Construction Safety Needs to Adapt to Multilingual Workforce

According to a Labour MP, Jim Sheridan the sharp increase in construction deaths is due to the expansion of the European Union.

Speaking at a Parliament debate on deaths in the construction industry, Mr Sheriden said that the 32% rise in deaths was “a particularly worrying trend” which could be linked to the influx of workers from Europe. He was quick to point out that it was nothing to do with their work ethic or skills, more to do with the fact that projects weren’t making enough concessions for an increasingly multilingual workforce.

He said: “We need to ensure only workers fully versed in all aspects of health and safety are working on British buildings sites.”

The debate also covered the recent Ucatt report regarding corporate manslaughter convictions. Michael Clapham MP, who was responsible for the debate, said he wanted to draw attention to the “appalling” level of fatal incidents in the industry, and the HSE’s apparent failure to convict those responsible. He set out a five-point plan which included:

• A fresh safety summit similar to that held in 2001 when all areas of the construction industry are brought together to discuss safety.

• The urgent need for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to increase the number of prosecutions following health and safety breaches.

• A reversal in plans to cut staffing at the HSE.

• An Amendment introduced to the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to include Director Duties (allowing for the imprisonment of individual directors).

• The Gangmasters Act to be extended to the construction industry to protect vulnerable migrant workers.