Workers need safety information in other languages

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) urged businesses to tackle the issue following the prosecution of a recycling company after an incident which led to a Romanian worker losing his right leg.

Ethos Recycling Limited, formerly known as Sweeney Environmental Limited, of Grand Union Office Park, Packet Boat Lane, Cowley, Uxbridge was fined £35,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,904, at the

City of London Magistrates Court last week, after pleading guilty to two breaches of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The court heard how Nicolai Danut-Puiu, 38, a Romanian national who understood little English and had been working as a labourer at the site for a few weeks, was in a loading shed sorting waste when he was struck by a 20 tonne loading shovel. His right leg had to be amputated.

The HSE said its subsequent investigation had found there were no clearly identified walkways on site, which meant that heavy plant and pedestrians had to operate in dangerously close proximity to each other.

Zameer Bhunnoo, HSE investigating inspector said: "With the increase of foreign workers in Britain, it is essential that companies who need their skills take care to ensure workers fully understand what is required of them, and how to avoid risks in the workplace.

"In addition, the risks arising from the movement of vehicles in the workplace must be properly controlled. Workplace transport continues to be one of the main causes of fatal and major injuries."

Increased risk

Research published by the HSE towards the end of last year showed that migrant workers in the UK were facing increased health and safety risks.

The study, by a team from London Metropolitan University on behalf of the HSE found that migrant workers experienced higher levels of workplace accidents because they were more likely to work long hours, work shifts and had "limited understanding of health and safety".

Contributory factors also highlighted were communication difficulties and the fact migrants were "more likely to take up work in sectors that they have not been trained or had experience working in."

At the time the HSE said it would target inspections and enforcement in sectors where migrant workers and other vulnerable workers were most likely to work.

The HSE offers a considerable amount of advice and information in foreign languages - see the 'other languages' section of its website above/right. It also provides a 'telephone interpreting service' for people wishing to speak to someone about health and safety in a language other than English.