New training initiative for truckers covers health and safety

North Star Alliance and Fleet Forum have announced an initiative – branded NSEWA - to close the gap between health services and road safety through specially designed driver safety training and health-related programmes aimed at the road freight Industry.
This comprehensive training package is made possible through support from the UPS Foundation and the Road Safety Fund in conjunction with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.
NSEWA — an acronym for North-South-East-West Africa — will be piloted in South Africa with local and regional transport companies beginning in May and roll out internationally later this year. The NSEWA modular training package is meant to be a refresher and reinforcement for drivers who have already had some training but lack specific knowledge and skills needed to stay healthy and safe while on the road.
The NSEWA training and certificate programme will help truck drivers take control of their own health and safety with free access to health care and acquire better road safety knowledge and skills through an entertaining, self-paced programme.
The NSEWA training package, called HOT-R (Health on the Road), includes modules on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and sexually transmitted infections as well as nutrition, diabetes and other occupational health issues. The Driver Safety modules cover general road safety information, defensive driving, transporting dangerous goods and eco-driving.