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Posted By riskybizz
Maybe a little tough for a friday afternoon, but am i correct in thinking that there is a need to have a translator where there are 5 or more foreign workers?
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Posted By Dave Wilson
NO!!
but you have to supply info in a language they can understand, the HSE have produced loads of their leaflets etc in lots of different languages. Its on their home page
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Posted By David S Burt
My understanding is that any person in any workplace is entitled to have access to safe and competent fellow employees to whom I owe a duty of care and visa versa.
Now following on with this theme if something is about to fall on a fellow employee and cause them harm, I would like to believe that I could warn them of the impending danger. I would also like to believe that the same could work in reverse.
So perhaps someone could tell me how the above principle works when I have to pass my warning through an interpreter or visa versa. By the time the instruction gets to the intended party it will be too late!
The key issue here is that rather than spending time money and energy converting procedures into other languages or employing interpreters, perhaps we should just ensure that everyone can communicate in a common language –French, German, Spanish or any other European language.
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Posted By Bob Youel
If one foreign worker [I like to say guest-worker]is present then one translator may be needed - the 5 or more situation does not exist!
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Posted By D H
I was tasked to train people of Arabic nationality - the company offered me extra time and translators.
But when I asked them how I would know that the translators were telling the guys the same as I told the translators - and some things do not translate - English to Polish as the perfect example - they reneged.
Remember your duty of care to employees - you need to be spot on!
Dave
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Posted By phalda
Simple solution for new workers is to only employ English speaking individuals ... this is not xenophobic it is a matter of ensuring the H.S of the workforce... Political correctness plays no part in that..
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Posted By Jez Corfield
The sites I cover in various middle east countries have people speaking various languages, we have done some workshops so people can learn safety words (and signs), and usually there are people around with a smattering of English, we try to employ subcontract supervisors who can communicate with their staff, and with us in English - so the information and training is cascaded down.
We translate some documents, toolbox talks and safety rules etc, but dont see the need for translators on site.
When it comes to emergencies we havent had problems.
Jez
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Posted By Safe System
Agree with David B and Jez...
Make some provisions via the use of signs & inductions ... but translators on site ... NO! - for the same reason as David Burt reasoning.
I tend to find that people that suggest translators etc.. (NO OFFENSE TO ORIGINAL POSTER) tend to be the ones that are not involved in either:
1. construction
2. at the coal face.
we need to ensure that we do not discriminate amongst our 'guest' workers but in the same instance - and i may spark some comments here, but this is a discussion - we need to ensure the health & safety of all others on site. is there a universal saying for "get out of the way!" - or "do not use the scaffold" as in my experience - at the coal face - with some of our national friends - you can provide a lot if information and you can be 100% sure that the 1 thing you say DO NOT do.. is the 1st thing they go and do.
If bosses are that adamant at keeping on cheap labour (its the main reason that they employ our friends) then they should invest in some basic English training to ensure that they are getting the most out of them and in the same instance helping them... they usually work very hard.. so reward them!
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