Safety Rules on site for the Drivers of Lorries and Tank Containers

[dutch-guy]

We are a Dutch storage company and going for the OHSAS18001 certification this year.
In the attachment there are the rules for the drivers of lorries and tank containers.
We have 2 versions available, Dutch and English.

But also drivers from Poland are coming to load on our site.

Do we need to have these rules also in the Polish or German language?

I'm also writing a contracters manual, for companies that perform work on our site, like pump maintenance and calibration of equipment.
This contracters manual is in English (as we are part of an international organization) but most of the external companies are from Holland.

Do we need to issue this manual in the Dutch language or could we leave the English version and explain to people who do not understand English the content of this manual?

 

[The Specialist]

Re: Safety rules on site

We are a Dutch storage company and going for the OHSAS18001 certification this year.
In the attachment there are the rules for the drivers of lorries and tank containers.
We have 2 versions available, Dutch and English.

But also drivers from Poland are coming to load on our site.

Do we need to have these rules also in the Polish or German language?

I'm also writing a contracters manual, for companies that perform work on our site, like pump maintenance and calibration of equipment.
This contracters manual is in English (as we are part of an international organization) but most of the external companies are from Holland.

Do we need to issue this manual in the Dutch language or could we leave the English version and explain to people who do not understand English the content of this manual?

I think you will be fine with it in English, as long as you have trained/explained the points of the document and the driver has indicated that he understands.

Having said that,

As it is such a short document; issuing it in several languages should not be too large a task!

 

[samsung]

Re: Safety rules on site

We are a Dutch storage company and going for the OHSAS18001 certification this year.
In the attachment there are the rules for the drivers of lorries and tank containers.
We have 2 versions available, Dutch and English.

But also drivers from Poland are coming to load on our site.

Do we need to have these rules also in the Polish or German language?

I'm also writing a contractors manual, for companies that perform work on our site, like pump maintenance and calibration of equipment.
This contractors manual is in English (as we are part of an international organization) but most of the external companies are from Holland.

Do we need to issue this manual in the Dutch language or could we leave the English version and explain to people who do not understand English the content of this manual?

Though OHSAS doesn't prescribe any specific requirement related to use of language but it's my gut feeling that when you wish to communicate something to someone, that must be in an understandable and user friendly language. e.g. take the example of your very question which, if you had drafted in Dutch language, most of us wouldn't be able to read and respond. Language is a means of communication and IMHO, it makes good sense to have the rules/ manual in the languages for other nationals (e.g. Polish & German) whom you wish to often communicate with.

Thanks.

 

[The Specialist]

Re: Safety rules on site

That is well-put, Samsung.

The key is communication and understanding.

 

[pkost]

I have no experience in this area and do not know what the rules would be however, is there anyway you could reduce the rules to pictographic form?

edit: just saw the attachment...difficult, but not impossible I would say!

 

[Markaich]

OHSAS 18001 has its foundation in risk assessment (as do all modern MS standards), so I suggest that the answer would come out of your risk assessments.

If the potential for injury is significant, then I'd recommend that translation into all appropriate languages would be appropriate. If less significant, then perhaps training and acknowledgement of that training will be sufficient.

If the additional cost of translation (a one-off cost) and printing the rules is negligable, then I would tend to recommend it is done anyway.

Hope this helps
M