OPSS adds translations to safety videos for gig economy sector
E-bike safety videos translated into several languages by OPSS to assist food delivery riders.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has introduced new translations for its e-bike safety videos following discussions with food delivery businesses.
OPSS has regularly issued safety information following an increase in fires involving e-bikes. Figures show the number of these fires in the UK more than doubled from 2022 to 2023 with fatalities rising from three to ten.
Delivery riders as frequent users of e-bikes are a consumer group OPSS wants to reach with its public safety information. OPSS has now contacted food delivery businesses to understand the range of languages spoken by riders and couriers. As a result, the latest e-bike safety videos have also been translated into Arabic, Urdu, Romanian, and Portuguese, including Brazilian Portuguese.
The videos containing translated captions will be launched by OPSS from 13 March. Following discussions with OPSS, delivery companies have committed to make them available to riders using their platforms.
Graham Russell, Chief Executive of OPSS said:
OPSS continues to remove dangerous e-bike batteries and associated products wherever we can, but it’s vital as many users as possible are aware of the safety steps they should take. We believe that translating these videos will directly help spread the message to those most at risk.