Integrating Business Skills into Ecotourism Operations

Focusing on Health and Safety

Teresa Njeri

Kenya Utalii College

National political landscape Changing distribution of diseases Disease outbreaks e.g. rift valley

fever Changing markets Terrorist attacks

Reduce injury Improve work efficiency and

productivity Controls costs Attracts insurance cover Ensure compliance Improved customer relations Reduces employee liabilities Increases risk awareness

Provision of •Accommodation•Transport•Sporting •Food •This have associated health risks

Natural hazards e.g. floods Infectious diseases e.g. SARS Food security Compliance Employee liabilities Protecting image and reputation Occupational health hazards Property damage

Risk Management is a consistent and organized method of identifying, analyzing, handling and monitoring the risks

It enables the best use of available resources

Establish the context•Nature of your business and risks inherent involved

Identify current risks, importance •Involves the stakeholders affected

Analyze the risks•Probability and frequency

Evaluate the risks•Rank risks by likelihood, management priorities and possible cost

Treat the risks•Develop an implementation plan with measures to address risks

Monitor and review

Likelihood Extreme Very high Moderate Low Negligible

Almost certain

Severe Severe High Moderate Moderate

Likely Severe High Moderate Low Moderate

Moderate High Moderate Low Moderate Low

Unlikely Moderate Low Moderate Low Low

Rare Low Moderate Low Low Low

Severe -Extreme risk. Discussed and monitored at high level management

High - High risk. Given attention

Moderate- Moderate risk. Monitored at medium level management

Low – low risk, monitored at low level management

The Hotel and Restaurant Act• Grants licenses to hotels and restaurants. • They must provide proof of installation of

health and safety measures• Licenses will be renewed annually upon

inspection. Tourist Industry Licensing Act

• Licenses tourist enterprises

Enables the organization to reduce and control risk

Manages risks in all areas of an establishment•Objective•Implementation plan•Monitoring and evaluation framework

Set the general objective •Enhancing the capacity to handle risk effectively through production of a performance management framework.

Specific•Recording of health and safety incidents

•To build a health and safety culture•To measure and monitor the performance of health and safety

Set out health and safety activities Select person responsible for

management of health and safety activities

Allocate resources to health and safety activities

Provision of safety information on•Safety in hotel and lodges•In-country health advice•Safety equipment•Fire safety•Food Hygiene•Pool and beach Safety•Natural calamities•Infectious diseases

Things could go wrongThings could go wrong

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