The Elecnor Foundation puts safety first

In January, the Elecnor Foundation started its solar power project in Cameroon. The aim of Énergie Solaire Pour L`Education (solar power for education) project is to consolidate the socio-educational activities of the Don Bosco Technical Institute of the Salesian Brothers in Ebolowa by providing stable and quality electricity throughout the complex. Stable and quality electricity, which will be provided by a photovoltaic system, will ensure that over 300 students can receive an education.

With the collaboration of our colleagues in Occupational Health and Safety and Elecnor Cameroon, we have taken the first step: providing safety training for the people who are going to work with us to carry out the project, as well as for a large number of students at the vocational training centre. This has meant we have been able to combine implementing this project with the provision of training and labour insertion to young people in a single project.

Prevention training consisted of two parts, one theoretical and one practical.

The theoretical part covered the importance of employee safety to Elecnor as well as the risks involved when working at height, one of the main risks. Training was given on the different types of devices and systems used to protect workers against the risks of working at height, especially lifelines, which is the main anchoring system that will be used in the foundation project. Training was also given on how to put on and adjust a harness, the spaces that should be left between the straps, the functions of the different rings, which are for use in the anti-fall system and which are for positioning.

In the practical part, a life line was placed between two pillars and a pupil acted as an anchor point in the middle to demonstrate why double anchorage is used, when it is needed, what to do in the event of finding an obstacle, and always staying anchored to the life line by at least one of the two hooks. A student was also left in mid-air to demonstrate that the harnesses were able to support his weight.

Training was given to:

• 24 students from the institute
• 8 alumni
• 6 Elecnor workers
• 2 teachers at the institute

Certificates were awarded at the end of the course.

Finally, 7 alumni were hired to install the roof-top photovoltaic facilities at the institute, together with Elecnor's professional team. As such, we are not only creating social infrastructure, but also training the students at the centre, giving them greater opportunities when it comes to joining the world of work.

Watch the following video with images of the occupational health and safety training: