Migrant worker safety - a cause for concern

A HSE Health and Safety Executive product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 12, 2006

HSE publishes migrant worker research

New research revealing the risks faced by migrant workers in England and Wales was presented at a South East Region Trades Union Congress conference in London.

It outlines the potential for exploitation of migrants and other workers in sectors where attention to health and safety is poor, and highlights the challenges to employers, HSE and other agencies in tackling the problems.

The research, Health and Safety and migrant workers in England and Wales, which was carried out by London Metropolitan University on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr502.htm The research was commissioned by HSE to assess whether risk of injury/ill health was greater for migrants.

This followed the apparent rise in evidence of poor standards in migrant working conditions such as the Morecambe Bay incident in February 2004 that were not clearly reflected in an increase in complaints or reports to HSE under RIDDOR.

In addition, incident rates in industries where migrant employment is highest, including the agriculture and construction sectors, failed to show the expected increase in incident numbers that could be attributed to the influx of a significant migrant worker population.

The report found that migrant workers may be experiencing higher levels of workplace accidents because they are more likely to work long hours, to work shifts and to have limited understanding of health and safety.

Contributory factors also highlighted are communication difficulties and the fact migrants are more likely to take up work in sectors that they have not been trained or had experience working in.

HSE believes that these factors are relevant to other vulnerable groups of workers as well, and is seeking to co-ordinate its efforts to ensure improved health and safety protection for all concerned.

To tackle the issues raised by the findings, the research has recommended better-targeted HSE/Local Authority inspection, enforcement and supporting activity as well as greater provision of targeted health and safety advice and support for migrant workers and those who employ them.

Commenting on the reports findings and recommendations, Jeremy Bevan, HSE programme manager on migrant workers, said: "HSE welcomes the research, and accepts the broad focus of the recommendations.

We are already taking action to implement the research's key findings, in particular we are continuing to target inspections and enforcement in sectors where migrant workers and other vulnerable workers are most likely to work, and are currently reviewing how best to reach these workers and their employers with key health and safety messages.

In other areas where HSE involvement is recommended, planning is underway to consider further resource during the next year.

"We are also working with other government departments to stem the problem of illegal employment at source, by detecting and deterring those who, as employers, seek to evade regulation by Government.

In addition, pilot initiatives such as those being carried out by the DTI have the potential to provide outreach to migrants' and other vulnerable groups, and reduce their vulnerability to exploitation at work.".