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Arena Magazine 2008 Issue 1 Spring Arena |
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Food for thought
Your questions answered.
I work at a large food processing factory and there are a lot of Eastern European workers there who don't speak or understand English. We work with dangerous machinery and I am worried about their safety. What is the legal position?
If they cannot understand health and safety instructions or warn their supervisor when they spot hazards then it may be unsafe for them and for you.
The law requires employers to give 'comprehensible' information and training to all workers on health and safety. They must make special arrangements for workers with little or no English - e.g. providing translations or using interpreters.
The best way to protect migrant workers is to get them into the union. Talk to the ones who do have some English to get their help in recruiting others. Usdaw has a recruitment leaflet in 35 different languages. These can be ordered via your local office, ring 0845 6060640.
Both the HSE and the TUC produce general health and safety advice in a range of languages including most Eastern European ones - www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture for the HSE leaflets and www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/ for the TUC ones.
www.usdaw.org.uk/healthandsafety
While this advice is accurate it is not a definitive guide to the law or your contract. If you have any concerns you should contact your local rep/official or ring the helpline 0845 6060640.
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