Wiped

We have all been knackered today, because of the escapades of last night, being at the hospital late as our colleagues received emergency care.

I have been reflecting on the differences around health and safety incidents here in Tanzania and in the UK. Everyone here is still rallying around and now coordinating between my injured colleagues and the deceased wife’s family on the arrangements for her burial.

Comparing the work environments in places where I’ve had to deal with serious incidents before, I would say Tanzania is less gripped by a litigation culture or blame game than the UK. In a UK-based organisation there is an immediate obsession with documenting the details of incidents and apportioning responsibility so that big cheeses can be appraised, trustees can be informed and everyone can nicely cover their arse about something they could never practically expect to have any control over anyway. I was previously involved in having to ‘account for’ crocodile bite injuries on a field ranger in Mozambique, when no amount of exceptional leadership that could ever be implemented would influence a ranger’s own choice to bathe or collect water where they deemed fit. This was driven by an organisational culture out of sync with practical realities.

I am sure overall it is also driven by the capitalist model of all workplace events needing a financial value or measure of accountability, and even tragedies having been capitalised on for profiteering by multiple parasitic actors along any transaction line. Then it all gets embedded into roles and responsibilities as essential management duties.

I have many comments on how the Western model of designing workplaces, exported all over the world, doesn’t fit cultural ways of operating in Tanzania, or most countries that aren’t dominated by an Anglo-Saxon culture. And it’s challenging shedding some of the negative aspects of that culture - such as allowing myself to get stressed by words in an email - which the majority of my Tanzanian colleagues would not do.

One of my reactions after the accident was whether, as another team member, I’d be blamed for something to do with management of the vehicles or people involved in the accident. This is such unhealthy thinking, totally wasted energy and detracts from the priority action, which is to support bereaved and injured people. The admin can come way down the line, and we can move away from a culture of arse-covering, thank you very much.

Dar es Salaam city centre at sunset.