Posted By Tolulope Jack Hi All, I am considering relocating to Africa-Will anyone know how the H&S market is there?What countries celebrate H&S? I have an MSc in SHE Mgt-though from UK will there be any other certification to work in this field in even in a different continent? Thanks

Posted By Tolulope Jack CFT, Thanks for your swift response.I havent really decided yet.It might eventually be in Nigeria;but I am considering places like Angola,SA or North Africa. I know the oil and gas industry have a lot of passion for h&S but I dont know about other industries

Posted By Bombay Hello, An an HSE practioner practicing in Nigeria where i am from. Firstly, i do not think it is fair to be so sarcastic about this place as regards health and safety. H&S is really doing well in the O&G industry here due to the committment from multinationals. The construction area is also another viable area. I had worked as an HSE Advisor for a multinational construction coy before i set out to open a consultancy servicing the Hospitality industry. Am back as a trainer in the O&G industry though my consultancy still operates. If you have the NEBOSH cert here, you will be well appreciated and rise fast. If you require anymore info, you may contact me on my email. Cheers!!

Posted By Merv Newman I have always enjoyed working in Africa, often more pleasant and friendly than working with some European companies I have known. You really have to be aware of enormous cultural differences which can leave big holes in perception of risks. Working for a multinational, O&G, minerals etc does help our work and you could find yourself having to work to both OSHA or UK rules as well as the national legislation which often finds it's base in colonial history. Nigerian judicial system is not all that far from UK practice (before nu-labour).In Niger, which was a French colony, H&S legislation is based broadly on the French, with some divergence in the years since colonisation was abandoned. Same for ex-dutch, German or Belgian colonies. (I'm not sure where Zimbabwe is coming from) If you do decide to do it then start with a short-term renewable contract. Only drink beer or spirits, not the local "wines" not the water. (make your own ice cubes from bottled water and take them to any restaurant you go to. They will understand those stupid European superstitions. But my predecessor suffered from a transport breakdown, had to stay overnight in a local "hotel", ate the meal offered and had to be air lifted home. Which is why I got that job. Take sandwiches. Merv

Posted By AMelrose Had a friend that worked at Port Harcourt for several years for a well known petrochemical company. He told me some interesting (and unsettling) stories while he was working out there. Example - driving to work one day he saw someone lying at the side of the road that he thought looked dead. He didn't stop but continued to work as he said that if stopped, he'd have been "responsible" for the body (assuming it was dead). He said that the local vermin would devour it that night anyway so it "probably wouldn't be there" the next day. I was horrified but he said it "happened all the time". I know he was really glad to finally leave the place (and the snakes and bugs - he sent photos to prove it!). I think he's now working in the Oman. That was several years ago so things have probably improved there.... Further south, Cape Town is lovely...and with the World Cup to be held in 2010, they may have H&S positions for the construction work proposed (I'm just hoping the public transport system improves!!)

Posted By Rob T Jack, I'd stay away from Port Harcourt if I were you. Just see the figures for expats moving away from there over the past 2 years. Up to 80% of expats have been moved out of the area. There were (from Jan to Nov 2007) 172 expats kidnapped and 8 killed and 51 locals kidnapped and 54 killed - in the wider Delta region. The UK/US/Australian/NZ/Canadian/Dutch and French travel advisory sites advise against all travel to the region including offshore. If you are going to work there make sure that you have a damn good security manager and that he has the wherewithawl to protect staff. Most expats now travel in armed convoys and any that don't are foolish. This is fact and I am there at least once a month for a week at a time! People that talk with rose tinted glasses about the "Garden City" are a good five years out of date.

Posted By T-Jay Thank you all for the comments.

Posted By Mike Charleston Jack I'll be in Port Harcourt for (another) two weeks in late July and take it from me, RobT is reflecting how the average Brit oil/gas expat sees the situation, and how the Foreign & Commonwealth Office come to offer the advisory information that they display on the web. There is always a viewpoint offered by mainly local people that will try to persuade you otherwise - either through misguided loyalty to their city/country or because of downright wishful thinking. Either way, take a view from your fellow nationals that have the experience. Filipinos are out there, along with variety of people from the Indian sub continent, South Americas and the Far East - but all of them survive by taking the kind of precautions that are mentioned in this thread. The employers that look after me when I'm in country will not allow expats to travel in anything less than bullet-proof vehicles now. That said, with their high level of care, I still feel safe enough to function normally and conduct training courses for their people. Mike