaffolding ensures that the work can be executed both timely and with minimal incidences, hence, saving on cost.
Saving on insurance premium cost when safety on site is improved
Well trained scallfolders ensure that the risks of fall from height or collapse of scaffold is avoided hence the insurance company will charge lower premium to client as opposed to site where such risks are high.
A business opportunity to operate as a scaffold contractor or manufacturer/trader.
Scaffolding is a new trade in Kenya and there is a great opportunity for those being trained to be scaffold contractors. The training equips learners with skills and knowledge that can help them become scaffold contractors in the international arena.
The project promises to improve the compliance to local contractors to international standards and norms through engagement of international consultants and training materials. It will eventually be of great benefit to KFMB contractor members.
