Safety warning for overseas workers

As constant sunshine and a laid back lifestyle tempt a record number of Britons to work and live abroad, a leading lawyers' group has issued a safety warning to those thinking of venturing to pastures new.

Nick Gutteridge, spokesman for a national SafetyWatch campaign run by APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) and a partner at Burnetts solicitors in Carlisle has urged people to plan carefully and not leave their commonsense behind when heading off to work in sunnier climates.

“Working abroad can obviously be a fantastic experience, but it is imperative that people plan properly and take some basic precautions,” he says. “Every five seconds a worker in Europe is involved in a work-related accident – this should be a warning to anyone venturing abroad to take simple precautions and use their commonsense.”

While taking out an insurance policy is a must for all travellers, it is imperative that those planning to work abroad take out a policy which actually covers them for working, as many are designed purely for holidays.

“It’s obviously important that holidaymakers use their commonsense and stay safe, but people who are jetting off to actually work abroad should really plan very carefully and take extra care,” he warns. “People do have a tendency to forget that being in a sunnier, more relaxed environment doesn’t mean the same dangers aren’t out there.”

Nick advises people to consider the following basic steps:

· Make sure you get insurance and that it covers you for working abroad as many policies are designed purely for holiday situations
· Ensure that you can identify exactly who is employing you (i.e. UK or overseas company) and leave copies of your contractual documentation with someone at home.
· Let someone in the UK know where you will be living and working, and let them know how to get hold of you in an emergency
· Make sure that you always let someone else locally know where you are going and what you are doing if it is outside of your usual routine
· Don’t be pressurised into doing something that you would not do at home, just because you are abroad
· Be aware that local rules and regulations may be less stringent than in the UK, so ensure your own safety at all times

End

Note to Editor:

- Nick Gutteridge is is a personal injury expert, accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. For further information on Burnetts’ personal injury team, visit the personal injury section or call Nick on 01228 552222.
- APIL was set up in 1990 by a group of lawyers who wanted to provide a voice for injured people, and is now a recognised voice within Government and other organisations. APIL's SafetyWatch campaign aims to highlight potential hazards to people in order to prevent injury. Visit www.apil.com
- Research by the institute (IPPR) is the first significant attempt to put a figure on the number of British citizens who live and work overseas. http://www.ippr.org.uk/
- Statistics relating to health and safety at work abroad were compiled by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work http://osha.europa.eu/OSHA/

13th August, 2007