1. Purpose

Coinford Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. Discrimination based on language or nationality is unacceptable. This policy ensures that all job applicants and employees are treated fairly, without favour or prejudice, and assessed solely on merit and ability.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure:

• Operatives can receive and follow instructions safely and effectively.
• All personnel can understand Health & Safety requirements, including Site Safety Inductions, Method Statements, and Risk Assessment briefings.
• Competent workers who are learning English are supported until they can communicate effectively.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all:

• Job applicants, employees, and contractors working on Coinford sites.
• Site supervisors, foremen, and managers responsible for instruction and safety.

3. Policy Statement

1. Assessment on Merit
   • Recruitment, selection, training, and promotion decisions are based on skills, experience, and ability.
   • Ability to understand and communicate in English relevant to the role and Health & Safety requirements is a legitimate occupational requirement.
2. Communication & Supervision
   • Operatives must be able to understand basic instructions and safety information.
   • Workers who are learning English may be supervised by experienced colleagues until they can communicate confidently and safely.
   • Support may include mentoring, visual aids, demonstrations, or translation assistance where appropriate.
3. Health, Safety & Welfare
   • Safety is the company’s priority. No compromise will be made on understanding critical safety instructions.
   • Employees unable to safely understand instructions will not be deployed unsupervised on-site.
4. Behaviour & Compliance
   • Discrimination, harassment, or bullying of non-English speaking employees is unacceptable and will be addressed under Coinford’s Disciplinary Policy.
   • Managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring understanding and compliance with this policy.

4. Legal Alignment

• Complies with the Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals from discrimination on race, nationality, and other protected characteristics.
• Recognises legitimate occupational requirements for communication in English to ensure health, safety, and operational effectiveness.

5. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or when legislation changes, ensuring ongoing compliance and relevance.