HSE must do more to protect migrants

News | HSW
01.11.2006

Migrant workers in the UK are suffering higher-than-average rates of work accidents, according to new research by London Metropolitan University for the HSE, which claims the causes of elevated rates of illness and accidents are not being tackled by regulators and employers.

"Although migrant workers may encounter the same risks as local co-workers, they are more liable to have their health and safety endangered," the study claims. One in four of the 200 migrant workers questioned had suffered an accident at work themselves or witnessed one involving a migrant co-worker. The authors blame several factors. Migrants are often employed in high-risk sectors such as construction, they work long hours, and they often have limited understanding of health and safety because of communication difficulties or because they are doing jobs they are not trained for.

There is no comprehensive source of data on migrant workers. The 2005 Labour Force Survey puts the number of migrant workers arriving here over the past five years at 1.4 million (around 5% of the workforce).

The study argues the HSE should also help employers adapt their risk assessments for the special needs of migrant workers - including language and literacy skills, training needs and prior work experience - and target  enforcement activity in sectors with large numbers of migrants. It recommends that the HSE adapts the accident reporting system RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) to include a worker's country of birth and date of arrival in the UK.

Reacting to the report, the Construction Confederation told HSW it has provided guidance to employers on how to reduce risk and take active measures that can help integrate non-English speakers safely into the working environment, such as advice on induction, training and supervision.