The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 makes employers responsible for the health and safety of their staff and contracted staff.

Statement of Policy

terptree will provide adequate control of health and safety risks arising from work activities, provide information and instruction to staff and maintain safe and healthy working conditions.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Staff and interpreters also have the responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act to:

• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others around them
• Report all health and safety concerns to terptree for investigation
• Be aware of the fire procedures, relevant exits and extinguishers when on any work site
• Be aware of terptree's Lone Working Policy when working alone

It is not possible to detail every single health and safety issue that may arise on a day-to-day basis; therefore it is vital that staff and management are aware of their personal and collective responsibilities.

Interpreters working as a team

When a booking is being held for over two hours, terptree will recommend that there should be two interpreters booked. This interpreter is sometimes known as a co-worker. If one interpreter was booked, they would suffer from fatigue affecting their own health and safety as well as possibly the information being relayed to the client.

Definition

"Team Interpreting refers to two of more interpreters working together, not just physically but intellectually. In team interpreting, each interpreter takes a turn to ensure that fatigue does not hamper them. Typically, team interpreting involves two interpreters, each signing for twenty to thirty minute periods. The amount of time depends not only on the need for periods of rest, but also the on the need for consistency in the interpretation. Too short a period may distract the participants, who must become accustomed or re-accustomed to a different voice or style of signing each time there is a changeover. On the intellectual side when team members are not actively interpreting, they can support the one who is. Team interpreting confirms the old saying that two hands are better than one. Likewise, four hands can improve on two."

Cartwright B.E, Schien J.D, Stewart D.A (1998) Sign Language Interpreting: Exploring its Art and Science: Allyn and Bacon USA

Being a supportive co-worker

The following is guidance on how to effectively support a co-worker during a booking.

• Seek information about the booking
• Discuss preferred strategies of working
• Plan and organise how you will work together
• Share any relevant knowledge
• Communicate and co-operate with each another
• Maintain good time keeping
• Give support
• Be attentive to others changing needs