London's construction industry is made up of a significant proportion of migrant workers, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has acknowledged them as a particularly vulnerable group within it.
This is due to the following:
Subsequently, the HSE is now recruiting outreach workers to work alongside the inspectors and Compliance Officers. This is to increase the HSE's interaction with migrant workers in construction, some of the largest groups coming from Poland, Romania and India.
These workers' awareness to their rights in relation to health and safety at work are to be improved by the outreach roles, which will be based in London. The jobs will include visits to construction sites, liaisons with the immigrant community organisations, local authorities, faith communities, further education colleges, trade union and employers, and organising events, and developing links, networks and partnerships.
In addition to promoting migrant workers safety, this month, HSE inspectors are visiting London construction sites to ensure that site operators are not putting their workers - or the public - at risk of injury or death.
In 2007/08, London's construction industry suffered from the death of 11 workers with 1,600 suffering major injuries, or injuries which require more than 3 days off work. In this same period, one member of the public was killed, with 36 people injured as a result of incidents involving construction sites. The HSE inspectors are targeting principal contractors to observe how they are managing safe working at height, good order on site, and risks associated with exposure to asbestos.
If safety lapses are found, the HSE has warned that contractors can expect strong enforcement action. A similar initiative was carried out in February 2007, and of the 162 sites inspected in London, enforcement action was taken in 55 cases.
This is due to the following:
- They can suffer from poor English;
- Can lack an understanding of UK health and safety standards;
- They may lack an awareness of employment rights, and experience or skills;
- They are often open to exploitation by unscrupulous employers;
- Can face serious problems in regards to poor accommodation, unpaid wages and grievances relating to their employment rights.
Subsequently, the HSE is now recruiting outreach workers to work alongside the inspectors and Compliance Officers. This is to increase the HSE's interaction with migrant workers in construction, some of the largest groups coming from Poland, Romania and India.
These workers' awareness to their rights in relation to health and safety at work are to be improved by the outreach roles, which will be based in London. The jobs will include visits to construction sites, liaisons with the immigrant community organisations, local authorities, faith communities, further education colleges, trade union and employers, and organising events, and developing links, networks and partnerships.
In addition to promoting migrant workers safety, this month, HSE inspectors are visiting London construction sites to ensure that site operators are not putting their workers - or the public - at risk of injury or death.
In 2007/08, London's construction industry suffered from the death of 11 workers with 1,600 suffering major injuries, or injuries which require more than 3 days off work. In this same period, one member of the public was killed, with 36 people injured as a result of incidents involving construction sites. The HSE inspectors are targeting principal contractors to observe how they are managing safe working at height, good order on site, and risks associated with exposure to asbestos.
If safety lapses are found, the HSE has warned that contractors can expect strong enforcement action. A similar initiative was carried out in February 2007, and of the 162 sites inspected in London, enforcement action was taken in 55 cases.
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