Construction

Overseas workers are valued in the UK construction industry, providing skills and filling labour shortages. 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. The proportion of foreign or migrant workers on larger sites in the bigger cities such as London, Birmingham or Glasgow, may rise in excess of 25%.

Between April 2005 and March 2008, twenty five foreign workers were killed in the construction industry in Britain. The biggest single cause of fatal injury was falls from height, accounting for 11 cases. Five further cases were workers overcome by fumes, after running a petrol or diesel engined generator or similar, in a confined space.

Research published as part of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Inquiry into the Underlying Causes of Accidents in Construction reveals that HSE Inspectors repeatedly indentify four reasons why foreign or migrant workers may be more at risk than British born workers. These are:

• Language skills
• Unscrupulous managers or employers
• Inexperience or lack of understanding of UK Health and Safety standards
• Cultural differences

Workers with limited English language skills can 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. This test is a robust and independent assurance of a basic level of understanding of health and safety knowledge.

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.

Increasingly employers in construction are using multi lingual supervisors, and translating instructions and guidance into the first language for their workers. Inductions, tool box talks and training materials are becoming available in a range of languages.

• Further information and guidance on health and safety in construction.