Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Migrant workers
Overseas workers are vital in providing skills and filling labour shortages in the construction industry. Many are experienced trades people and some enter the workforce through the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme.
Overseas workers make up about 6% of the workforce in construction in the GB. HSE’s Survey of Construction Workers, started in January 2005, suggests that in Greater London, overseas construction workers make up around 26% of the workforce.
Between April 2005 and March 2006, five foreign workers were killed in the construction industry in Britain. In the following year (between April 2006 and March 2007), a further five foreign workers were killed.
Vulnerable groups have been identified in the construction industry. Workers with limited English language skills can still obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. The Construction Skills touchscreen health and safety test can be taken in a variety of languages or with the help of an interpreter.
Construction Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, has developed web-based materials to help integrate overseas workers into the industry. It provides construction employers with information and support tools to help ensure that any overseas workers they employ are properly qualified, competent and safe.
Towards the end of 2007, HSE and the construction industry set up a Working Group to consider the health and safety of vulnerable workers in construction. A particular focus of this Group is migrant workers in construction and it is hoped that its proposals will help to further improve and increase the significant efforts that have already been made by HSE and the industry.