Cambridgeshire Employment Agencies Warned Of HSE Migrant Worker Checks, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 02 Jul 2008 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employment agencies in Cambridgeshire of impending spot checks, which will focus on the recruitment of migrant workers.

The visits to employment agencies, which will take place between now and the end of July, will identify premises where migrant workers supplied by employment agencies may be at risk, due to inadequate induction and training or a lack of understanding.

HSE inspectors and environmental health officers will contact employment agencies initially and ask then about how they manage health and safety for migrant workers and the type of premises in which they place such workers. Several premises where the agency places migrant workers will then be identified and these will also be visited.

David Head, Principal HSE Inspector for Cambridgeshire said: "We are concerned that migrant workers are being put at risk due to a variety of reasons, including lack of understanding of safety information and lack of instruction.

"Employment agencies should be made aware that inspectors from HSE and from all the local authority environmental health departments in Cambridgeshire are undertaking these checks over the next month and will follow up visits to the premises where migrant workers are placed. Where these visits identify problems, inspectors may revisit the agencies to resolve these issues and will take enforcement action if necessary."

Notes

- HSE inspectors from the East will be available for interview upon request.

- HSE has published guidance on managing the health and safety of agency workers, aimed both at managers in employment agencies and in firms using agency labour. http://www.hse.gov.uk/workers/index.htm, and follow the link on the left-hand side of the page.

http://www.hse.gov.uk