Making Safety a Universal Language

Non-English-speaking Hispanic workers present unique safety challenges. Picture this: It’s your first day on the job with a construction crew. Your boss asks you to lay a foundation for an office building. High above, another worker is walking along a scaffold. He accidentally kicks a hammer off the scaffold, and you’re directly below it.

Fortunately, your company embraces a “total safety” culture, in which employees look out for each other. Everyone is accountable for their own safety and their co-workers’ safety.

With that in mind, someone yells, “¡Cuidado, el martillo se puede cáer sobre ti!” Your co-worker warned you to get out of the way. If you didn’t speak Spanish, you might have been involved in a serious accident.

Hispanics represent about 36 percent of the Texas labor force. They face the same workplace hazards as their non-Hispanic co-workers, but they may be more likely to have an accident. In 2007, Hispanics accounted for 40 percent of workplace fatalities, a 33 percent increase over 2004, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.

Following are some tips agents can offer employers to help clients keep their non-English-speaking Hispanic workers safe.

Challenge: Language

You know that fizzy, sweet drink that Texans call a Coke, regardless of what brand we’re talking about? It’s also called pop and soda in other parts of the country. Language can be a barrier to communication, even among people who speak the same language. Imagine how difficult it is for workers who speak little or no English.

• Use more pictures and fewer words to point out hazards and teach safety procedures.
• Most communication is nonverbal. Watch workers’ eyes, body language and expressions to see whether they understand instructions.
• Train supervisors in basic, conversational Spanish. Send non-English-speaking Hispanic workers to a conversational English class. Focus on words used in your industry.
• Hire Spanish-speaking supervisors who have experience in your industry. Ask bi-lingual employees to translate safety messages.
• Have safety training material translated into Spanish. Make sure the translator is fluent in the dialects your employees speak.

Challenge: Literacy

Many Hispanic workers do not pursue their education because they have to help support their families. About 40 percent of Hispanics age 25 and up do not have a high school diploma, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By comparison, about 14 percent of the total U.S. population does not have one.

• Keep training basic. Provide simple, hands-on safety demonstrations.
• Do not let employees start work until they show that they understand the training.
• Provide follow-up training, and be sure to address new workplace hazards.

Challenge: Fear

Have you ever been afraid of asking a question in front of a large group of people? Imagine asking it in a different language. Non-English-speaking workers may be too embarrassed to ask questions about safety procedures. Some may even fear for their jobs if they report unsafe working conditions.

• Encourage every employee to report unsafe conditions.
• Offer safety training away from the workplace. If the trainer is someone other than a manager, employees may be less intimidated and more likely to ask questions.
• Make sure non-English-speaking workers have peers they feel comfortable talking to.
• Deliver the safety message to employees in their environment. For example, distribute Spanish-language safety training material at community functions.
• Reward safe behavior in front of co-workers.
• Take time to learn about your Hispanic workers and their culture.