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Posted By w.j. jones
Hi Group
I am wondering whether anyone has any experience of working with people who's native tongue is not english and what people do to ensure that they understand health and safety instructions etc. the people that I work with have some understanding and as a way forward I am thinking of putting some basic safety phrases together and getting them transalated into their native tongue (russian)to help them. would anybody know where i can find basic safety phrases on the net etc?
Regards
Wayjon
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Posted By Howard
HSE website. Type "Russian" into Search Facility.
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Posted By James K
Having the same problem myself.
I searched the web for "free language translations" and found a lot of sites that will translate phrases from English to whatever language.
I then created signs that had the English and Other language version on it. (Italian)
IE
PPE TO BE WORN AT ALL TIMES
PPE DI ESSERE INDOSSATO A TUTTO VOLTA
FAILURE TO WEAR PPE WILL RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM SITE
IL FALLIMENTO DI INDOSSARE PPE RISULTERÀ NELLA SUA RIMOZIONE DAL LUOGO
I was informed by an Italian/English speaker on site that the translation was good.
The problem is when the script gets bigger and you start to lose the message in the translation.
Jim
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Posted By Merv Newman
I've worked with some people (north west africa) who don't have a written language. Make it very visual. Lots of photos.
Merv
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Posted By MarkJAWatkins
Hi,
I have contact details of a person who speaks hungarian/english. She currently translates various company information for employees.
Contact me direct if you wish to know more.
Please note that it is only hungarian.
Regards,
Mark
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Posted By mark c o'loughlin
i am currently doing my msc. in h&s on the topic of communicating safety information to non-nationals in a small construction company in ireland. What i have found most common is the use of the best english speaker in the group as a translator for the rest. The HSE website has a lot of translated material (26 languages as far as i can remember) but another very useful tool i found was a basic construction site safety booklet, with translated signs, in seven languages (mostly eastern european) produced by the irish construction federation, cif.ie.
Have done a lot of work on this but i won't bore anyone too much! would be happy to discuss further if it would help.
Mark
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Posted By Frank Hallett
W J
In times of stress we all tend to revert to what we learnt first or best and the ability for a basic level of relevant intercommunication should be seen as essential no matter what the ethnic origins or languages used.
Do not rely upon translators alone. If it's the translator who needs to identify the problem but thay cannot due to incapacity [they're the one experiencing the "problem"] your system will fail.
Simple signs [the meanings of which MUST be explained in the language of the trainee by a suitable translator if necessary] are essential.
You cannot rely solely upon the signs either; so you may wish to consider providing "common language" sessions so that when the russian/polish/estonian/latvian/english/chines/turkish/etc [they are all different] shout for help/fire/watch out etc is raised all in the vicinity will understand and respond appropriately.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By IT
Lets see if we can stay on subject for this post(meaning not like the lastone that was removed)
We have NON English speaking Labor and Supervisors ,when this issue was raised we had English Speaking Workers translate our Toolbox talks and programs ,as pointed out in previous post not always successful, we then translated all toolbox talks ,procedures,policies ,Risk Assessments and Method Statements to ensure the Workers knew exactly what was expected.
We were challanged by a site who quoted ENGLISH language only ,we ended the debate after conatcting the HSE ,Construction Confederation etc.
Asking the English Speaking person to translate ,can be fraut with danger .
IT
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Posted By Frank Hallett
I wholeheartedly agree with the points made by IT - especially with regard to previous discussions on this topic. With that in mind I did consider leaving this topic alone; but it is too important to ignore or fail to address.
This is an increasingly common problem and is solely all about ensuring effective communication on safety and ill-health in ALL directions between ALL parties who may be at risk so that the potential for injury and ill-health is minimised - preferably to the same level as if the whole workforce have a common language because that will the the most likely approach by the enforcers if they get involved [no comment from HSE so far].
Managers, Supervisors, Banksmen, Operatives etc all need to be able to safely direct others and to respond appropriately to information provided by others. How that is achieved will vary according to situations and employers & enforcers perceptions.
Personally, I would like to see a definitive statement on this by the HSE, HSC and the DWP that could then be relied upon by employers - that shuld, at least, remove much of the current discussion and focus efforts where they are most needed.
Now taking cover as per Govt Handbook on civilian response to nuclear attack!
Frank Hallett
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Posted By mark c o'loughlin
In my defence i was merely pointing out that use of english speaker to translate is one method used in this situation. Believe me i have seen the complexity of dealing with this problem first hand. There is no perfect solution, especially when you dig deeper into the problem and start looking at literacy issues, quality of translated material and true levels of understanding of 'common' languages. The authorities are starting to make headway on the issue with pictogram material etc. but this is limited as the minor issues which spring up on the day are not always covered. The individual site/workplace has to go with the best solution for them - be it translation, pictogram forms or a buddy system for non-english speaking operatives. All the methods for dealing with this language problem have their merits and drawbacks but the simple fact is that this issue is going to grow and grow. The enforcers will have to address it soon.
Regarding the initial query, the material is out there in Russian and many other languages but the problem doesn't go away when you get the phrases in place, there are then a host of other issues attached.For example Many migrants can communicate through a common language but can't necessarily read it!
If anyone has come across a foolproof system for this communication issue i would love to hear about it.
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Posted By Frank Hallett
Hi Marc
Excellent exposition of some of the fundamental communication issues that must be addressed.
Your point about literacy and ability to be understood etc is very pertinant to the whole issue of communication generally and certainly isn't restricted to migrant workers from outside the UK.
If you wish to contact me direct to bounce some ideas about, please do so.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By IT
@Mark ,
No Need for you to defend yourself ,my post was a general one.
we have Chinese,Malaysian,Japanese and Philipino workers and you information on literacy and language is spot on ,I guess I am lucky that some of the various workers speak english and have worked with the various local languages to establish of system.
@Frank
Agree it is about time the HSE came out of the Closet and addressed the issue PUBLICLY .
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Posted By Ian Mitchell
Hi,
Be aware that translation sites can misconstrue the meaning of words. (ie Watch as in timepiece and watch as in look for example)
I translated 'no smoking' into Polish and the site took the meaning of 'smoking' as the process of curing sausages/bacon etc!!!
The workers had a good bit of banter with me and promised not to hold any barbecues in the site canteen!! I got a translation from a dual-language speaker on site!!
Ian
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