Safety guide could reduce accident at work compensation claims
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has recognised that migrant workers are in need of help to avoid them being involved in work accidents. There is a great need for employee safety to be stepped up in order to reduce the amount of accident at work compensation claims that are made and improve UK workplaces.
A new safety guide, Safety and Migrant Workers', warning about unprincipled employers who are taking risks with their employees' health was published the same day that members of the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment convened with exploited workers in Cardiff.
Those attending the meet included migrant workers, homeworkers, refugees, asylum seekers and disabled workers; all of who shared their personal accounts of working in unsafe environments in the UK.
Many migrant employees work longer hours, meaning they are more susceptible to accidents at work through tiredness and clumsiness. They also rarely receive sick pay so are forced to work even when they are suffering personal injuries or illness as they cannot afford to support themselves if they take time off.
The language barrier is also a problem when it prevents workers from gaining a clear understanding of health and safety procedures. Many are even denied adequate safety clothing and equipment as they don't understand that they are entitled to it.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber commented, "Employers should be doing more to keep all their employees safe and well, wherever they come from. And in workforces with many migrant workers, where language difficulties pose potential problems, bosses need to make that extra effort to ensure everyone knows how to stay safe at work.
"The government must stump up more money so that unscrupulous employers who flout the law are brought into line. Too often migrant workers face huge risks to their health, safety and welfare simply because their employers fail to carry out sufficient safety checks. Not providing protective equipment, failing to offer training ignoring working time rules and paying illegal poverty wages is sadly an all too common experience for many workers who come to the UK.
"The average employer receives a visit from a safety inspector once every 12-20 years and many small employers will never be inspected. Tragically, we are more likely to hear a report of a migrant worker being killed or injured than of an employer being prosecuted for failing to meet their safety obligations."
For more information, please visit www.tuc.org.uk.
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