EBK and Lloyd’s Register Foundation Partner to Boost Safety and OSHA Training in Engineering

Last Updated 2 weeks ago by Kenya Engineer

The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) has partnered with the Lloyd’s Register Foundation to strengthen the culture of engineering safety and compliance with OSHA standards, marking a significant step toward addressing Kenya’s ongoing challenge with unsafe structures and engineering malpractices.

“We have seen far too many buildings collapse due to non-compliance with safety standards,” said Eng. Margaret Orgai, CEO of EBK. “It’s not just about faulty design — sometimes, it’s because people without licenses are undertaking work meant for qualified engineers.”

Prioritizing Engineering Safety

This partnership will focus on:

Training engineers on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards
Embedding safety and compliance into engineering education and CPD (Continuous Professional Development)
Working closely with employers to build a national safety culture within the engineering profession

“An engineer today must not only know how to design and construct, but also understand risk, ethics, and the consequences of failure,” added Eng. Orgai.

Curriculum Reforms and Industry Collaboration

To prevent further tragedies like collapsed buildings and faulty installations, EBK is collaborating with universities to integrate safety modules into the undergraduate and graduate engineering curricula.

This includes:

Introducing safety and ethics training from year one of university
Conducting simulation-based training and real-world case studies
Encouraging participation in mentorship and site-based training with licensed engineers

Enforcement and Public Safety

Eng. Orgai also noted that the board is tightening its regulatory oversight:

“You cannot submit drawings or sign off on any technical document unless you are licensed. We are clamping down on quacks, and we are asking the public and county governments to work with us to ensure compliance.”

The partnership with Lloyd’s Register Foundation reinforces EBK’s strategic vision: to create an engineering ecosystem that values safety, public trust, and professional accountability.