Language classes make workers safer (From The Argus)

Language classes make workers safer

3:10pm Thursday 11th September 2008 in News

Binmen and street sweepers are being given English lessons to stop them being knocked down at work.

So many of the 400 staff at Brighton and Hove City Council’s Hollingdean depot were being injured that bosses and union officials teamed up to run language classes.

Now the accident rate has plummeted after workers were taught about health and safety information and warning signs.

Classes were started at the rubbish, recycling and street sweeping department in Upper Hollingdean Road, Brighton, last September after a survey revealed 38% of the workers, many of whom are Eastern European, could not write good English while 27% could not work out percentages.

The Skills for Life programme, run by the council’s Cityclean team and GMB union, has now earned the organisation a place in the finals of the National Training Awards 2008.

Cityclean and the GMB have worked with Sussex Downs College to provide two basic levels of English and a GCSE in the subject.

The classes have led to fewer accidents and near misses, a big improvement in form filling and an increase in morale and job satisfaction, the council claim.

Gillian Marston, of Cityclean, said: “The literacy classes have helped staff feel happier at work, more confident and motivated.”

Richard Warren, the GMB branch education officer, said: “We are proud of what’s happening at Cityclean with Skills for Life.”

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