Concern over workplace deaths of non-nationals

One in eight employees killed in the workplace this year were foreign workers, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said today.

Figures from the HSA showed seven non-national workers had died in work-related incidents so far in 2005, out of a total of 56 deaths.

The authority said the number of non-nationals being killed in accidents at work indicated a worrying trend.

The agency’s chief executive Tom Beegan urged employers to ensure they were properly explaining risks and safety training to all employees, including those who didn’t speak English.

“We recognise the importance of migrant labour to the Irish economy and as such, we are encouraging employers to protect this asset by providing safety information and training in a manner, form and language that is likely to be understood by those workers who do not speak English.

“It is not good enough to simply pass on the message – Employers must satisfy themselves that the message is hitting home as indeed they would with any other employee,” he said.

Of the seven deaths in 2005, three were in construction, two were in manufacturing, one was in agriculture and one in the transport industry.

The authority said it had been working on a programme of information resources for non-English speakers, which won an award from the International Social Security Association during the recent World Congress on Safety.

The safe system of work plan (SSWP) for construction uses simple diagrams to convey hazards and safety systems and has been translated into Polish and Turkish, with a seven-language DVD on the way.

“Initial feedback from industry tells us that there is certainly a huge market for this type of resource and that it greatly assists the many employers who are working hard to meet their legal duties.

“We will continue to support them in whatever way we can, to meet the safety needs of what is now a multi-cultural workforce,” Mr Beegan said.