|
 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is joining forces with Tayside Fire and
Rescue Service , Hillcrest Housing Association and other local organisations to
highlight to seasonal migrant workers in Scotland the help and advice available
to them on safety and legal issues affecting their accommodation and other
rights.
The move follows a recent fire at a caravan site housing migrant farm workers
near Arbroath in which a worker from the Czech Republic died and another was
seriously injured.
HSE Inspector Peter Dodd said:
"This tragic fire highlighted the dangers that migrant workers' accommodation
can pose if some basic precautions are not taken, as well as the need for
workers with often a limited knowledge of English to be provided with help and
advice in their own language.
"The HSE will be attending a Community Safety Day in Dundee next month being
organized by Tayside Fire and Rescue Service for migrant workers. We will have a
stand with a range of leaflets on health and safety issues, including those
affecting accommodation, in a number of Eastern European languages. HSE staff
will be on hand to answer questions.
"We know that caravans and other types of accommodation have and continue to
be used to house seasonal workers, often on farms where migrants provide a
valuable labour force. The recent fire highlighted the fact that some farmers
are diversifying by providing accommodation for migrants who work elsewhere.
"Anyone who is staying in such accommodation should speak to the owner or
manager if they are concerned about safety and find out what precautions have
been taken.
"The HSE's help and advice is available to those providing accommodation as
well as to the migrants, and we would ask anyone who is providing accommodation
of this kind to take some time to consider if they have done all they can to
make it safe. We would much rather a farmer asks now than have to investigate a
similar tragedy again.
"Local councils, fire brigades and the police can also give advice on the
standards that should be adopted by those providing accommodation.
"In addition, we would encourage farmers who employ seasonal migrant labour
to consider using workers provided through the Seasonal Agricultural Workers
Scheme or programmes such as the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs
Seasonal Workers Programme, which include standards to be met by the
accommodation provided."
The Community Safety Information Day will be held at the Central Library,
Wellgate, Dundee, on Saturday 16 June between 11.00am and 3.00pm.
Image by Benjamin Earwicker
|
