O Level German required for some UK rail jobs in future?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/10/rail-workers-told-to-lear_n_1085835.html?1320933633

Rail workers are being told to take German lessons as part of their training course for operating new track equipment, it has been revealed.

Staff on a recent course in Kent were told they had to learn a series of German phrases relating to instructions on track equipment ...

[Phil]

Ach mein Gott!

[grahame]

Of course, this is nothing new ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S35lgLPXsts

[Btline]

Why not just write it in English and not have the requirement?

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

and if you listen to the aws it sounds just like a golf ... oh wait

[ellendune]

If a UK^▸ (United Kingdom) company relied on this in a Health and Safety defence I think there are plenty of legalprecidents back into the 19th century that could be used to throw it out in court.

Ig it is critical Health and Safety information a company had better provide it in the most apprpriate language or they would find themselves in court very quickley.

You have only to go back to teh mexbrough manslaughter prosecution of the 19th century when the weekley instructions were too long for a reasonable person to read for the earliest precident. 

Health and saftey inforamtion must be effectively communicated to those who need to know.  Expecteing then to know even thr most rudementary German would not have a hope of standing up in court.

[eightf48544]

Interesting.

I think someone is going to have to have very intensive talks with the manufacturers to get correct English translations.

One thing German does is combine nouns into long words. Such as a "lever for lowering vibrating tines" which could  be something like Vibrierenspitzesenkenhabel couldn't find word for tines so used point instead which just goes to show the problems.

[LiskeardRich]

I have A level German and Spanish, so I should be covered, although I have zero intention of applying for rail based employment!

[TerminalJunkie]

legalprecidents
Ig [...] apprpriate [...] quickley
teh [...] weekley [...] precident
saftey inforamtion [...] Expecteing then [...] thr [...] rudementary

Is one permitted to expect the most rudimentary English?   (Although I have seen the time you posted it!)

[ellendune]

legalprecidents
Ig [...] apprpriate [...] quickley
teh [...] weekley [...] precident
saftey inforamtion [...] Expecteing then [...] thr [...] rudementary

Is one permitted to expect the most rudimentary English?   (Although I have seen the time you posted it!)

Sorry it was the time of night coupled with doing it from a phone.

[plymothian]

Why not hire a translator, then issue an English version?

[eightf48544]

"The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."  Wilde

Translators cost money!