HSE launches campaign to inform Polish and other migrant construction workers

Date:

18 September 2009

Release No:

E077:09

A campaign is being launched today to inform Polish construction workers based in London about on-site health and safety.

Research has suggested that foreign workers are vulnerable to potentially dangerous working practices and the Polish community is one of three nationalities receiving advice in particular. The new HSE campaign wants to get the message across to Polish workers about the role of the HSE in helping to protect them using existing law and making them aware that they have just as many rights to a healthy and safe working environment as indigenous workers.

Philip White, HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction said: “We recognised that we needed to target health and safety information at some of the more vulnerable workers in construction. We have employed specialist outreach representatives from the Polish community to get our messages across much more effectively to London-based workers. Reducing the risks faced by the most vulnerable enables all construction workers to work in safer conditions and we hope will minimise potentially dangerous incidents on site.”

The campaign stems from HSE research into incidents on construction sites that identifies migrant workers as a particularly vulnerable group of construction workers. Carried out by Synovate, the research concluded that:

• Migrant workers’ knowledge of UK health and safety standards is limited
• HSE is virtually unheard of among migrant construction workers
• The understandable desire by migrant workers to work hard and to stay out of trouble can lead to employers cutting corners on health and safety without being questioned.

As well as employing a Polish outreach worker, health and safety information has been produced in Polish and other languages, for example wallet-sized cards, 30,000 of which will be distributed among the community.  A dedicated phone line, online microsite and an email address have been set up so workers can call 0207-556-2239, email informacja@hse.gsi.gov.uk or visit  www.hse.gov.uk/construction/polski with any queries.

Bartek Zdrowowicz, the outreach worker for the Polish community said: “Health and safety is just as important for migrants.  Arriving in a foreign country, people may become vulnerable and exposed to different forms of exploitation or possible accidents caused by their completely new conditions of life, or just a language barrier. That is why it is essential to inform them about their rights and duties not only to protect themselves and people they work with, but even further - members of the public as well.”

Simon Hester, the HSE Project Manager, said, “We have had a very positive response from everyone we have talked to in the Polish community so far. Our aim is a rapid and clear change in workers’ understanding of their rights and how to make complaints.”

Notes to Editors

1. As well as Polish workers, Romanian and newly-arrived Indian construction workers are also being specifically advised.
2. Research indicates that there has been a large influx of migrant workers onto construction sites in London in recent years and despite only 6% of the national construction workforce being migrant workers, 40% of London’s construction workforce is from overseas. About 60% of the migrant construction workforce is based in London.
3. The three largest groups of migrant construction workers are Polish (25%), Indian (8%) and Romanian (6%).
4. Over the past two years the proportion of total construction worker fatalities involving migrant workers has remained largely the same (around 17%). The proportion of fatal accidents to migrant workers was 8% of the total in 2005/06 and a revised figure of 10% in 2006/07.
5. The HSE-commissioned research by Synovate (2009) that suggests foreign workers are vulnerable is available here (http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/iacs/coniac/260309/report-vulnerable-workers.pdf).

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