An exploratory study of migrant workers and safety in three European countries

An exploratory study was carried out in three European countries – Denmark, United Kingdom and the Netherlands – concerning the safety of migrant workers, especially those coming from Eastern European countries. Special attention was given to the relationship between safety and the national background of migrant workers. Forty-four interviews with HSE experts – e.g. regulators, union representatives – in the three countries, a survey using the NOSACQ-50 safety climate questionnaire and an accident data analysis using Danish data have been combined to draw a picture of the situation of migrant workers in the three countries. Although much data is still anecdotal it is concluded that these workers form a vulnerable group. As long as many migrant workers remain unregistered in the country where they work and national accident databases are not sufficiently or systematically coded, the magnitude of the migrant worker problem remains largely elusive.

► A partly comparative study in three EU countries on the safety of migrant workers. ► Special attention is given to safety and the (national) origins of migrant workers. ► We triangulated expert interview data, limited accident data and survey data. ► Migrant workers are vulnerable mostly because of various situational factors. ► However, much available data is still incomplete or anecdotal.