COMPANY ENHANCES ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS By Paul Olale Krystalline Salt Company Ltd in the Coast region has started a Compliance Department for effective enforcement of environmental, workers’ health and safety laws. The company Director Kanji Patel noted that previously, enforcement of the laws was the responsibility of the Human Resource Department (HRD) ‘but we have realized HRD cannot cope effectively with its core mandate and the added responsibilities.’ A Human Resource Officer Edison Lijoodi has been appointed the manager of the new Compliance Department, which has its own staff. The new Department would ensure prompt enforcement of environmental laws as provided in the Environmental Management and Coordination Act and health and safety laws under the Public Health Act. ‘We shall be strict to ensure all workers in the salt harvesting pans and in the factory wear overalls, gloves, helmets and shoes to protect them from the harmful effects of chemicals on the skin,’ said Mr. Lijoodi, at the Krystalline Company factory in Gongoni town, Magarini sub County ,Kilifi County. He added that workers at the salt factory were given one packet of milk per day to neutralize inhaled harmful impurities. He said there would also be continuous seminars to sensitize the workers on the importance of using the protective gear because there have been many incidents where some sold them at throw away prices. Krystalline and seven others companies manufacturing salt in the area have been accused of depleting forests as it burnt tones of wood per year to dry the salt. People cut down mature trees including fruit and cashew nut trees to sell to the companies as firewood and timber. ‘To mitigate the impact on the environment, we have started a programme to grow our own trees mainly casuarinas and bamboo on a 5 acres’ piece of land and target to attain 1 million mature trees by end of 2014,’ said the company’s Projects and Community Services Manager Mr. Manji Varsani. Kilifi County Director of Environment Mr. Godfrey Wafula said there were instances when water from the salt ponds seeped to contaminate water for domestic use in the communities. ‘This should be checked regularly and action taken. There were also cases where the companies expand their mining grounds without involving NEMA to do Environmental Impact Assessment,’ he noted. The Compliance Manager said the company had signed contracts with interested local farmers to raise tree seedlings which the company would later buy. ‘We provide them with free seedlings, planting tubes and water and then buy the seedlings at shs. 10 each.’ Within the factory area, there was also a dispensary where workers were treated, with the common infections being of skin and the upper respiratory system, but which the company authorities said would be minimal if all workers adhered to use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). There were 400 housing units for factory workers within the compound, connected to piped water and electricity. Mr. Lijoodi said the workers’ salaries were increased annually, according to the Ministry of Labour guidelines. ‘With the Compliance Department in place, we will now address workers and the local communities concerns more promptly and effectively than before.’ The company has 1,000 workers in its salt mining pans in Gongoni, Marereni and Garawa Locations in the area, and another 500 at the factory. The company’s storage, marketing offices and warehouses were in Changamwe, Mombasa.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 10:16:13 +0000
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