Posted By DAVE TOMPSETT As a business we rely on contractors to carry out our services and engineering on our site. Catering, cleaning, electrical, civils, mechanical etc., all having different degrees of risk. In line with the political climate at the moment, we are witnessing, ever-increasing non-English speaking (or very little) contractors, especially from the eastern block, arriving at our contractor induction process prior to starting work on our site. Their basic understanding of method statements/RA’s/PTW/SSW’s is non existent. To demonstrate a ‘duty of care’, I need to develop a policy/risk assessment that addresses this situation, where-by I can reject contract labour that doesn’t meet the specified requirement. Can anyone give me some pointers regarding the content, i.e. levels of literacy/test form, spoken, read, write. Are there any discrimination issues etc?

Posted By Delwynne You could try a very simple mutliple choice test at the end of the induction - if you fail you don't start work. Only problem with this approach is that english speaking persons with literacy difficulties also become excluded. I know of several large sites in London which already have this system in place. I'm not sure in all honesty it is particularly effective, it depends very much on how carefully it is policed.

Posted By Jack Reading is not the only way of passing on simple instructions. Shouldn't we be enabling people to work safely not putting barriers up.

Posted By AGT Forgot to add For workers that have literacy problems I have in the past even read through induction information and tests, marking the answers they have given verbally. From first hand experience I can tell you that these individuals have reacted very well to having a safety person spend time explaining the rules and enabling them to ask the right person in the future if they have any problem.