FED: Poor literacy, numeracy threaten workers' safety - report

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
FED: Poor literacy, numeracy threaten workers' safety - report

A major business group is launching a project to tackle poor literacy and numeracy
among workers that it says is causing accidents and costing the economy millions.

Official statistics show almost half of all working Australians have less than the
minimum literacy and numeracy levels required to meet the demands of everyday work.

Australian Industry Group boss HEATHER RIDOUT has told Fairfax newspapers some workers
can't read standard operating procedures or fully comprehend warning signs .. affecting
productivity and workplace safety.

The government-funded project will take a closer look at the problem and trial strategies
to improve literacy and numeracy in 10 companies over a two-year period.

AAP RTV ao/jmt

KEYWORD: LITERACY (SYDNEY)

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