SAFETY TRAINING: FROM MELTING POT TO SMORGASBORD

The American melting pot is fast becoming a smorgasbord of distinctive cultures. During the past 10 years, more than half (51%) of new entrants into the U.S. workforce have been minorities. The next 10 years will see a dramatic increase in minority workers, many of whom might lack English proficiency and familiarity with basic workplace safety precautions. To help you meet the safety needs of an increasingly diverse workforce -- especially where language barriers are an issue -- we'd recommend these guidelines:
  • Speak slowly, explain fully, and repeat important points several times.
  • Choose simple words and avoid technical jargon (whenever possible).
  • Use a translator with groups of employees who have only minimal English skills.
  • Team up non-English-speaking employees with English-speaking employees.
  • Provide handouts in the language(s) that trainees speak and read.
  • Make sure that workers are able to understand written materials. Don't assume that they can read forms, signs, written directions, etc.
  • Stress the importance of following safety regulations and policies.
  • Show employees how to use safety protections and explain why they're important.
  • Demonstrate while you speak and use pictures, diagrams, props, etc., to supplement your words.
  • Follow up on the job to make sure that employees properly apply what they've learned in training.
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Further Reading
SAFETY TRAINING: A WORD TO THE WISE This real-life case reinforces the need for every business to provide OSHA-required training. A West Virginia company assigned a new employee – call him Jim – to drive a forklift, even though he had no experienc...
Employees who don't learn the safe way to work are accidents waiting to happen -- and that means that workplace safety training should play an integral role in your company's risk management program. Repetition is essential to this process. Make...
Because safety training is an ongoing activity in your workplace, it makes sense to find new ways of keeping employees involved. The use of visuals, including images and videos, can play a key role in this process. Although safety trainers tend ...
Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) direct employees to complete tasks correctly, the first time, safely. Effective SOPs are written and cover five areas of concern: 1. Task Protocol. How to complete the task. This instruction may be step-by-step ...
Employees who don't learn the safe way to work are accidents waiting to happen -- and that means that workplace safety training should play an integral role in your company's risk management program. Repetition is essential to this process. Make sur...