Website on training migrant workers launched

A NEW website offering guidance to the food industry on the training of mixed ethnic language groups has been launched.

The website, www.fooddrinkhospitality.org.uk, has been developed by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in response to concern over growing diversity in the UK's food manufacturing workforce.

Content is based on the 2005 Working Safely in Multi-Cultural Food and Drink Industry document produced by IOSH's drink and hospitality specialist group.

Sue Patterson, managing director of Leeds-based international recruitment firm Horizon European, said that the website would hopefully provide guidance for both large firms and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

“It's an ideal platform for businesses to share experiences and promote best practice, taking a responsible attitude to improve health and safety in our workplaces,” she said.

She added that all to often mangers gave “incomprehensible” introductions both to new staff and co-workers because they failed to take language difficulties into account.

“It's clear that the development of an increasingly diverse workforce requires new approaches, not only to facilitate supervision and training but also to allow such workers to be consulted and their concerns voiced,” she said.

The issues surrounding language and communcation were demonstrated at a recent IOSH conference were English delegates were forced to listen to a health and safety briefing in French.

“Even delegates who had learnt French in school had difficulty understanding because of speed,, dialect and the use of colloquial phrases,” recalled Ms Patterson.

“I think this made the point that working in a second language is hard enough without any additional complications.”