Occupational Health and Safety executives

Malta's central geographic position is being exploited through a new strategic alliance to act as provider of high quality training and education for the Mediterranean region, with particular focus on North Africa.

This alliance, set up between ISTC (Malta) Ltd and CHSS Ltd, has already seen the first group of international students receiving their certificates. The former is Malta's leading provider of education and training in fire, safety and occpational health and the latter is one of the UK's foremost providers of occupational health and safety training.

Students received sufficient training at the ISTC training centre at Hal Far to successfully tackle assessments and examinations set by the UK National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health (Nebosh).

A Nebosh General Certificate course in Occupational Health and Safety is an internationally sought-after qualification and students included participants from prestigious local and foreign companies such as Sidi Kerir Petroleum of Egypt, HSBC plc and Playmobil (Malta) Ltd.

Health and Safety Authority CEO Dr Mark Gauci, presented successful local students Michael Cassar, HSBC, and Ivan Barbara, Playmobil, with their certificates at the ISTC centre.

ECHEM chairman's assistant for Environment and Safety, Eng. Mohammed Ibrahim, and managing director of ISTC (Malta) David Ghersci presented certificates to successful Egyptian students Mohammed Kamel Abd Allah and Mohammed Fathy, at the Maltese Embassy in Cairo. Malta's Ambassador to Egypt, George Doublesin, Kerir Petroleum CO chairman and CEO Osama Fouad and Sidi Kerir Petroleum Co safety manager Hassan Mahmoud also attended the ceremony.

Mr Ghersci explained that reaching the required Nebosh level was not an easy task for students. Intensive study was required by all. However, he was very pleased at students' high standards - even overseas examiners commented on the quality of submissions.

Mr Ghersci said that this group is the first of a new breed of executives for Malta, qualified in a new and important area. Dr Gauci commented on the need for companies to employ Health and Safety officers in their workplace, adding that increasing awareness on the health and safety of employees is becoming the norm.