Picture this: It’s a construction worker’s first day on the job. His supervisor asks him to help lay a foundation for an office building. High above the foundation site, another worker accidentally kicks a hammer off the scaffold.
Fortunately, the company embraces a “total safety” culture in which employees look out for each other. Everyone is accountable for not only their own safety, but also for their coworkers’ safety.
With that in mind, someone yells, “Watch out for the falling hammer!” to warn the new worker to get out of the way. But if the worker did not understand English, he could have been involved in a serious accident.
In 2006, Hispanic workers died at a rate 25 percent higher than all other workers in the United States, according to a study published last year in
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. Nearly 20 million U.S. workers are Hispanic, making them one of the fastest growing segments of the nation’s workforce.
Here are some tips for keeping non-English speaking Hispanic workers safe.
Challenge: Language
Language can be a barrier to communication, even among people who speak the same language. To accommodate Hispanic workers who speak little or no English:
- Use more pictures and fewer words to point out hazards and teach safety procedures.
- Because most communication is nonverbal, watch workers’ eyes, body language and expressions to see if they understand instructions.
- Train supervisors in basic, conversational Spanish and send non-English speaking Hispanic workers to a conversational English class. Focus on words commonly used in the construction industry.
- Hire experienced supervisors who speak Spanish and English.
- Ask bilingual employees to translate safety messages.
- Hire a company to translate safety training materials into Spanish. Make sure the translator is familiar with the Spanish dialects spoken by employees.
Challenge: Literacy Many Hispanic workers do not have the luxury of pursuing formal education because they have to help support their families. About 40 percent of Hispanics age 25 and older 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 a high school diploma. To combat this challenge:
- Keep training basic by providing simple, hands-on safety demonstrations.
- Do not let employees start work until they demonstrate they understand the training.
- Provide follow-up training, and be sure to address new workplace hazards.
Challenge: Fear
Non-English speaking Hispanic workers may put themselves at risk because they’re embarrassed to ask questions about safety procedures. Some may even fear for their jobs if they report unsafe working conditions. To create an open workplace environment:
- Encourage every employee to report unsafe conditions.
- Offer safety training away from the workplace. Employees may be less intimidated by—and more likely to ask questions of—someone who isn’t a manager in the company.
- Make sure non-English speaking Hispanic workers have peers in whom they can confide.
- Deliver safety messages to employees in their environment (e.g., distribute Spanish-language safety training materials at community functions).
- Reward safe behavior in front of coworkers.
Finally, take time to learn about Hispanic workers and their culture. The effort will make the workplace safer and more productive.