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THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005 => Q & A => Topic started by: adeb on September 04, 2006, 04:17:31 PM

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: adeb on September 04, 2006, 04:17:31 PM

Has anyone come across any RRO guidance in a language other than English? I am looking for FS guidance in Chinese. Any help would me much appreciated. I have contacted HM Government stationers to no avail! In the current climate I would be somewhat dismayed if the publications have produced in English only.

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: Mike Buckley on September 04, 2006, 04:38:43 PM

They may be available in Welsh but this doesn't help much. I had this problem with H&S notices except I was dealing with Urdu, Hindi etc. The advice I gave was for the employers to make a nuisance of themselves to the HSE by asking for the notices in their language. I can only suggest that people contact their FRA and the relevant government departments as well as MPs asking for the RRO guidance in their languages. Don't go for the small fry write to the top brass.

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: Wiz on September 04, 2006, 05:40:04 PM

I've found most government produced literature is often produced in double-dutch. I don't know if anyone finds it helpful at all 'cos it sure confuses me!!!!!!!

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: Ashley Wood on September 04, 2006, 08:11:31 PM

Cantonese or Mandarin? Don't wish to appear pedantic, its just that some chinese speak one or the other and some speak both. Are you looking for a complete RR(FS)O translation or certain parts? I have contacts in Asia within the Hong Kong fire service and Beijing fire service. If I can help, just ask. I think you have got more chance of winning the Lottery than getting the RR(FS)O translated into one of these Chinese languages by the government.

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: Tom Sutton on September 04, 2006, 08:37:09 PM

How many languages should we translate the RRO into lets be practical.

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: jokar on September 05, 2006, 03:04:40 PM

Without wishing to be harsh.  The legislation is copied out in the language of the country, it is for those who reside here to seek its translation.  This is not a new problem and in certain instances 32 dialects are spoken in one school therefore translation would be impractical at best and impossible most of the time.

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: AnthonyB on September 05, 2006, 09:26:19 PM

I'm glad someone said that! They are in the official language of the country that everyone knows is the official language before residing here, we seem to be one of the few places in the world that actually bothers translating to the nth degree.

I wait for the accusations of 'rascist' to fly.....

Title: Literature in a language other than English
Post by: kurnal on September 05, 2006, 10:52:05 PM

I think it cuts both ways. I believe if an employer takes on staff who do not have a sufficient command of English to work safely then it is the employers responsibility to express the essential safety information in a way that they do understand. But the employer must personally have sufficient command of the language to make themself aware and  keep themself fully abreast of all the legal requirements- and that is their duty, not the governments duty,  to provide translation if necessary- th employer creates and should manage the risk.
Morally, outside the working environment  I think that if statistics show that a particular group of people is at particular risk then the authorities should do what ever it takes to reach out to them with safety messages.